Hardware

Oftentimes, obtaining the right hardware is one of the most important (and sometimes hardest) steps for a brand new esports team. We’ll talk about ways to get funding in a later section, but first, we find it most important for you to know the different types of hardware and the different requirements for each of the esports.

The major differentiating hardware factor is what system they’re playing on: Console vs PC.

At the very least, a team will need a system per player for a given sport. Example: An Overwatch (6 v 6) team will need a minimum of six computers, whereas a Smash Brothers Ultimate team could survive off a singular Switch console. However, if possible, it’s always better to have more systems. If a computer lab had twelve PCs, that means an Overwatch team could host in-house competitions against one another, which is highly valuable. A Smash Brothers Ultimate team with multiple Switches can have multiple games going on at a time, which leads to more training time, which is also highly valuable.

PC Gaming

Many schools already have PCs capable of running most esports! While some games may require older PCs to turn their graphical settings down low for best performance, other games like Hearthstone or League of Legends will run on even the oldest computers with minimal problems. For the full outline of minimum and recommended computer specs for each game, please check out the resource tabs below.

Of note, whenever trying to set up a computer lab with the appropriate software; ensure your school’s IT team is present and gives consent. Oftentimes, they’ll need to use administrative privileges to load any new software. Whoever takes the role of Head Coach and/or Team Manager may lead the charge in getting the computer labs and internet ports set up properly.

Console Gaming

Console esports often require the least amount of monetary start-up if a school doesn’t already have PCs. Consoles are all-inclusive packages that come with most of the peripherals needed to play. One additional cost factor to consider when planning to play esports from your console is the need to subscribe to the console’s online services for online play.

• Nintendo Switch Online: 12 Months - $19.99

• Playstation Plus: 12 Months - $59.99

• XBox Live Gold: 12 Months - $59.99

Besides these yearly fees, you may need additional controllers or even multiple consoles if you are planning to run console tournaments. That being said, starting an esport team that plays on a few consoles is pretty cheap to set up. Some esports support cross-platform play, meaning that players on the console can play against those on PC. Though possible, this not often recommended for FPS games, where aiming speed is essential and the most precise on a keyboard and mouse. Where cross-platform play is available, console players are only recommended to compete with other console players