Hey Managers!
Alright, grab your coffee! We took a short break from Dev Diary last month to prepare for the second Closed Beta, but now we’re back, and it’s time to talk about the one thing that can make or break your road to glory. Money, baby!
Every great team starts somewhere, and so does every budget. When you begin your journey, the amount of cash in your pocket depends on the team you pick. If you’re brave enough to build your own squad from scratch, you’ll start with roughly 50,000 in the bank. Sounds like a nice cushion until the bills roll in and reality hits.
Every month, the costs pile up. Your players want their salaries, your staff expect their paychecks, the HQ isn’t going to maintain itself, and your merch doesn’t print for free. Suddenly that comfortable balance starts to look a little less shiny. Managing an esports org isn’t just about drafting the best talent, it’s about keeping the lights on while you chase trophies.
This is one of the first prototypes we had. We might tweak it here and there, but it already shows the full money flow, from income to expenses, from good months to not so good ones. You can also sort everything by time to keep track of how your org is doing.
Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. Sponsors are your lifeline. Keep them happy and they’ll keep your team alive. Merch helps too, especially when your fans start repping your logo everywhere. Stickers, prize money and those onetime deals can also give your account a nice boost when you need it most. And sometimes luck steps in with a surprise offer or a lastminute transfer that saves the season.
But with great income comes even greater expenses. Bonuses after a win, contract buyouts, HQ upgrades, travel to tournaments, or a sudden “incident” that no one saw coming all of it hits your budget hard. You’ll have to make the tough calls. Do you invest in better facilities or sign that star rifler who could carry you to the next Major? Do you risk it all on short term success or build a steady empire? Every dollar you spend tells a story. Maybe it’s a story of ambition, maybe it’s one of survival. Either way, this is the part of the job that separates real managers from dreamers.
That’s it for this Dev Diary. Next time we’ll take a look at what’s coming next on your path to the top. Until then, keep your spreadsheets clean amd your sponsors smiling!