Who would’ve thought that a couple of decades after its invention, video gaming could be a viable way to make a living? Online gaming is one of the newest ways to make BIG money online. The only difference is that, unlike most side hustles, this side job can be a lot of fun.
That said, it can also become a stressful and overwhelming thing when you overdo it.
All passions can become aggravating, especially when you turn them into careers. Recent research shows that players often experience a decrease in satisfaction and interest after a few years of competitive gaming. The key is careful regulation and rest.
If you’re a gamer and want to start earning while playing skill-based games, the following top fun ways to earn while gaming should be able to help you out.
Live Stream Your Gameplay
One of the many ways gamers monetize their hobby is through live streaming. Nowadays, you can watch live streams of games on a variety of platforms, e.g., Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
To get started, you simply need a computer and a platform where you can gather followers. Once you have that, you can decide between two methods of three methods of monetization:
- Ads
- Donations
- Subscriptions or merchandise
You can also do a combination of all three if that fits your style.
Note: It takes a while to build a loyal Livestream audience who are willing to pay subscription fees or buy merch. To be a successful streamer, you’ll need to have a combination of luck and skill. Especially with how oversaturated the streaming market is nowadays.
Create Tutorials Online
If your goal is to simply make money on the weekend, streaming might not be the best option for you. This is because live streaming will require a lot of time and resources to maintain. Luckily, there is another way you can earn while gaming — and that’s through creating online video tutorials.
Many gamers watch online video tutorials, either to get entertained or to learn how to navigate a new world or level. You can find these on platforms such as YouTube or Facebook. There are also a couple of them circulating Twitch.
The great thing about this method is that you only need to make the video once. After you upload it on your channel, you continue to make money from your video for years to come from the ads you show your viewers.
Note: If your goal is to make a respectable amount of money from your tutorials, you’ll need to make guides on the most recent and most popular games. On top of that, you should also find a way to make your tutorials much more valuable to your viewers. The competition in the video tutorial market is high; therefore, you need something that will set your video apart from the other gaming tutorials.
Sell Your Account or Digital Items
For high-ranking gamers with valuable digital items, you might be able to make a sizeable amount of money by selling your account. With the growing popularity of cryptocurrency, many players have been able to sell their digital assets (e.g., game items, accessories, and even accounts) to clients who are willing to pay the price.
While the money you can earn from this strategy might not be huge, you can still earn passive income with cryptocurrency. Keep in mind that cryptocurrency prices are very volatile. In other words, prices can drastically go up or down without prior notice.
If you’re going to go this route, it’s best to take the results with a grain of salt.
Beta Test Games
It’s not strange for gaming companies to ask professional gamers to test out new games before their release. This is one of the ways companies can gauge the functions and features of the game.
As a game tester, your job is to report to the developers a game’s flaws, errors, or areas of improvement. During the test, you go through every single stage of the game, record findings, and send a report to the developers so they can begin doing the adjustments.
While becoming a playtester can be intriguing, the work can be overwhelming and stressful. Pay may also vary, depending on the company you’re working for. For bigger establishments, you might be able to earn a lot by working as a tester. However, for smaller companies, you can expect to earn minimum wage or less for your efforts.
Final Thoughts
Earning money while gaming is not as impossible as we’d thought several years ago. Nowadays, as long as you have a computer and access to the internet, your opportunities for making money online are endless. If you’re looking for ways to start earning money through playing online games, the methods we mentioned above are the best places to start.
Good luck!
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
