How to get into esports? 10 key steps to become a pro gamer

E-sports has been booming over the past few years, with more and more tournaments, competitions and professional teams. Given this growing enthusiasm, many gamers wish to take the leap and turn their passion into a career.

However, being passionate about video games is not enough to build a career in esports… It also requires a lot of work, dedication and above all a good strategy to break through.

Are you passionate about video games? Do you dream of becoming a professional gamer? Then you’ve come to the right place! Debugbar has prepared a little 10-step guide to help you get started in esports and give you every chance to become a professional gamer!

1. Choose your game and train hard to develop your skills and reach the highest level in esports

The first step to become a professional esports player is to choose the game you want to specialize in.

The most popular games in esports are often competitive online games like:

• League of Legends,
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,
• Dota 2,
• Overwatch,
• or Fortnite.

Once you’ve chosen your game, you’ll then need to train tirelessly to reach the highest possible level and become a true machine.

To do this you will need to:

• Play very regularly and intensively.
• Analyze your games in detail to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Study strategies and the metagame.
• Watch the best teams play to learn new tactics.

Don’t hesitate to participate in amateur leagues online to compete against other motivated players and improve. Platforms like FACEIT or ESL Play offer many competitions accessible to all levels.

2. Equip yourself with the best gaming hardware to be competitive at the highest level

Next, in order not to be limited in your progression, you need to equip yourself with gaming hardware suitable for the demands of esports:

• A powerful PC with a high-performance graphics card and processor.
• A monitor with a high refresh rate (144Hz or more).
• An accurate and responsive gaming mouse.
• A durable and customizable mechanical keyboard.
• A headset with quality sound and an integrated microphone.
• A stable and fast Internet connection.

Investing in quality gaming setup will allow you to play in the best conditions and fully express your potential.

Esports teams are often sponsored by hardware brands like Razer, Logitech or Asus ROG who equip their players with high-end gear. But before you can get this equipment for free, you’ll need to join a team…

3. Join or create an esports team to participate in tournaments

In most esports games, competitions are played as a team. Your individual progression will not be enough, you will also need to develop your skills and learn to play as a team. To do this, you can:

• Join an existing amateur gamer team looking for new players.
• Create your own team with other motivated players you met online.
• Participate in tournaments and events to get noticed by teams.

Don’t know how to find a team? There are several fairly simple solutions. For example, you can:

• Register on specialized sites like Teamfind that connect players and teams.
• Check forums and Discord servers of your game where teams are recruiting.
• Look in your contact network in the game community.

However, playing in a team requires developing good communication and coordination. Practice regularly with your teammates to create automatisms and real team synergy.

Participate in amateur tournaments like Dreamhack or Gamers Assembly to gain experience and make a name for yourself in the esports community.

4. Immerse yourself in the esports community and develop your visibility

Beyond your skill level, to make it in esports you need to get known and appreciated by the community. To do this:

• Be active on social networks (Twitter, Instagram…) and share content related to your game.
• Stream your games regularly on Twitch or YouTube.
• Participate in discussions on Reddit and your game’s forums.
• Attend esports events to network with players and personalities in the industry.

The more your reputation and network are developed, the more likely you are to join a reputable professional team. Some players also become well-known influencers like Gotaga in France for example.

5. Develop the right mindset and mental toughness to perform at the highest level

The best pro esports players are true athletes who must perform under high pressure. To sustain over time, you need to develop solid mental qualities such as:

• Stress and emotion management in competition.
• Consistency in performance despite uncertainties.
• Resilience in the face of failure and the ability to bounce back.
• Humility and constant self-reflection to improve.
• A taste for effort and high demands on oneself.

As in traditional sports, esports teams are increasingly supported by mental coaches and sports psychologists to assist their players.

Apps like MoreMindfulApp offer self-development programs tailored to esports competitors.

However, a strong mindset alone will not be enough… As with “classic” sports, you will need to take care of your lifestyle.

6. Take care of your lifestyle to sustain yourself in esports

Spending hours sitting in front of a screen playing can have adverse effects on your physical health if you don’t pay attention. To perform over the long term, professional esports players must therefore adopt a good lifestyle:

• Do regular physical exercise to maintain your body.
• Have a healthy and balanced diet.
• Respect your sleep and rest rhythms.
• Take regular breaks to rest your eyes and body.
• Learn to manage your free time outside of gaming.

More and more esports teams are implementing medical monitoring and fitness programs with their players to optimize their health and performance. This is the case for example with Team Vitality in France which has partnered with the INSEP (France’s National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance).

7. Study the esports business to understand its ecosystem

Esports is a real business with many stakeholders such as game publishers, teams, sponsors, broadcasters… To succeed, you need to understand the codes and ecosystem:

• Learn about team and tournament business models.
• Identify key sponsors and brands investing in esports.
• Follow player transfers and star player salaries.
• Analyze viewership and competitions’ monetization.

Many specialized sites like Esport Observer or Esports Insider produce valuable industry analysis and insights. Developing a deep understanding of this sector will help you seize opportunities and make the right career choices.

8. Navigate the international competitive landscape to aim for the biggest esports tournaments

Esports is played on a global scale with competitions held on all continents. To become a recognized player, you need to compete with the best internationally:

• Participate in online qualifiers for big tournaments like IEM, ESL One or Majors.
• Aim for franchised leagues like the Overwatch League or the LoL European Championship.
• Follow your game’s esports calendar to not miss any major tournament.

Each game has its own competitive circuit with flagship tournaments gathering the best teams from around the world. For League of Legends for example, the ultimate competition is the annual World Championship held in a different host city each year. More than 100 million viewers watch the grand finals live.

9. Manage your career and image to last in the professional esports world

Few players manage to make a living from their passion and those who do can see it collapse overnight. To last in this ultra-competitive environment:

• Stay focused on your goals without getting sidetracked.
• Surround yourself with trusted people like an agent or lawyer for advice.
• Cultivate your personal brand and image to attract sponsors and followers.
• Develop supplementary skills (communication, management…) to prepare for your next career.
• Save your money and invest it wisely to secure your future.

Some iconic players like Faker (LoL) or N0tail (Dota 2) have had exceptional careers and have become esports legends. But they are a minority compared to the masses of aspiring pro gamers. Having a “plan B” and preparing for post-career is therefore essential.

10. Get trained in esports jobs to develop your skills

If your player level is not high enough to become a professional gamer or you are starting to burn out, there are many other jobs in esports that are recruiting:

• Coach and analyst on an esports team.
• Manager and player agent.
• Tournament and event organizer.
• Commentator and esports journalist.
• Business development and partnerships manager in an esports organization.

Specialised Schools also offer degree programs to prepare you for these jobs of the future. You can also gain experience by getting involved in organizing events or managing amateur teams.

In short, becoming a professional esports player requires a total personal investment and a journey fraught with pitfalls.

Very few make it, but opportunities are multiplying with the gradual structuring of this booming sector. Passion, hard work and perseverance are the keys to earning money and making a living from competitive gaming. But don’t neglect your studies either, a degree will be a valuable asset to bounce back and succeed in this highly competitive industry.