Screentime
$1 Billion Video-Game Coaching Business Ramps Up During Lockdown
Parents with idle kids and refugees from cratering industries are driving up demand for gaming lessons
Source: Ben Johnstone
During his senior year in high school, Taylor Heim, an aspiring esports player who lives on the outskirts of Philadelphia, has enjoyed a steady part-time job. For roughly a dozen hours a week, Heim hops online and coaches fellow video-game enthusiasts on how to improve their skills at Overwatch, a multiplayer shooting competition.
Like most video-game coaches, Heim talks with his clients on video calls while watching them compete live or in replays of earlier matches. For a fee, Heim analyzes their mistakes and gives them tips on how to get better.