Gaming is a hobby that a lot of us enjoy, and it’s a great way to unwind after a particularly long day. But have you ever thought about turning your hobby, especially if you’re really passionate, into a source of income? Whether that’s a side hustle or you want to turn it into your primary income, there are certainly opportunities out there for you to do just that
With things like streaming and pro gaming becoming a proper sport with lots of cash prizes up for grabs, the gaming community always has space for new creators. Once you find your niche and community with the right amount of work like any other job, the only way is up! So if you want to find out what possibilities are out there for you, keep reading below for business ideas, essential apps to download, equipment, and much more!
1. YouTube
One of the earliest platforms to turn gaming into a profitable career, streaming on YouTube has proved to be popular and successful with many. From the earliest creators like PewDiePie and Markiplier, who now have an audience of well over 10 million subscribers, there’s more than just one way that they are earning money.
Sponsorships are one of the most common ways to earn an income, and each brand deal varies in its payment, but you can be sure that it will be profitable. Not only can you promote products that you genuinely enjoy using, but you can also get paid while you do it!
Another way is through ads, and YouTube’s only requirement is that you have at least 1000 subscribers and over 4000 hours of viewing time over the last 12 months, and you’re good to go!
2. Twitch
Another popular streaming platform that’s exclusively for gaming, Twitch, can really let you find your community and focus more on live streaming, so if that’s something you enjoy more than filming and editing and then uploading on YouTube, then this is an excellent platform to try out.
Ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and viewer donations are just some of the ways in which an income can be earned on Twitch, and as soon as you become a Twitch Affiliate, even more, opportunities become available to you!
3. Patreon
Another platform tailored for content creators of all kinds, Patreon is a way in which you can give your audience exactly what they want. Your audience can subscribe to your Patreon on a monthly subscription basis for exclusive content that can’t be found on any of your other channels or platforms. It literally is an exclusive club!
You might host member-only live streams, or this may be where you take exclusive member requests on what to play next. And with the option to create different ‘tiers’ so that your audience can choose what exactly they want to subscribe to, it gives them more control as well as yourself.
4. Pro Gaming
Another popular way to earn an income is by really honing your gaming skills and playing at a professional level. Major tournaments and leagues are held globally, and we predict that this will only become bigger in the years to come.
Esports games have a lot of potential income to be earned, and it also gives you a platform to let yourself be known to others, giving you more attention and boosting the rest of your channels and online presence.
5. Games Tester
If the creative side intimidates you a bit and you’d rather have a more office-type job, then working as a games tester or even a quality assurance tester might be the way to go! Not only does it mean that you’ll have access to all the latest and greatest games before anyone else, but you’ll also genuinely be helping to make the game a smoother experience for everyone to play when it is finally released.
A quality assurance tester won’t just play through the levels; you will also tell developers of any technical issues such as glitches or lags, which they’ll be able to patch up and smooth out before the final release. You literally get paid to play video games all day!
6. Create Game Tutorials
Although a relatively simple concept, it’s not to be underestimated! Creating game tutorials provides a tool that people will want to refer to. They may be new to gaming and need some help or simply be stuck on a level they can’t get past. Instead of giving up on the game altogether, turning to a tutorial to guide them through a particular level is an extremely helpful assistant to have on hand!
And the more game tutorials you upload to somewhere like YouTube, for instance, the more chances of your audience returning and growing as a result!
