Competitive gaming is definitely recognizable as part of the advancements with the video game industry, and Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) involvement in esports is one of the latest with adequate and noticeable involvement. The elements of gameplay, storytelling and player interactions have all seen a change and enhancement since AI’s inclusion and have since formed a critical part of modern game development.
Jobs in esports have also seen growth in numbers and input with expertise needed in the various fields and departments to keep the business of esports going, and with AI playing the role of an assistant, there have been some ways to go about finding jobs for potential candidates.
Types of AI Jobs in Esports
Credit: Microsoft Copilot
Just like every other field, jobs do require the necessary skills, and responsibilities to be met and carried out as part of their diverse job specifications. Here are a number of jobs that will interest future candidates who are interested in making meaningful input in the world of AI:
AI Designer: They work hand in hand with programmers to design and implement AI systems that enhance gameplay and create engaging experiences. They design (non playable character) NPC behavior, develop AI-driven gameplay mechanics, and analyze player data to improve game data design. A background in game design will be required.
AI Programmer: They work closely with game designers and other programmers to create realistic NPC behaviors, procedural content generation and game adjustments. Having knowledge on programming languages such as C++ and Python are essential in landing this role.
AI Researcher: They focus on exploring new AI algorithms and techniques that can improve game development and player experiences. Conducting experiments, developing prototypes and collaborating with game development teams are a part of what they do to implement their findings. Having a background in programming and AI research and adequate knowledge on gaming will help to secure this role.
AI Data Scientist: These are technology professionals that analyze and interpret data to solve problems and help drive decision making. They write their own applications and mostly use data mining and machine learning to build models to automate these tasks.
Cybersecurity Analyst: This is a field that requires specialists fluent in skill sets in combating ransomware (a type of malware that holds a victim's data or device hostage, threatening to keep it locked—or worse—unless the victim pays a ransom to the attacker) and intrusion detection (monitors network traffic and searches for known threats and suspicious or malicious activity).
Summary
Ensure you have a strong portfolio showing your experience you have gathered from freelance, internships or personal projects so you can demonstrate your proficiency. Pursuing advanced certifications can help specialize your marketability, but more importantly is to stay up to date with industry trends and network as often as you can so you secure job opportunities and gain valuable insights into the industry.
Esports has helped create jobs for lots of people. Interested in knowing about the business side of esports? Listen to the Gamers Change Lives Podcast! We get experienced guests from all around the world featuring.
Written By Jeffrey Osei-Agyeman
