Are you one of those players who daydream about becoming a professional player in one of their favorite games but can’t progress because they don’t know how to up their game? Don’t worry, you are not the only one, but fortunately, you have landed on the right doorstep. CS2 is one of the world’s most competitive games, with numerous top-ranking championships each year with hundreds of players and millions of viewers.
Becoming a CS2 pro player is a journey that involves strategy, decision, and a deep understanding of game mechanics, while sharp reflexes and pinpoint accuracy lay a base for your career. In this CS2 gambling guide, we’ll take a detailed tour of how to become a CS2 pro and make your mark in the global arena.
Defining a CS2 Pro Player and the Essential Skills Required
“How to become an esports player” is on the minds of many gamers worldwide, regardless of their game. A CS2 pro gamer is a professional esports player who has carved a niche in CS2 for themselves and competes in national and international gaming tournaments at a high level, often for rewards, sponsorships, and, more importantly, recognition in the industry. There’s no hard and fast rule that a CS2 player can’t play other games, but a pro gamer in the CS2 industry is surely known because of their strategic, mental, and technical skills in CS2 that set them apart from casual players.
You can take Mathieu Herbaut for an example, one of the top CS2 players in the industry, well renowned for his significant wins in international CS2 championships, showcasing a series of skills that help him stand out from the others. Let’s take a look at these skills:
- Strategic Thinking and Game Sense: Understanding the game dynamics and predicting opponents’ moves while countering them quickly.
- Mechanic Skills: Precision in simining, quick reflexes, and adept control over game-specific mechanics.
- Communication: Ability to lead your team to victory with clear and superb communication in the game.
- Analytical Skills: Analyzing your opponents’ behavior and using your tactical knowledge to gain an edge over them.
Earning Potential for Professional Gamers
Professional esports players earn more than one might think. The industry has evolved so much in the past decade. Pro gamers have started being treated like normal athletes, making an average esports player’s salary range anywhere from a hundred thousand dollars to millions for top-tier players. However, the earnings primarily depend on the players’ competitive status and the number of competitions they have slayed.
Moreover, this salary is also greatly influenced by the gamer’s niche; for instance, the international CS2 competitions have a prize pool of several million dollars, while on the other hand, the winners of a racing sim event might not even get close to a tenth of this. However, sponsorships, brand deals, merchandising, and advertising greatly boost a professional esports player’s salary. This is not new, as we have all seen Ninja and Tfue making tens of thousands of dollars with their sponsorships and merchandise.
Competition Level in the Esports and Gaming Industry
Esports has quickly found its way among one of the most competitive industries in the world. The constantly evolving nature and addition of new games and techniques have made it hard, but with thousands of players aspiring to reach the top, it becomes even harder to reach the top and stand out.
For pro gamers, esports and the gaming industry are not merely a hobby; they are their career, and they pursue it with complete dedication and put in long hours to gain strategic leverage over others. Hence, there’s no doubt that the industry has seen millions of professional players come and go just because they could not keep up with the pace. Those waiting for their time overshadow those who can’t continuously evolve and become better with the industry.
Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Professional Gamer
We know how hard it is to overcome an industry filled with aspirants and top-tier players dominating the battlefield and the industry. However, it’s crucial to remember that they once started all the same, so why not you? We have compiled a thorough guide to learn how to become a professional CS2 player or a professional in any other game and dominate the industry. So, let’s go through it.
Step 1. Hone Your Gaming Skills
Mastering any game requires hours of dedication to build and refine your basic skills. Shooting, aiming, reflexes, and advanced tactics are all aspects that determine what kind of a player you are. You need to refine these skills by spending hours in practice modes, killing those bots, and analyzing your playing style to identify weaknesses in your gameplay.
Moreover, you need to start refining strategic positioning and using tactical gear to position your enemies to your advantage from early on in the game. This will help you catch your enemy off guard and practice your analytical capabilities to devise a counterattack against them. Most games have training drills with variable difficulty levels to help you greatly refine your aiming and shooting. Different games have different mechanics, so make sure to make yourself comfortable with change and adopt the best practices of the specific game, and most importantly, always remember that consistency is the key.
Step 2. Change Game Settings
In-game settings are there for a reason; use them to your advantage. Depending on your player type, you might need to adjust several settings, including sensitivity, controller settings, or even aim-down sights. Carefully use these settings to your advantage and adjust them correctly so when you’re facing an enemy, you don’t fall into the hole of setting a disadvantage.
Many games offer trial and training modes where you can test different game settings and make custom presets according to your preference. Carefully try different variations to find out what suits you best, then hit the enemy with that.
Step 3. Research About Top Players
There’s nothing wrong with researching the top players in your game to research their gaming methods, weapons, and playing styles, too. Nothing beats learning from the best who have been in the industry for far too long.
Watch streams and gameplay videos of top players to learn how they tackle difficult situations and understand their decision-making process. Understandably, it might look a little too fast and unpredictable, but remember that paying attention to their gameplay and noting how they handle pressure and adapt to opponents will expose you to high-level tactics and encourage you to adapt the best version of their playing techniques.
Step 4. Engage with Community
Building connections with the community is how you open yourself to the industry and bring opportunities for growth and exposure. The esports industry is one of the most active industries on socials and community forums, with top players and teams gathering millions of followers. Moreover, many community forums actively discuss the playing style of multiple players, which can help you learn and expose you to any potential opportunities for growth.
For instance, platforms like Twitch and YouTube are actively used to announce events, promotions, and community events. Networking with players on these platforms can lead to forming or even joining teams, essential for moving up in the competitive gaming industry.
Step 5. Broadcast your Gameplay
Streaming has become one of the most profitable sources of income for professional esports players. There are hundreds of examples worldwide where we can see how people love watching professional players take a beat in the game. Moreover, broadcasting doesn’t only provide financial benefits, it can greatly help you build a following, interact with people, and if you’re lucky attract sponsorships.
So, provide engaging and informative content that adds value to your platform and the community. This will help you gather likewise-minded people in your following, with whom you can share tips, strategies, and even personal insights into the game to help other players while helping yourself.
Step 6: Start Earning Money in CS2
CS2 is one of the highest-paying games in the world. Millions of viewers watch each championship, and countless local and international events occur worldwide. Once you feel confident enough in the game and have joined a team of fellow professionals, it’s time to set foot in the ring and start earning your bread.
This can be done through winning championships, securing sponsorships, doing advertisements or generating revenues from streaming. So, keep an eye open for any upcoming championships that you might be ablaze to enter in the future, and keep yourself and the team ready to bring your A-game when the time does come.
Step 7. Assemble your Team
By now, you should have been able to connect with several people whose interests match yours and who are eager to make their name in the industry. Finding and incorporating yourself with the right team is crucial because they can make or break your career. Attend local competitions and watch gaming forums to see upcoming talent or people who might be a good advantage in your team to form elite compliance.
A good team should have a balanced dynamic where each player brings a unique strength and smoothly communicates. Team chemistry is just there from the start, so you can start from there. However, regular practice sessions can help you synchronize and polish the team’s gameplay.
Step 8. Regularly Participate in Tournaments
Gaining exposure and experience in the competitive gaming industry is crucial. It’s just something that cannot be substituted for anything else because the dynamic gameplay seen in championships cannot be simulated in normal gameplay. Hence, you must participate in as many tournaments as possible to test your skills and analyze where you stand.
This experience not only helps you hone your skills but also helps you build a reputation in the gaming community. Enthusiasts will start seeing you and appreciating your gameplay, whereas sponsors and major teams can contact you for potential benefits. However, your first tournament will not be your best, so remain consistent and strive for excellence.
Step 9. Maintain Your Health
Maintaining physician and mental health is as important for a pro gamer as it is for other human beings. Constant pressure and fight-and-flight response triggering can strain the body and mind. So, take regular breaks and find the important balance between gaming and normal life.
Implement a routine that includes multiple breaks during gaming to rest your eyes and stretch your muscles. Sitting in the gaming chair for multiple hours can cause muscle strain, leading to poor gameplay, and you wouldn’t want that, right? Moreover, it’s important to keep your mental health in check through various techniques, including meditation and yoga.
Conclusion
In summary, if you’re looking to become a CS2 pro gamer, you don’t need to worry about the hardships and the competition because if you practice well enough and remember that you’re doing it out of your love for gaming, you have nothing to lose. So, refine your gameplay, participate in competitions, and earn recognition in the industry to complete your dream of becoming a professional esports player.