5 Ways to Earn Money Through Gaming
Whether you’re controlling characters on a console or collecting coins on a computer, you probably know how expensive gaming can be. Simply picking up a new machine, peripherals and display can set you back a pretty penny. Then there’s the ever-increasing price of the games themselves, which often come with content that you need to buy separately.
Perhaps there’s a way to bring that cost down. Maybe your hobby can pay for itself. The good news is that you can do even more than that. There are many people who earn a living through gaming. Some are making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and others are making millions. Read on to learn how.
YouTube
Gaming is one of the most popular categories on YouTube. Some of the top gaming channels earn an impressive income through ad revenue, merchandise, sponsorships and other sources. PewDiePie, who started out posting basic gameplay commentary videos, raked in an estimated $70 million last year.
All you need is basic recording equipment and some creativity. From there, you simply need to find a unique approach. Whether it’s guides, tutorials, reviews, playthroughs or something else entirely, there are plenty of options for content.
Betting
If you’re an expert with certain games, you can bet on yourself (or other players) to win prizes. Websites like Unikrn have real money earning games that allow you to earn rewards for playing. This includes popular titles like DOTA, Fortnite and League of Legends. All you have to do is link the game and do what you do best.
Development
While it’s likely that you’ll be doing less playing than programming, game development is a serious career that allows you to make your ideas come to life. Developers who work for companies like EA and Ubisoft make generous salaries, while those who take the independent route make far more.
Take Minecraft, which was single-handedly put together by Markus Persson before being sold to Microsoft a few years later for a whopping $2.5 billion. Stardew Valley was also developed by one person and has made over $30 million.
Journalism
If you have a way with words, then you can make a decent income as a video game journalist. This allows you to spend hours playing the latest games before writing about them. You can either work for a company or start your own website.
eSports
Becoming a pro gamer isn’t exactly easy, but with more and more people tuning in to watch the growing variety of games, your odds are better than ever. Of course, you need to be extremely skilled at a specific game. Then it’s a matter of getting recognized, which usually involves using a platform like YouTube or Twitch to show what you can do.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to be a player to earn a living in eSports. Alternative career paths include hosting events, coaching players, commentating on matches and managing teams.
There are many other ways to make money gaming. This includes testing games, streaming them and farming in-game currency. Find one that suits your skills and interests.
