Is Esports A Job? The Pros and Cons

Esports has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. But is it a viable career option? We explore the pros and cons of professional gaming.

Introduction

The jury is still out on whether or not professional gaming, or “esports,” can be considered a job. On the one hand, esports players are often signed to contracts by professional teams, receive a salary, and compete in tournaments for prize money. On the other hand, there is no guarantee of a steady income, and the hours are long and irregular. So what’s the verdict? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of esports to see if it can really be considered a job.

PRO: Professional gamers have regular hours.
CON: Professional gamers may work more than 40 hours per week.
PRO: Professional gamers receive a salary.
CON: Esports prize money is not guaranteed.
PRO: Professional gamers have the opportunity to travel.
CON: Travel expenses are often not covered by teams or tournaments.

The Pros of Esports

Esports has been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years. With the rise of Twitch and YouTube Gaming, more and more people are being exposed to the world of competitive gaming. But what are the benefits of esports? Let’s take a look.

You can make a living

The best players in the world can make a very good living playing video games. Some of the top players earn millions of dollars each year from tournaments, sponsorships, and streaming platforms like Twitch.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever earn that kind of money playing video games, it is possible to make a living playing esports. There are plenty of lower-tier tournaments with prize pools that can help you cover your expenses, and many professional players also stream their gameplay on Twitch or other platforms to earn additional income.

If you’re passionate about gaming and have the skill to compete at a high level, pursuing a career in esports is definitely worth considering.

You can travel the world

Competing in esports can take you all around the globe. Last year, the League of Legends World Championship had a prize pool of over $2 million, and the event was watched by 43 million people worldwide. If you’re good enough to compete at that level, you can make a very good living just by playing video games.

Of course, you don’t have to be the best in the world to travel. There are plenty of smaller tournaments with smaller prizes that can still take you to interesting places. And even if you’re just streaming your gameplay on Twitch or YouTube, you can reach an international audience that will help you pay for your travels.

You can be part of a community

In the world of esports, it’s easy to find a community of like-minded people who share your passion for gaming. No matter what game you’re into, there’s likely an esports community for it—and because of this, you can connect with other players from all around the world who share your interests.

Not only that, but being part of an esports community can also give you a sense of belonging and purpose. When you’re surrounded by people who share your love for gaming, you can feel more motivated to pursue your passion and reach your goals.

Moreover, being part of an esports community can help you develop important social skills—such as teamwork, communication, and leadership—that can benefit you in all aspects of your life.

The Cons of Esports

Esports can be a great way to make money and achieve success, but there are also some drawbacks. One of the biggest cons of esports is the amount of time that it takes to become successful. It takes a lot of time to reach the top level of play and you might have to put in a lot of extra hours to get there. another con of esports is that it can be very stressful. The pressure to perform at a high level can be very intense and can lead to burnout.

The hours are long

A 40-hour work week is the standard for most jobs, but esports often requires much more time than that. Professional gamers usually practice for at least 10 hours a day, and some play even more. In addition to practicing, gamers also have to stay up-to-date on the latest strategies and techniques. This requires watching hours of gameplay footage and reviewing game tapes.

The pressure is high

The pressure is high to perform well in esports. In some cases, professional gamers are signed to contracts that include strict performance clauses. This can lead to a lot of pressure and stress, especially when players are expected to compete at a high level on a regular basis.

This pressure can also lead to burnout. In other words, players may become so exhausted from the demands of competing that they no longer enjoy the game or are unable to perform at their best. This can be detrimental to both the player’s career and mental health.

You need to be constantly improving

In order to keep up with the competition in esports, you need to be constantly improving. This means that you not only have to put in extra hours of practice, but you also have to be constantly learning and trying new things.

Being an esports athlete is not a 9-to-5 job. It is a full-time job that requires a lot of hours and dedication. If you are not willing to put in the work, you will not be successful.

Conclusion

So is eSports a job? Well, it depends on how you define “job.” If your goal is to make a living playing video games, then yes, eSports is definitely a job. However, if you’re looking for the traditional 9-5 workweek with set hours and a guaranteed paycheck, then no, eSports is not a job. It’s important to remember that most professional gamers are not signed to traditional contracts like other athletes. Instead, they are free agents who can choose which tournaments to play in and which sponsors to partner with. This lack of security can be both good and bad – it allows players more freedom and flexibility, but it also makes it harder to earn a consistent income.