How to Make Money Playing Video Games
Gaming is a hobby that about 2.5 billion people around the world are already fond of in one way or another. According to stereotypes, this is just stupid entertainment, which at worst is addictive, and at best it just “grows out” sooner or later.
Such people should be told that gamers can earn quite good money – there are many ways to do this. Take PewDiePie, for example – everyone knows who he is. Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg is his real name, but many may not know it.
Moreover, few people know about his net worth, which ranges from $14.5 million to $30 million. And it was all earned through video games thanks to YouTube Ads.
1. Overview of games
The game review entails sharing your personal opinions and experiences about the game. First, you need to play the game, analyze all its aspects, and then record your game while simultaneously filming comments on your game actions. After that you need to edit this video, using an editor, convert video to MP4 online, and publish the file on various video hosting sites or streaming sites like YouTube, Twitch, or Discord. It is very easy to turn such an activity into a full-time job, you will only need some specific tools if you are serious about long-term work: the best gamepad, good camera and microphone, video editor of good quality, Streamlabs streaming software. With such tools, you can quickly generate content for your blog and post-production will be better and more efficient.
2. Become a streamer
By becoming a streamer, you are streaming your game live. Your audience is watching you play the game in real-time. There are various platforms that you can use to stream your gaming sessions. The most popular is Twitch with its Twitch bot. This platform is specially made for video games. You can also use the YouTube gaming platform, as it has seen a massive rise in popularity lately.
So how do game streamers make money? One way is advertising from Google. This only applies if you are streaming to YouTube. Live streaming can be a profitable venture if you have a large audience. However, this should not confuse you. You can start from scratch and expand your audience over time, as well as improve your streaming skill with the help of tools for streaming.
3. Video game testing
How about a way to make money playing video games straight from the game developers? This is what will earn you the title of a game tester. The most interesting thing is that the work itself can be done from almost anywhere. Yes, some employers require you to work from home. This is mainly done to prevent leaks, and it can speed up communication. Others will make you work in your house if you want.
Yes, it can be an interesting job, but it’s a job. It would be wise to treat him properly. It’s not for everyone. You are not there just playing video games all day. The people who hire you to find problems/bugs in the games you work on expect results on time. They already know that nothing is perfect on the first try. You’d better know exactly what you’re doing before you start doing it.
4. eSports
In eSports, as in traditional sports, continuous training is essential. Consider whether you’re prepared to play for many hours a day and treat the game as labor rather than enjoyment. Many single-player online games contain a leaderboard that lists the greatest players. If a player rises to the top of the list, that’s going to mean an invitation to online tournaments. After winning them, the road to eSports competitions will open. For example, Hearthstone or MTG Arena tournaments are so popular in the game community (you can learn more with the help of the Discord platform).
Team online games are more difficult. We will have to not only find equal players in terms of skill but also constantly train with them. The biggest prize money is in team esports disciplines. For example, each of the five players on the winning team of the Dota 2 main tournament received a million dollars.
If the team is not ready to compete with the champions, you can take part in the city and regional tournaments: search the Internet for amateur competitions in your favorite game. The prize money there, of course, is less: from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Winning at such tournaments can make the team popular and open the way to tournaments with more solid prizes.
Another option to get into esports is to sign a contract with an esports organization and play for a salary. But for this you will have to prove your skills: win several tournaments or become a popular streamer. Also, try to record your game to analyze, and parse your mistakes for further correction.
5. Farming in online games
Those who enjoy the process of gaming but lack specific abilities – except perhaps perseverance – might supplement their income with a somewhat tedious but in-demand job. This group of people assists those who are willing to invest a significant amount of money in the game to jump right into the best content. Although such a method is banned in the vast majority of games, boosting other people’s accounts is in high demand: rise to the top of the leaderboard, upgrade a character, or accomplish some kind of hardcore test. However, it is important to check your internet speed.
Another related area is the sale of in-game valuables from virtual currency to items and even real estate – again, this violates the user agreement of most games, but few people stop. It all depends on your expertise and the work to be done. For example, for boosting a League of Legends account, you can make up to several hundred euros.
6. Making games
The gaming industry may be a difficult place to work in, and it’s easy to burn out or become a workaholic. On the other hand, you may have the opportunity to work on one of the games that will be remembered by millions of fans. In addition, your name will be inscribed in the credits for all time – it’s difficult not to be proud of such a feat. This is a fantastic career for folks who enjoy solving complex problems and getting a rush of endorphins from a long-term project that has finally been accomplished.
Just be aware that you will almost certainly not even be prepared to operate on the most important assignments straight away. You’ll have to start with independent or mobile games, which are frequently profitable in comparison to traditional blockbusters.
Salary is determined by several factors, including position, experience, project size, and development nation. Of course, you can become a celebrity like Hideo Kojima or Markus Persson, who lives in a mansion and is financially secure for the rest of his life thanks to the popularity of his Minecraft game.
Conclusion
Making money on games is possible and real, but there is one thing, you will have to not only have fun but also work hard. However, in any other job.
Which way is more profitable and where you can earn more? It all depends on you. Someone who has charisma and competent speech can become a popular video blogger, and someone who has a phenomenal reaction and perseverance will become a cyber sportsman. But until you try to do something, you will not know what is closer to you.
