As the world of professional video gaming explodes in popularity, you might be wondering where pro gamers are making a living when they earn enormous salaries playing from home.
As it turns out, many eSport stars and pro gaming celebrities are flocking right here to Florida.
Streamers such as Kevin “KMagic101” Murray, who plays games online as he hosts his daily online show, are settling down right here in the Tampa Bay area and earning a living from the comfort of their home.
“Over the years I’ve formed friendships, I got involved in the community of online gaming and I started streaming,” Murray said. “One day I was like man, I should try this. It looks fun.”
Websites like Twitch and Mixer give gamers a platform to play video games for an online audience – sometimes in the tens of thousands or more – and earn money through viewer subscriptions, donations, sponsorships and ad revenue.
The billion-dollar boom of the gaming industry is perforating the collegiate level as well. Full Sail University, a recording arts school in central Florida, just opened their $6 million eSports arena called “The Fortress.”
“There’s a lot of opportunity out there when it comes to the world of eSports,” said Full Sail eSports Strategist Bennett Newsome, a streamer himself.
“There’s a lot of places this could be happening at. But Florida is already a great destination for vacation, for families, for all those types of things,” he said. “Adding eSports into that mix, that Florida can become the home to eSports, is a goal not only for Full Sail but for Florida in general.”