A decade ago if you were to quit your job for gaming, you’d be seen as insane. Now, gaming as a job is a viable and profitable route for many people! Plus, studies show that gaming actually has some decent health benefits.
The future is great, isn’t it?
Despite what your mom might have to say, you can get paid to play video games. Here are just a few ways to do it:
Get Paid to Play Video Games on YouTube
Ever heard of Pewdiepie? He’s the number one YouTuber right now and got to that position by playing video games. But he’s not the only one.
Thousands of YouTubers have earned millions playing video games. Jacksepticeye, Markiplier, and TheWillyrex are just a few names that boast over 10-million followers who tune in to watch them game. Sometimes they’ll review or criticize games, but often just upload footage of them playing and giving commentary.
YouTube gamers are paid through ads, just like any other YouTuber. Many of them also design merchandise and set up Patreon accounts.
There are a lot of gaming videos uploaded to YouTube each day, so it can be hard to stand out. But if you upload frequently, have a fun personality, and carve out a niche, you could be YouTube’s next big gamer.
Start Twitching
Twitch is another popular way to make money gaming. With Twitch, you stream yourself gaming live. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it can be very profitable.
Twitch streamers are paid through donations. These donations start at as little as $1.00, but viewers can donate however much they want. Popular Twitch streamer Sodapoppin was actually given a $57,000 donation once, the largest amount ever donated on Twitch.
It’s unlikely you’re going to get a donation that big, but you never know. Twitch streamers like Ninja have managed to start whole careers through Twitch. Ninja has now branched out into writing books, a comic series, and even has his own Fortnite skin.
If you’re gaming for long periods of time anyways, there’s no reason not to stream it. Who knows what might happen!
Get Professional
If you’re particularly skilled at a certain game, you may be able to play it professionally. Esports has taken off in the past decade, making tournaments a viable way to make a living. Although, not every game is an eSport.
Some of the most popular eSports games are Fortnite, Counter-Strike: GO, DOTA 2, and League of Legends. Tournaments for these games often boast prize pools of hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions. DOTA 2, for example, has a total estimated prize pool of over $220-million across 1,300 tournaments.
Esports players are constantly being offered sponsorships and expanding their opportunities through tournaments. They have the opportunity to tour the world gaming. Now that’s the dream.
Unlike making money off YouTube or Twitch gaming, though, pro gaming is all about your skill level. A YouTuber might find profit in gaming through their personality, even if they’re not the best at the games they’re playing. A pro gamer needs to dedicate days and weeks worth of time honing their skills at a single game.
It’s an exhausting lifestyle and a climb at that, but pro gaming is a great way to get paid to game. If you’re young and talented, it might be something worth looking into.
Review Games, Become a Gaming Journalist
Yes, gaming journalism is a thing. The gaming world is always expanding and changing, and more and more publications are now covering the gaming world. Even the biggest players like The New Yorker and the Washington Post employ gaming journalists now!
Like any other form of journalism, this can be a hard profession to break into. But if you’re someone who likes to stay up-to-date on the latest gaming releases, news, and controversies, you have a chance.
Try starting a blog or YouTube channel dedicated to gaming journalism. If gaming is your main hobby, you might have some interesting angles and opinions to share. There’s a wide audience for content like this, so it’s worth a shot.
Even independent gaming journalism can earn you money. Set up ads on your blog or YouTube channel and you’ll start making a little cash flow. If you keep at it, your avenues will only expand.
Start Testing Games
Every video game company needs game testers. These companies will sometimes hire testers to play unfinished products in search of bugs and general critiques. You may not gain any fame this way, but you’ll make some money doing it.
To get into game testing, keep your eyes open for job postings from game companies in your area. If you have an online persona and following as a gamer already, you could get paid to beta test games publicly.
Some companies will give gamers early access to their games so they can play them on their channel for their viewers. This increases the visibility of their product, and in turn, earns you some money. Of course, you need to have a decent following for this to be viable.
Sell Accounts
Account selling won’t make you a ton but is another way to make money gaming. If you play any MMO games like RuneScape or World of Warcraft, you know how important it is to have a high-level character. Some people are willing to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for this luxury.
If you have the time, you can level up accounts and sell them through eBay or dedicated account-selling platforms. It takes time, but people are willing to spend a decent amount for good characters.
Gaming to Live
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to get paid to play video games. Whether you go the YouTube route, the Twitch route, or the pro-gaming route, three’s a lot of money to be made in the industry. So don’t give up the hustle — you could be the next Pewdiepie!
If you’re looking for a way to save money while gaming, see what Lootfeed can do for you. Contact us with any comments or questions.
