Professional Gamers Facing the Choice: Esports or Livestreaming?
Professional video game players have the potential to earn a significant amount of money through both competitive esports play and livestreaming. However, finding the right balance between the two can be a challenge.
Shroud and Sneaky Retire from Competitive Play to Focus on Streaming
In April 2018, Shroud retired from competitive CS:GO to focus on his streaming career. Similarly, Sneaky, a former League of Legends pro for Cloud9, left the pro scene in January 2020 to pursue streaming full-time. Both players recognized the potential for higher earnings in streaming compared to competitive play.
Streamers Outearning Esports Pros
Popular streamers tend to dominate in terms of earnings compared to even the most successful pro gamers. Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube offer diverse sources of income, including brand sponsorships, subscribers, and viewer donations. This gives streamers an advantage over esports pros who primarily rely on salaries and prize earnings.
The Financial Success of Streaming
Streaming platforms like Twitch have experienced significant growth in recent years, with Twitch being acquired by Amazon for $970 million. Streamers not involved in competitive gaming initially earned more than their esports counterparts due to diverse income sources. However, professional esports competitors have also diversified their income through brand deals, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
While streamers have a headstart in generating stable income, esports competitors now have more opportunities to earn considerable amounts of money with minimum salaries, prize earnings, and individual sponsor deals.
Streamers’ Higher Earnings
Streaming still appears to offer higher earning potential for its top performers. Popular streamers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, such as Ninja and Imaqtpie, have been able to make millions of dollars per year through brand sponsorships, subscribers, and donations.
Competitors in Franchised Esports Leagues Catching Up
Competitors in franchised esports leagues, such as the LCS and Overwatch League, are now receiving higher salaries and benefits like team houses and health insurance. The average starting LCS player salary in 2020 is $410,000. Blizzard’s Overwatch League implemented a baseline salary of $50,000 and provides healthcare.
Significant Payouts in Non-Franchised Esports
Esports outside of franchised leagues, like CS:GO, Dota 2, and StarCraft 2, primarily rely on prize money from third-party events. Players can earn upwards of $200,000 in a single year from prize money alone. The overall prize money awarded in esports has been steadily increasing, reaching $232 million in 2019.
The Power and Challenges of Competitive Gaming and Streaming
The most successful competitive gamers and streamers are in a powerful position in terms of income and reputation. However, the competition is fierce, and attention from viewers is scarce. While streaming offers higher earning potential overall, not everyone can achieve the level of success seen by top streamers like Ninja.
Both competitive gaming and streaming can provide sustainable careers, but success is not guaranteed. Overall, top streamers tend to earn more than their competitive counterparts, but the choice between the two depends on individual preferences and goals.