Making money from video games may seem like an impossible task, but it is a reality for many people. According to Statista, the revenue from the video game market in the United States was estimated to be $109 billion! This is huge and means that there is more than enough revenue for individuals to tap into and earn.
If you are a regular gamer or just someone interested in making money from video gaming, you are on the right page.
In this article, I’ll cover ways to earn money by playing video games. But first, can you make money playing video games? Let’s find out.
Is It Really Possible To Make Money Playing Video Games?
This is a common question that many people ask online, even on reddit. The simple answer is yes, it is possible to make money playing video games. For instance, theRadBrad, a popular YouTube video game streamer, has over 13 million subscribers. SocialBlade states that he makes between $5,000 and $51,000 monthly, which is decent.
How to Start Playing Games And Making Money
1. Stream on Twitch
“It’s hard to get me out of the house when I’m making $60,000 an hour playing video games.” This is a recent statement from T-pain, an American singer, rapper, and producer who streams his gameplay on Twitch.
In the world of video gaming, content creation is perhaps one of the most popular ways to earn money. Now, you may wonder, why would I want to watch someone play? Players do this for many reasons:
- To see if a game is worth buying
- To get tips from players who play better than they do
- To interact with others who are interested in similar games
- To listen to someone they find entertaining, who can make jokes while playing
Players who livestream games on this platform have built up a large following and have made revenue that has run into millions! Note that you’ll have to be a great player who is entertaining enough that people will want to watch play.
The genre does not matter either, but you can choose a niche and stick with it until you become an authority. For example, TheseKnivesOnly, a popular streamer, plays Call of Duty games and is known to use only knives. Not many players can achieve this task, which has made him stand out and build a following of 35.5k on Twitch and 1.77 million on YouTube.
2. Create Game Guides On Video Platforms
Gaming guides teach players how to play a game or reveal interesting secrets. Many players don’t have time to learn everything due to family and job commitments, so they watch game guides for quick tips on completing a game.
Once you have created a game guide channel, you can make money from it through different ways like streaming, including:
- Donations from followers
- Sponsorships from gaming brands
- Revenue from brands that hire you to promote items that will interest your followers
To begin, you’ll need equipment, including a camera, quality microphone, console or PC for playing games, and video editing software. You will also require a stable internet connection to upload your videos quickly to your page.
3. Offer Game Coaching
Game coaching is another way to earn cash from video games. As a video game coach, you help others improve their gaming skills. This may be people who are slow learners or don’t have enough time to commit to playing games.
You can do this in a one-on-one or group setting depending on your preference. To be a game coach, you obviously need to be an experienced player and learn to teach properly. You can take things further by getting certification which will allow you to teach in formal settings.
4. Become a Video Game Journalist
If you are an excellent writer who loves to play games, this is an excellent option. As a journalist, you can write game reviews, report recent gaming news, and cover events in the game industry. Your writing skills are important here, as people must find you interesting enough to read your content.
We suggest you focus on a specific gaming niche until you become an authority. To begin, create a blog where you’ll upload regular content. This will serve as your portfolio when you pitch to editors or brands. You can then monetize your blog by applying for AdSense or through sponsorships from gaming brands.
5. Game Tester
A game tester tries out games at the initial stage and provides them with feedback on how to improve. With this, the game developer can identify problem areas and correct them before launching the game fully. To start game testing, you’ll need to be passionate about games and work in a team. You must follow directions, meet set deadlines, and provide proper feedback to developers.
Unlike other methods of making money from playing games, you’ll need to check out job boards and other ads for game tester openings. Better still, you can send a pitch to the game developer, showing your gaming experience and background.
The downside of this method is that you’ll need to go through the regular job recruitment process. Fortunately, Business News Daily states that you can make up to $76,000 annually as an experienced game tester.
6. Become a Video Game Developer
If you have the technical know-how, why not become a game developer? As a game developer, you take ideas and use them to create codes for games. This is a hands-on option that will require programming certifications and a degree in computer science or software engineering. You can begin by developing games on your own to build a portfolio. Then, send a pitch to employers and other major brands who may be looking for collaboration. You may also check job boards for entry-level jobs and make your way up as you build experience.
7. Organize a Gaming Podcast
A gaming podcast is great if you enjoy talking. Here, you can cover content related to gaming, like gameplay commentary and industry news. Once your podcast kicks off, you can monetize it through donations, ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and brand sponsorships. To start a podcast, you need a microphone, a podcast hosting platform, and audio editing software.
8. Participate in Gaming Tournaments
If you are a skilled gamer, entering the professional gaming scene is a good step. In fact, Statista shows that there was a prize pool of $15 million from five eSports games in 2023. This means that there is enough money to win as a professional gamer. Top tournaments include Dota 2, Valorant, League of Legends, and EA Sports FC.
Skilled players will also have the added benefit of getting sponsorships from popular brands. In most cases, this involves using their merchandise when participating in these tournaments.
9. Try Mistplay
Mistplay is an Android gaming app that rewards you with free cash when you play new games. The app is available on the Google Play Store and has different game genres. To begin, download the Mistaplay app, pick a game from the library, and start playing.
You earn units as you play games, which you can use to redeem gift cards on the site. Mistplay also offers a referral bonus when you invite friends to play on the site. While this is only around $0.40 – $0.50, it is still a great way to earn cash for free.
10. Play Gambling Games
If you’d rather have a hand-off approach, you can wager on games at online casinos instead. At the Сasinocanada review site, you can choose what to play at casinos with a $5 deposit. These include titles like online slots, blackjack, poker or live casino games. We recommend this option since you can play with a little cash and claim huge payouts if you are lucky. However, like other forms of online gambling, you’ll want to play responsibly to avoid problems.
Conclusion
As you can see, earning cash by playing video games is possible. We’ve listed options from live streaming to game tournaments and more. All that’s left is to choose the ones that work for you and start earning!
Remember to do your research first, as some options require technical expertise. The key to success is to go in a direction that aligns with your goals, build your skills, and remain committed.
