Shroud: From Pro Gamer to Streaming Sensation
Meet Michael “shroud” Grzesiek, a well-known figure in the streaming community. He began his journey as a professional player in the game Counter-Strike, aiming to make his mark in the scene. In 2016, he helped Cloud9 win ESL Pro League Season 4, and the following year, came close to repeating that success at ESL One Cologne 2017.
Transitioning from CS:GO to Twitch
Although a talented Counter-Strike player, Shroud’s destiny extended beyond the game. His incredible aim in first-person shooters garnered a loyal following on Twitch, leading him to retire from professional CS:GO in 2018 and pursue a career as a full-time streamer.
Today, Shroud has over 10 million Twitch followers and his streams have been viewed over 500 million times. He continues to demonstrate exceptional aim and is often referred to as “The Human Aimbot.”
Shroud’s Gaming Ventures
While Shroud is renowned for dominating first-person shooters, he is also one of Twitch’s most versatile variety streamers. According to TwitchTracker, he has streamed 284 different games on his channel.
The game Shroud has streamed the most is PUBG, with a whopping 2,600 hours of streaming time. VALORANT and CS:GO follow closely behind. Other games he regularly rotates through include World of Warcraft, Apex Legends, New World, Escape from Tarkov, DayZ, and Rainbow Six Siege.
Shroud’s Impressive Setup
As expected from a top streamer, Shroud has a high-performance gaming PC and a range of peripherals and streaming gear. Here’s a breakdown of his setup:
Shroud’s Gaming PC Setup:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 3090
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X570-I
- Memory: HyperX Predator RGB 64GB
- Case: MAINGEAR Vybe Case
Shroud’s Gaming Peripherals:
- Mouse: Logitech G303 Shroud Edition
- Keyboard: Logitech G Pro X Keyboard SE
- Headset: Logitech G Pro X Headset SE
- Mouse Pad: Logitech G840 XL SE
- Monitor: Alienware 27″ AW2721D Monitor
Shroud’s Streaming Gear:
- Camera: Sony Alpha A6000 Camera
- Microphone: Blue Microphones Mouse
- Microphone Arm: RODE PSA1 Microphone Arm
- Audio Mixer: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- Chair: Logitech G x Herman Miller Embody
Shroud’s Success and Earnings
Shroud’s revenue streams include Twitch, YouTube, merchandise, and sponsorship deals. While his exact earnings are not confirmed, it is estimated that he makes between $10 and $12 million per year. In 2019, he also earned $10 million from a deal with Microsoft when he briefly switched to Mixer, which shut down in 2020. Despite his success as a streamer, Shroud earned a respectable $218,113 during his time in the professional CS:GO scene.
Shroud’s Background and Popularity
Shroud was born in Toronto, Canada, but has resided in the United States for several years and currently lives in Los Angeles. He has Polish heritage, as reflected in his surname, Grzesiek.
Shroud’s popularity on Twitch stems from his exceptional aim and his ability to play a wide range of games. Additionally, his no-nonsense persona and minimal involvement in controversies sets him apart from other streamers. He frequently engages with fans, offering insights and answering questions during his streams.
What’s Next for Shroud?
In a diverse streaming scene where content creators constantly experiment and innovate, Shroud sticks to what he knows best: playing a wide variety of games. While he continues to explore new games, his content style remains consistent. Shroud’s future is likely to follow a similar path as he stays true to his gaming roots.
