As the world’s most famous fighting game, Street Fighter has become one of the most recognized titles in video game history. It has come a long way from its arcade days in the 1990s and now many people get paid to play Street Fighter V (SF5), the latest addition to the franchise.
The Street Fighter series has always been great for competitive gaming due to its one-vs-one setup. Two players select their characters which come with individual abilities and fighting styles, and battle until one player reigns victorious. Competing in Street Fighter tournaments is, therefore, the perfect way to earn money from playing.
There are far more options to make money than just winning competitions though. Players can make money from streaming gameplay, betting on tournaments, and even coaching others.
Want to learn more? Keep reading for all the ways that you can make money playing Street Fighter V.
Competing in Tournaments
When it comes to competitive eSports events, none have outlived Street Fighter. It is the franchise that paved the way for the entire eSports industry!
The first Street Fighter competitive gaming event was held in 1996 called “Battle of the Bay”. In 2002, the tournament was renamed as the Evolution Championship Series (or Evo for short). It focuses solely on fighting games. You’ll find the most current Street Fighter games being played along with other fighting titles such as Tekken and Mortal Kombat.
Aside from the Evo, the other main Street Fighter tournament is the Capcom Pro Tour (CPT) which is open to players all over the world and culminates at the Capcom Cup in San Francisco.
The Camcom Cup has the biggest prize pool of any competitive Street Fighter event with a guaranteed prize pool of $200,000 USD for 2020.[1] The 2019 Capcom Cup prize pool came in at $379,500, making it one of the biggest Street Fighter tournaments based on prize funds to date.
The richest Street Fighter V player, Du Cong “NuckleDu” Dang, holds this title by winning the Capcom Cup in 2016 where he won the biggest single prize awarded: $230,000. In addition to any winnings made from finishing top in competitions, pro players also receive a salary from their team.
To be a pro, you have to be good. There is no point in entering competitions if you don’t have what it takes to win! But if you are already a good player and willing to put in endless practice, Street Fighter competitions could be one way for you to earn money as you play.
Learn more about how to break into competitive gaming here!
Betting on eSports Events
If you don’t think you have what it takes to win the Evo or the CPT, why not bet on them instead? Betting on video game tournaments is a great way for anyone to make money from Street Fighter.
That being said, you do still need to have a passion for the game and a good understanding of the different characters, players, teams, and tournament structures. However, due to its one-vs-one setup, the title is a relatively easy eSports game to start betting on.
The Capcom Cup and the Evolution Championship Series are two legendary tournaments you should keep an eye on for betting options. However, due to the open circuit model of professional gaming, anyone can put competitions on if they have the funding. This means many third-party events will also crop up which are great for betting on.
You can now place eSports bets online using betting websites. Street Fighter is not as popular as an eSport as say League of Legends or CSGO. Therefore, always check the bookies have the game and the odds you want before creating an account.
Live Streaming Your Gameplay
Taking a step away from the competitive scene, you can also make money playing Street Fighter by becoming a streamer.
As a streamer, you earn money through advertisements on your channel, paid subscriptions from your supporters, and donations. Once the ball is rolling and your audience is growing, you can then start to form brand sponsorships which bring in the most money.
Fighting games do not have as large an audience compared to newer MOBA and FPS games. Unlike other titles where streamers can build an audience from being solely funny or entertaining, unless you are good at Street Fighter you will find it hard to gain followers. The main reason people want to watch SF5 streams is to view high-level play and learn some new moves.
As long as you bear this in mind when broadcasting there is no reason why you cannot become a fulltime Street Fighter streamer.
Coaching Players
If all else fails, teach!
The idea of teaching someone how to play video games may seem strange, but the demand for professional gaming coaches is actually on the up.
Of course, to be a good coach you need to know what you are talking about. You need to have mastered the game, know all about the different characters’ fighting styles and abilities, and how to make killer combo moves that guarantee a win!
Street Fighter lessons as not as sought after as lessons for games like Fortnite or Overwatch, but you can still charge up to $100 per hour if you are qualified to teach and have an expert SF5 background.
What Else?
Of course, Street Fighter V is not the only game that you can play for money. Click here to see our list of other titles that have great earning potential! Here are some of our personal favorites:
FAQs
Yes, you can get paid to play Street Fighter V! The majority of full-time players earn an income from competing in Street Fighter V tournaments, but there are options to bet, stream, and coach too.
The major Street Fighter tournaments are the Evolution Championship Series, the world’s longest-running eSports event, and the Capcom Pro Tour.
The prize pool for the Capcom Cup in 2020 is guaranteed to be at least $200,000 split between the top 20 contestants.
The best Street Fighter player is Daigo Umehara who holds the title of “the most successful player in major tournaments of Street Fighter” in the book of Guinness World Records.
The richest Street Fighter V player is Du Cong ‘NuckleDu’ Dang who has won $296,187 from Street Fighter V tournaments.
