Professional players in Overwatch receive a nice salary. The “Overwatch League” has set a substantial minimum salary!
The step from a “good” player to a real professional is not so easy in most games. Those who want to be among the very best players have to sacrifice a large part of their free time and dedicate several hours of training every day. There is often little time left for other hobbies, and even a full-time job is hardly manageable with the typical pro gamer workload.
Therefore, the Overwatch League, Blizzard’s coordinated push into the world of eSports, aims to provide players with a clear perspective with fixed rules for teams, team owners, and their players.
Big Salaries for Professional Players
Although the details of the contracts are negotiated by the individual parties, there are a few basic pillars that the contracting parties must adhere to in order to be admitted to the Overwatch League. These fixed rules include:
- Teams sign players for at least one year, with the option to extend for another year.
- The minimum salary for each player is $50,000 per year – which equals about €43,000!
- Teams must provide players with health insurance and a retirement plan (largely regulated by law in Germany).
- Teams must pay at least 50% of performance bonuses directly to the players (like prize money from tournaments).
These conditions seem to make the transition to professionalism significantly easier – with such a salary and these protections, the decision to take the plunge into eSports is likely easier.
The first 7 teams have now also come together for the Overwatch League – but one European team is still missing.
It doesn’t seem like the program is really getting off the ground yet, although Blizzard wants to make “further announcements” in the coming months that should increase the appeal of the Overwatch League.
What do you think of these conditions for professional players? A deserved salary for a professional sport? Or an absurd amount of money for a hobby?
If you are considering becoming a professional, then prepare for this: Overwatch: 16 hours of training daily, sleeping with 10 men in one room, and the food is also bad
