{"id":20895,"date":"2021-05-06T15:57:27","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T19:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=20895"},"modified":"2023-06-07T13:23:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T17:23:21","slug":"how-to-make-money-playing-video-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/how-to-make-money-playing-video-games\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Best Ways to Make Money Playing Video Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
There\u2019s a lot of money to be made playing video games. With a global market expected to exceed 200 billion dollars<\/a> in value by 2023, the gaming industry is alive and well. Against a backdrop of global lockdowns, next-gen console releases, and eSports millionaires, video games are experiencing a new golden age.<\/p>\n But you don\u2019t have to be the next Markiplier<\/a> to make bank. There\u2019s a ton of different ways to make money gaming, and we\u2019re going to help you find out how.<\/p>\n In this guide, we\u2019ll break down how to make money playing video games as a:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Think of this as your in-game tutorial. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/influencermarketinghub.com\/black-twitch-streamers\/<\/p><\/div>\n Streaming gives gamers more control and connection with their fans than most other options. Thanks to Twitch, YouTube, and a handful of other platforms, video games have become more open, democratic, and potentially lucrative than ever, with expert streamers earning upwards of $1.5 million a year.<\/p>\n Of those, superstar streamers like PewDiePie reportedly make $4.5 million a month<\/a>!<\/p>\n However, if you want to make money as a streamer, it takes a serious amount of time, originality, and persistence. Picking the right platform, getting the right gear, and understanding how to market yourself are all vital.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at the platforms:<\/strong><\/p>\n With 140 million active monthly users, Twitch is the largest stomping ground for streamers. It\u2019s also where the lion\u2019s share of earnings can be made as a gamer – by a mile. Full-time Twitch streamers can make over $5000 a month (before ad revenue) with the best of them earning potentially much, much more.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/pcmag.com\/how-to\/8-twitch-tips-for-watching-esports<\/p><\/div>\n You\u2019ll need to become a Twitch affiliate to unlock most of the monetization Twitch offers, including money from subscriptions, bits, and ads. To be invited to become an affiliate, you will need the following within the last 30 days:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Once you\u2019re affiliated, here\u2019s how you\u2019ll actually make money on Twitch:<\/p>\n Ultimately, Twitch is a great platform if you want to build communities<\/strong> and offer raw, DIY-style content<\/strong>. It\u2019s also got some of the best monetization options available, and relatively broad content guidelines.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/comicbook.com\/gaming\/news\/pewdiepie-youtube-livestream-deal-videos\/<\/p><\/div>\n Next to Twitch, YouTube supports the widest community of video game content creators and offers some of the best monetization options. While it doesn\u2019t pay as much as Twitch in the beginning to middle ground, at the very top end of earnings YouTube is definitely up there.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how you can make money as a YouTube streamer:<\/p>\n There are other ways to make money as a streamer, including alternative platforms like Facebook Gaming platform and Patreon. Facebook Gaming provides potential revenue streams in the form of subscriptions, donations, and sponsorship opportunities.<\/p>\n Patreon<\/a> is also a great option if you want total editorial control of your content. It allows creators to assign \u2018tiers\u2019 to different subscription amounts, giving more bonus content and goodies as a user\u2019s subscription cost goes up.<\/p>\n Whatever platform you choose to build your channel<\/a> on, you\u2019ll need basic video and audio editing skills and a few pieces of gear – like mics, a camera, a graphics card, and basic audio and video software.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got those, pick games you love playing and let your personality and enthusiasm shine through. The best streamers create original content, post regularly, and make genuine connections with their subscribers.<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2020-09-10\/amazon-s-twitch-gets-streaming-star-ninja-back-on-its-service<\/p><\/div>\n The next highest-paying bracket as a gamer is to go pro. If you can dominate in one specific game, this might be the path for you. Keep in mind that a ton of esports players often have livestreams too. Factor this in with sponsorship deals, advertising revenue, and merchandise, and it\u2019s easy to see how rising to the top as a gamer can be so lucrative.<\/p>\n How much can you earn as a professional gamer?<\/strong><\/p>\n The short answer? It depends. Contrary to popular belief, pro gamers don\u2019t make the bulk of their income through winning competitions – although it certainly helps. The top prize pools in esports<\/a> are regularly in excess of $1 million, with games like Dota 2, Fortnite, and League of Legends leading the pack.<\/p>\n Interestingly, a lot of the most competitive esports games are also some of the most viewed content on Twitch<\/a>. The takeaway? The most popular games are also the most competitive!<\/strong><\/p>\n Tip: At the individual level, the world\u2019s highest-paid professional gamers receive revenue from multiple outlets. Some of it comes from competing, but a lot more comes from sponsorships, endorsement, merchandise, streaming, and advertising revenue.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n On winnings alone, a handful of players can claim to pull in figures above $5 million<\/a> for competing. However, there are other famous professional gamers and streamers, like PewDiePie and Markipilier, who make the majority of their income from things like ad revenue and merch.<\/p>\n Although figures vary, PewDiePie reportedly makes between $20 million and $60 million a year!<\/p>\n Finally, at the team level, professional esports organizations generally offer each player an incentive package that can include a regular salary. Although the industry is pretty quiet about exact numbers, you can expect around $4,000 a month as a contracted player in a top organization.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/esportsjunkie.com\/2019\/12\/29\/highest-paid-dota-2-players-are-from-og<\/p><\/div>\n If you have what it takes to join the ranks of a team like Team Liquid, OG, or Fnatic, expect to get paid considerably more. Just make sure you win!<\/p>\n Going the distance as a pro gamer is hard. The competition is relentless, and you\u2019ll need to have crazy talent to compete with the best. But it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n Realistically, however, you\u2019ll need to be exceptionally gifted and competitive in one or two games. On top of this, you\u2019ll need to practice obsessively, do well in reputable competitions or leaderboards, and make a name for yourself.<\/p>\n Being a content creator is the broadest and most accessible way to make money playing video games. If you\u2019re creative, persistent, and have some basic video skills<\/a>, content creation is the best place to start.<\/p>\n Typically, the most-watched gaming videos include:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Often, income for gaming content comes through ad revenue and paid partnerships. As we\u2019ve mentioned, your options for monetization differ slightly depending on your platform, but the same principles apply regardless of where you build your following.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/thegameawards.com\/nominees\/content-creator-of-the-year<\/p><\/div>\n You\u2019ll need a unique angle, bags of personality, and the ability to engage with your fans.<\/p>\n If you want to make money making gaming videos, you\u2019ll need to invest a bit of cash upfront for the right gear, develop your editing skills, and be prepared to publish content regularly.<\/p>\n Luckily, we\u2019ve covered this all in our guide on How to Start a Gaming Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re a streamer, YouTuber, or esports pro, you\u2019ll probably be thinking about merchandise of some kind. From clothing brands<\/a> to 3D printed video game memorabilia, merch is a great way to connect with your fans. The great thing about merch is that you can do it either as a standalone service or as part of your wider brand identity<\/a>.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/complex.com\/pop-culture\/2018\/10\/cloak-brand-clothing-announcement<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s pretty simple to get started selling DIY merch with sites like teespring.com<\/a>. You don\u2019t even necessarily need to be a designer to start selling branded merch, as there are plenty of decent design platforms out there.<\/p>\n Tip: Start by searching for the kind of merch you would want to buy. If it doesn\u2019t exist – great! That means there could be a gap in the market you could fill.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Ideally, you\u2019ll have your finger on the pulse of a particular subculture within the gaming community, or have a passion for a particular game and its mythology. There are tons of Etsy sites where creators sell merch on every game imaginable, from Pokemon posters<\/a> to Destiny ghosts<\/a>. The potential is endless!<\/p>\n Video game journalism is a great way to make money playing video games, with comparably fewer barriers to entry. Journalism differs from other gaming content slightly, in that it often focuses on news, reviews, and opinion-focused pieces, with a strong written element.<\/p>\n Typically, video game journalists write or create video reviews, provide commentary, and discuss what\u2019s going on in the industry as a whole.<\/p>\n Gaming journalists can make anywhere between $15 – $50 an hour, depending on how good they are and the kind of publication they work for. You can also self-publish on your own blog or website, or choose to freelance.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/prowly.com\/magazine\/top-gaming-journalists\/<\/p><\/div>\n In these instances, your earnings depend on things like your site visitors, viewers, and relationships with other publishers<\/strong>. There are literally thousands of publishers out there, from alternative tech news companies<\/a> to esports analysis websites, that will pay well for decent gaming content.<\/p>\n There are also other avenues to writing about games that come with a decent salary, such as technical writer positions<\/a> in major gaming companies.<\/p>\n Fancy finding bugs for a living? No, we don\u2019t mean becoming an entomologist. A QA, or Quality Assurance tester, basically tries to find everything that can go wrong in a video game.<\/p>\n Their job involves trialing different environments and characters, testing gameplay variations, and finding any bugs or glitches – then repeating this until a game is considered ready to ship.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/kmuw.org\/post\/your-move-cyberpunk-2077-awesome-right-platform<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s a vital part of the process because it ensures that end-users enjoy a seamless, bug-free experience (looking at you, Cyberpunk<\/a>.)<\/p>\n From the job listings, we\u2019ve found, QA testers make anywhere between $15 – $35 an hour, depending on experience. If you have the patience, love video games, and are process-oriented, QA testing could be the role for you.<\/p>\n Tip: The best place to start is by searching job boards. Get a feel for the experience needed, and try to land some freelance contract work, to begin with at smaller studios. From there, you\u2019ll have some XP under your belt and will be able to find better positions at major studios where you can earn money playing video games.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Building a gaming channel or brand is straightforward, but it\u2019s hard work. Whether you\u2019re building your platform as a streamer or finding new publications to write for, the market is competitive, and it\u2019ll take some time to get moving. Think carefully about the medium you want to work on and how this lines up with your skills and character.<\/p>\n From there, it\u2019s really just a case of putting content out there, being authentic, and having fun.<\/p>\n The most successful people in the gaming industry have well-established brands. Including a brand name, gaming logo<\/a>, branded profile images, and cover photos, and much more.<\/p>\n\n
1. Live streamer<\/h2>\n
Twitch<\/h3>\n
How to make money on Twitch<\/h4>\n
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YouTube<\/h3>\n
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Other ways to monetize video games as a streamer<\/h3>\n
2. Professional gamer<\/h2>\n
How can I join a professional esports team?<\/h3>\n
3. Content creator<\/h2>\n
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4. Selling gaming merchandise<\/h2>\n
5. Video game journalist<\/h2>\n
6. QA tester<\/h2>\n
Build your gaming brand the right way<\/h2>\n