eSports refers to organized, competitive gaming. As an industry, eSports is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. The global eSports market had a value of just over $1.08 billion in 2021, an increase of nearly 50% from 2020. Global market eSports revenue is projected to grow to almost $1.62 billion in 2024.
Over the past few years, games like Counter-Strike and Call of Duty have been solidified in pop culture by rappers and other celebrities, and eSports competitions are being financed by corporate sponsors such as EA Sports. With the industry expanding, it should be no surprise that eSports is becoming a popular career path. Whether you’re new to gaming or have been hosting Twitch streams for years, there’s an eSports job to suit your level.
CAREERS FOR NEWBIES
Finding a job that allows you to learn about the eSports industry as you go is essential if you are just starting. The following careers are crash courses on the business side of eSports.
eSports Writer/Reporter
The eSports industry is growing at a fast pace, which calls for more media coverage. There’s been an uptick in content creation for the industry, increasing opportunities for writers. To write successfully about anything, the author needs to have a working knowledge of the topic. Reporters in eSports write feature articles, game reviews, news coverage, and interviews, so they have a chance to get to know players and gain familiarity with the industry’s inner workings.
eSports Social Media Manager
Social media plays a prominent role in marketing strategy in every business field. Like traditional sports, eSports has a passionate fan base, so social media is especially critical to its success. Social media managers — also considered community managers — engage with fans on social platforms to build and sustain an active online community. A benefit of working in community management as a newbie is that the job immerses you in eSports shorthand. To be effective in the role, you’ll need to pick up the lingo quickly.
eSports Videographer/Video Editor
During eSports competitions, Videographers are responsible for capturing game action for live streams. Additionally, a Videographer may double as a Video Editor and work with teams or leagues to produce game trailers, competition recaps, and visual content for social media. Neither role requires significant gaming experience, so they are great options for entry-level job seekers if you have videography skills.
CAREERS FOR PRO GAMERS
Do you have a few years of experience in eSports and want to flex your knowledge in a more significant role? Then, the jobs below could be perfect for your next career move.
eSports Caster
Casters are the voices of eSports. They improve the enjoyment level for eSports viewers during live streams by filling the role of traditional sports commentators during eSports competitions. There are two types of casters: a shoutcaster who calls the action on a play-by-play basis and a colorcaster who analyses and breaks down game strategy. Casters don’t have to be expert-level players, but they should be comfortable talking about games.
eSports Streamer
When most people consider eSports as a job industry, a career as a streamer is the one that comes to mind. Streamers are the most visible members of the industry, but not all are immediately capable of commanding a million viewers during an event or winning tons of prize money. So instead, most streamers start self-employed and build out their eSports audience on streaming services such as Twitch, Youtube, or Caffeine.
eSports Game Testers
Games Testers are part of the quality assurance team for game publishers. They try out games that are in the initial development stages and report bugs or glitches to developers. Game Testers are also responsible for ensuring the game is functional across different consoles and on mobile devices. They may also provide feedback on features and modifications to improve gameplay.
CAREERS FOR LEAGUE PLAYERS
You’re an eSports expert now. You have elite-level knowledge of every game, video game industry and have built a formidable network of gamers and other industry players.
eSports Event Manager
Tournaments and live stream events are the cornerstones of eSports. Putting together an event requires a lot of logistical planning, where the event manager comes in. Event managers handle player communication, venue booking, securing media coverage, and supervising budgeting — including prize pool money. In addition, they are sometimes responsible for staffing other eSports jobs such as casters and referees.
eSports Partnership Manager
A partnership manager is a combination of marketing, sales, and agenting. They secure corporate partnerships for eSports leagues and competitions through networking and relationship building. Partnership Managers may also work with individual players to obtain lucrative sponsorship deals. They are crucial to the industry’s financial success by ensuring there are consistent revenue streams.
eSports Team Manager
A Team Manager is a multifunctional, administrative role. They are responsible for keeping the team organized, scheduling practices, collaborating on strategy with the coach, and scouting and recruiting new players. Team Managers also oversee team branding, so they organize the design of the team logo, selection of team colors, and merchandise production. They also play a part in promoting the team.
For more information on the eSports world and its many careers, check out Yellowbrick’s Ultimate eSports and Gaming Career Guide.
