For the longest time, parents saw their children playing video games as a waste of time. However, in the 2010s, gaming has slowly transformed into a money-making effort that can be most lucrative if individuals play their cards correctly. In addition, there are various avenues on how to make money playing video games, and the number of options keep on expanding. Below is an analysis of several of the most popular selections currently.
trading digital items
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games, better known as MMORPGs, did not invent the concept of in-game item trading, but they undoubtedly popularized it. The best example of an MMORPG that has gained a huge user base for its item classes is RuneScape. The gold featured in this game can be mined by the players, thereby accumulating experience.
Those looking to profit from their RuneScape gameplay can deposit their gold on sites like RPGStash.com. Brandon Fischer, who goes under the online moniker Moltrinex, is the player who made the most of his RuneScape adventures, as he managed to sell his accumulated RuneScape gold for $1.57 million.
streaming gaming session
Those who got on the Internet in 2010 will probably remember Justin TV. Ancestor of Twitch. It was created in 2007 and anyone was allowed to broadcast it live. Unfortunately, in the first years of its existence, it was mainly used by nefarious individuals who illegally broadcast sporting events through it. In 2011, its gaming section was rebranded as a new site called Twitch, and the rise of that platform ignited the gaming revolution.
Today, some of the most popular streamers make around $1,000 per minute of content, according to Dot Esports. Beginning streamers can generate half of this after their first year. xQc is a well-known streamer with an average daily audience of 50,000 viewers. According to reports, he has earned around $9 million from sponsorships and subscriptions, through his Twitch activities. Some people who play games of chance online have also done so by streaming their gambling sessions. Roshin is a prime example. These also appeal to gamblers as the top paying casinos are starting to offer video game-style bonus rounds on slot games that pay out heavily if you complete a specific mission.
compete in online tournaments
Competing in online tournaments does not necessarily mean playing in competitions held on a desktop computer or console. No, it is reserved for the subheading below it. Mobile game apps like 21 Blitz and Pool Payday, available for Android and iOS users, offer multiplayer tournaments with cash prizes via PayPal, ApplePay, and other methods. These are dedicated pieces of software that offer simple gameplay and small prizes of around $30 to the first place winners in their competitions.
Participating in gaming leagues and live events
In 2021, tech consulting firm Activate claimed that over 250 million people watched eSports events globally. Statistics show that the average audience for eSports competitions now consistently exceeds the viewership generated by sports leagues such as the NBA and MLB. Counter-Strike Global Offensive, League of Legends, Dota 2 and FIFA are the games featured mainly in top-end eSports competitions. While the most watched tournaments are the World Championships and the International.
The biggest money winner in eSports history is Johann “N0tail” Sundstein with $7.2 million, mainly won on Dota 2. On average, salaried gamers earn between $4,000 and $5,000 per month. Sponsorships are an essential part of this field and an important aspect of how professional players make money.
create walkthrough video
There are walkthrough video tutorials on how to play a given game. However, some people prefer to watch them purely for the entertainment value they provide, with no interest in their informative content.
It may sound a bit strange, but gamblers can make money by explaining to others how to beat specific games and uploading those videos online. FightinCowboy is a YouTube channel with over a million subscribers. It primarily posts walkthrough content, and many of the channel’s videos have garnered over a million views. Its owner earns over $100,000 from YouTube ads alone, through multiple YouTube analytics tools.
test game
Quality assurance is an important part of every product release. This is especially true in this day and age, where the number of choices in every field is enormous, and everyone is supercritical. Companies operating in the gaming industry face heavy scrutiny from customers, as video games have a long lineage to market despite still being buggy. Therefore, the entities operating in this field want to ensure that they can meet the deadlines while releasing quality products. They do this by hiring video game testers.
Platforms such as iGameLab, VMC, UserTesting, Beta Bound, and Beta Family pay up to $15 per hour for gaming QA specialists.
