Since it was invented, video games have generated billions of dollars. Many people make millions of dollars each year from playing video games and you’re about to discover the things you need to do to make money with video games.
In this article, I’ll give you some insider-proven methods that can help you earn more money from video games.
Let’s take a look at each of them right away.
1. Become a Video Game Live-Streamer
Video game players often dream of becoming video game broadcasters, but they do not know where to begin. It is possible to earn an income as a gamer by becoming an online video game broadcaster, but this requires a lot of time, money, and dedication.
First, you need to decide what kind of video game broadcast you want to start. There are a variety of popular genres, such as first-person shooters (FPS), role-playing games (RPG), and online multiplayer combat games.
Once you decide the genres of video games you want to live-stream, you will want to sign up with Twitch. That is the most perfect platform to start your video game live-streaming business.
SEE: How to Get Paid on Twitch
2. Get Paid to Test Video Games
Video gaming companies are always on the lookout for people to test new games. You can become a video game tester to earn money. However, before you can get paid to test video games, you need good gaming skills. This means you should be a strong gamer and be able to play more than one type of video game.
For example, UserTesting (usertesting.com) pays about $10 per 20-minute test you complete while on Beta Testing (betatesting.com), you can earn $10-$20 for most tests (or more).
In my opinion, this is one of the easiest way to make money from the comfort of your home, office, or even on the go. Other companies include Nintendo, Sega, Gameloft, Ubisoft, Activision, EA, Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, Konami, Bandai, Namco, etc.
3. Make Money Creating Video Games Content
Anyone can publish a video game, but it takes skill to make a game that stands out.
People who publish their video games or mobile game content have a lot to gain. Free video games are a popular form of entertainment and range from casual games to complex or sophisticated titles.
If you’re looking to make money with video games, creating game content is a good way to get started. There are hundreds of game categories, and there’s no limit to the number of video games you can create content about.
But how can you make money with video games content? Sponsored videos and articles, advertorials, donations, selling merchandise, affiliate marketing, and advertising on your blog are some of the ways to make money from video games content.
SEE: How to Make Money as a Content Creator
4. Make Money Developing Video Games
The video game industry is booming. While commercial video games are big business, many people also create video games in their spare time. There are thousands of video games created every year and there is plenty of money to be made.
Creating video games can be a rewarding way to earn income if being a gamer is your passion. However, you do need to have coding experience to make video games.
If you’re serious about this and do not have any coding experience, you can learn how to code on sites like Udemy. There are many online courses on Udemy that will help you to seamlessly learn how to code and build video games.
5. Become a Video Game Coach
Video game coaches are independent contractors who help players improve their skills at video games. Video game coaches typically charge between $10 and $50 per hour. Working with 10 clients a week can net a coach about $10,000 a year.
Becoming a video game coach isn’t a straight path to riches. There is little overhead, but you will need a computer and high-speed internet service.
To get started, consider offering your services on sites like Guru or Upwork. Once you’ve found a few clients, find a room in your house for a dedicated gaming room. There are a variety of video games you can play. You’ll need to identify which games people will pay you to coach.
SEE: How to Make Money as a Teacher
6. Get Paid to Podcast About Video Games
Currently, 60% of US adults ages 18 to 34 listen to podcasts monthly. As a result, podcasts are one of the most rapidly growing media formats. It’s no surprise that advertisers are jumping on the podcast bandwagon.
According to Edison Research, 45 percent of podcast listeners have purchased a product as a result of listening to a podcast. But podcasting isn’t just about advertising. It can bring you sales and subscribers.
While podcasts aren’t yet as popular as blogs or as user-friendly as Facebook, they’re becoming the go-to format for gamers. It is one of the best ways to dive deep into topics. No clickbait here — podcasts are the perfect format for people who want to learn.
You can create your own podcast, or you can buy a place on an established one. Either way, podcasting is a great medium for making money with video games. However, this requires a piece of good knowledge and garnered experience.
SEE: How to Make Money with Podcast
7. Enter Video Games Contests and Tournaments
Competitions come in all shapes and sizes. Although video game competitions are heavily regulated, there are dozens of gaming contests that don’t require entry fees. Video game competitions, on the other hand, are a whole different beast.
Contests can be held virtual or in-person and range from small local contests to massive. If you’re thinking about entering a video game competition, it helps to know the difference between a contest and an actual video game tournament.
A contest is an event where prizes are awarded to winners based on merit. A tournament is a competition where competitors face off against each other in a series of games, and points are awarded based on performance. Contests can be great for gaining exposure, but tournaments provide greater rewards.
Being able to compete against gamers from around the world can be incredibly exciting and even life-changing. But tournaments are also more expensive to enter, so you’ll want to make sure you are financially ready.
8. Become an eBook Video Games Guide Writer
Ebook video games guide writing can be a lucrative career. With millions of games available for PC, console, and mobile devices, it’s easier than ever to find a great title.
Written by a person with experience in the video game industry, a video game guide is a great way to make money online and gain experience by playing these games.
First, you need to decide how much time you want to dedicate to writing. If you have a full-time job and a family to take care of, you can write eBooks in your spare time, but you probably want to have at least 20 to 30 minutes of free time per day.
This is a perfect method if you have a knack for guide writing. You can sell your guides to video game companies or partner with a video games content creator and offer a commission on each sale they’re able to make.
9. Start Video Games YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel is the easiest way to make money with video games. It takes virtually no effort and costs almost nothing. The channel should be dedicated to video game-related content. This can include gameplay videos, walkthroughs, guides, live streams, parodies, reviews, and vlogs.
The subscriber count is the most important factor for YouTube monetization, so the more subscribers you have, the higher your revenue will be per thousand views.
How much money you can make on YouTube is a question that’s popped up from time to time on forums around the Internet. The truth is that it depends on a lot of different factors, such as your level of experience, your level of expertise, and what type of video game genre you major in.
Just as with any other type of media, your video production quality matters. A good camera, good lighting, and good audio will all make a positive difference.
SEE: How To Make Money On YouTube
10. Get Paid to Review Video Games
Gaming has become a billion-dollar industry, and it’s growing fast. According to World Economic Forum, In 2021, global revenues for video games is $154.6 billion, more than double what they were in 2000. With that kind of money on the line, video game companies are increasingly turning to independent reviewers to get the word out about their new releases.
If you’re passionate about playing games and you love writing about them, you can become a video game critic. This can be a lucrative job, especially if you regularly publish reviews of big-name games. You can make money by reviewing video games for services like Amazon, Yelp, and Google.
SEE: How to Make Money Reviewing Products
11. Sign Up as an eSport Professional Gamer
If you’re passionate about video games, consider turning your hobby into a career. Over the years, eSport competitions have featured millions of dollars in prize money and thousands of professional players.
An eSport is a variant of competitive video gaming, where players sign up to compete one-on-one or in teams for prizes and recognition. You can play solo, or participate in multiplayer tournaments.
As an eSport professional player, you can expect to earn between $2,000 and $10,000 per month, depending on your skill level, popularity, and number of followers. However, this path isn’t for everyone. Only the top players can earn big bucks.
How Much Can Your Make With Video Games?
While Video game testers get paid $10-$25 per hour, the average salary for a video game creator is between $37,000-$76,560 per year.
On the other hand, if you’re an eSport professional player, you can expect to earn between $2,000 and $10,000 per month, depending on your skill level and experience.
In addition, if you’re looking into marketing and advertising, you can get paid by marketing companies specializing in the video game industry. Top earners get between $500-$1,788 per week.
As seen in this post, there are many ways you can earn money (or even a living) with video games. How much you can earn solely depends on the way you chose to make money with video games.
FAQs
Can you make money playing video games?
Yes. You can make money playing video games because many video game-focused companies will pay you to beta test their games or because you can stream the game to your viewers and get paid for ads’ impressions or Subs/views.
What games give you real money?
The list of games that give you real money is constantly expanding. As new games are introduced, they are getting tested by people like you and professional developers.
If you’re looking for games that will give you real money, you may want to check out site like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Toluna. These sites pay you for playing games, and they’re free to join.
When is the best time to make money with video games?
Avoiding the summer rush, the best time to get serious about making money with video games is during the fall and winter months. Kids are back in school full-time then, so parents have more time to spend gaming. Plus, the cold weather is a great excuse to stay in and play.
Conclusion
Video games offer a great deal of opportunities to make money. Many people have made their own websites about gaming while others have developed YouTube channels where they take their gaming skills and demonstrate to other players how to make better progress.
Still, others have used the skills they developed for playing games plus coding knowledge to start designing games themselves making a living from it.
If you’re just starting, I will advise you to begin with testing video games or creating video games content. This will enable you to broaden your knowledge about the video gaming industry.
Once you have a good following (as video games content creator) you can begin monetizing your content via affiliate marketing and Adsense.
Nevertheless, if you’re experienced and have confidence in your skills, you may want to sign up as an eSport professional player or join twitch and start live-streaming your gaming.
Finally, if you’re a teenager, whether in college or not, here are other simple ways you can make money without a college degree.
I hope you found this post helpful. Thanks for reading.
