Overwatch is one of the most popular video games with 40 million players worldwide. It also has one of the biggest eSports leagues in the world. This makes Overwatch an ideal game to start playing for money.
What’s more, with Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 due to be released later this year, the earning potential is only expected to grow.[1]
Overwatch is an FPS game where two teams of six players select their own heroes and battle against each other, fighting for objects. Overwatch 2 will build on this, adding new maps, heroes, and a multiplayer mode.
Do you want to know how you can become a paid player of this best-loved game? Keep reading for all the ways you can make money playing Overwatch.
Become a Streamer
The easiest way to make money from Overwatch when first starting out is through streaming. In fact, many professional players originally start as streamers before attracting the attention of professional teams.
One of the top Overwatch streamers broadcasting live today is Brandon ‘A_Seagull’ Larned, or simply Seagull for short.
When Overwatch first came out, he was quickly established as one of the game’s most popular streamers. By 2016, he was averaging 30,000 viewers per stream. Seagull played in the first Overwatch League from 2016 to 2018.
With over 1 million followers on his Twitch channel today, he has retired as a pro player to focus solely on streaming the game.
Could you do follow his success? Sure!
All you need to be a successful Overwatch streamer is a passion for the game, a good level of skill so your audience can learn from you, and an entertaining personality.
Don’t expect to gain thousands of followers overnight – you will need to put in constant effort into your stream. However, once you have secured a good following, you can earn an impressive income while doing what you love!
Compete in Tournaments
If you want to make a lot of money from playing Overwatch, the best (albeit most competitive) option is to compete in the Overwatch League (OWL).
The Overwatch League is the top Overwatch tournament and with professional players receiving a three-figure salary plus million-dollar prizes.[2] COVID-19 has put some stress on the third season in 2020 and many professional Overwatch players have turned to the new game “Valorant”.[3] However, with Overwatch 2 to be released in 2020, this should see the title return to the eSports scene with a bang.
Making your way into the OWL is no easy feat. Of the 40-million that play the title, only 199 professional Overwatch players are in the tournament.
There is no one road to success. Becoming a professional player is as much about being seen and signed by a team as it is to do with skill.
To start with, partake in online Overwatch competitions. You can play in free tournaments with no prize funds up for grabs. Then work your way up to contests that require you to pay an entry fee but give the potential of taking home the pot. From there, the only way is up.
For more information on competing in professional eSports tournaments, read our guide on entering the competitive gaming scene.
Bet on The Overwatch League
As a popular eSports event, the Overwatch League is also great to bet on.
Although many of us are familiar with betting on sports, betting on gaming competitions is a whole new ball game. However, if you are a fan of the Overwatch title you’ll find the different betting options much easier.
Therefore, while betting on Overwatch does not require you to be a highly skilled player, you do need to know about the game and the different techniques used to win. Following the OWL and learning about the teams and players is also essential.
Most sportsbooks today will offer odds on eSports so you can simply place wagers online. To make the most money you can from betting on eSports, always use promotions offered by online sportsbooks.
While sticking to the OWL might be preferable, it is also essential you follow and bet on up-coming talent and smaller events. These tournaments often have better odds which leads to greater payouts!
Make Investments
With the eSports industry on the rise – expected to grow from 1 billion USD of revenue in 2020 to 1.6 billion by 2023 – there could be no better time to start investing in eSports.
You cannot invest directly in Overwatch, but you can buy shares in Activision Blizzard, the publisher of Overwatch. The OWL is fueling Blizzard’s growth, and the release of Overwatch 2 later this year should see the stocks shoot up further.
Blizzard is not only the brains behind Overwatch but also behind the Call of Duty series and the virtual card game Hearthstone.
Coach Overwatch
Last but not least, you can make money playing Overwatch as a gaming coach.
As eSports is classified as a sport, many colleges are now offering eSports scholarships. These range from $500 up to $8,000 per year and Overwatch is one of the games in which you can receive funds for being a top player.
Because of this, being a master of Overwatch is now more than just a luxury skill – paying for coaching lessons is now a good investment. More people than ever are seeking out Overwatch gaming coaches to improve their play.
If you are a skilled player, you could coach others in one-on-one lessons to help them learn how to play the different Overwatch heroes and come out on top. The more qualified you are to teach, the higher the hourly rate you can charge.
What Else?
Enjoy playing Overwatch? You might also like these other first-person shooter games that you can play for money:
Alternatively, browse our gaming guides for ways to make money playing all other leading titles. You can also visit our homepage for even more ways to start a career in video games.
FAQs
The prize pool for the Overwatch League 2020 is $4.77 million USD. This is split between all games in the tournament, with the OWL playoffs having $4 million of the prize pool.
The highest-paid Overwatch League player is tied between Jae-hee ‘Gesture’ Hong and Joon-Yeong ‘Profit’ Park. These two OWL players from South Korea have won $194,730 in tournament winnings.
Pro Overwatch players receive a salary of $50,000 per year. On top of this, they also receive housing, healthcare, and money from winning competitions.
The biggest Overwatch streamer, who has been broadcasting live since the game came out in 2016, is Seagull. He has over 1 million followers on his Twitch channel and quit playing professionally to stream for a living.
You cannot buy Overwatch stocks directly, but you can buy stocks of Activision Blizzard, the publishers of the Overwatch game. The company’s stocks are increasing in value and 2020 is a great time to buy.
