By Stephen Abiola: Apart from having fun, you can actually make money playing video games online. And the best part is that you don’t even need to buy an expensive PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo to do that. In this post, you’ll get a range of money-making gaming ideas to make a quick income on your smartphone or desktop. Keep scrolling!
Stream Videos on Twitch
Twitch is a US-based video streaming service where thousands of gamers live stream their content to a worldwide audience. Although you’ll find various content on Twitch, video games are the most common. After understanding your way around this program, you can start broadcasting and grow your following.
Once you have at least 50 followers and 500 live streaming minutes, monetize your account with the Twitch affiliate program. This allows you to enjoy unique benefits like subscriptions, video ads, Twitch Bits, and donations. Some companies can also give you sponsorships to promote their games among your audience.
Become a YouTube Video Streamer
YouTube is another excellent platform to make passive income while playing video games. On the YouTube Gaming platform, viewers can browse through several gaming videos, including live streams and edited content. After reaching the partnership status, you can earn from super chats and memberships on YouTube Gaming.
For your audience to start purchasing your channel memberships, you must meet these requirements:
- Aged at least 18 years and above.
- Have an AdSense account.
- Have at least 1,000 subscribers.
- Clock 4,000 or higher hours of total watch time in the previous year.
If you meet these metrics, sign up on the YouTube Partner Program terms and wait for your channel to be reviewed. Remember, you may have to wait up to two months to hear back from YouTube and start earning with crowdfunding opportunities.
Earn Reward Points on Swagbucks
Swagbucks is an online platform where users can earn reward points for completing menial tasks, such as taking online surveys and playing video games. After gaining enough Swagbucks points, you can redeem them as Amazon gift cards and other prizes. This platform has over 20 million active users, paying them more than $703 million in gift cards and cash.
So, which games can earn you real money on Swagbucks? There are thousands of video game apps to choose from on this money-making platform. However, not all of them can make you real money. You only need to register for a Swagbucks account and be at least 13 years old.
Below are some of the games to try:
- Dominoes Gold
- Luckstatic
- Wealth Words
- 21 Blitz
- Blackout Bingo
- Solitaire Cube
Become a Game Tester
Working as a game tester is another way to play games for fun and get paid. Companies that create new video games may hire you as a game tester for quality assurance. This involves playing new games to assess things like platform performance, compatibility, features, and more.
Most companies would ask you to test their new releases on game consoles, desktops, tablets, or smartphones. Then, after playing the games, you’ll have to provide a detailed report of your findings. Usually, this is a full-time job, with candidates often required to have programming certifications. However, you can also test games as freelancers on Fiverr, UserTesting, AppThwack, and TestFlight.
Play at an Online Casino
If you have a few dollars to spend, gambling online is another excellent way to play video games and win real money. You can play slots, scratch cards, table games, Bingo, and live dealer games at an online casino in Canada and win a payout. Slot machines are very entertaining and rewarding to play because these games come with various themes and life-changing progressive jackpots. An example is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah.
Develop Your Own Gaming App
It’s an incredible experience to have your gaming app ranking on the App Store or Play Store. You can get some coding experience and create your own video game app. After uploading the game to the app stores, you’ll earn up to 70% royalty for app sales and in-app purchases. If your game becomes popular, this can become a serious source of income.
However, be advised that earning a stable income from video game apps may need investment and patience. You may need to invest in professionals like programmers, game designers, and testers. Also, it might take months or years for your game to become famous on the Play Store or App Store and earn handsome returns.
Be an eSports Professional
eSports or electronic sports is a competition where you earn money playing video games. This type of gaming involves professional players who form teams to play local, regional, or international competitions. Some popular eSports franchises include Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch, CS:GO, and more.
For example, you and your friends can create a formidable League of Legends team and qualify for the World Championship, where prizes await all qualifying teams. This tournament often has a prize pool of between $2 million to $3 million. Gamers8 recently organized The Land of Heroes tournament in Saudi Arabia with a $45 million prize pool.
Host a Gaming Podcast
Did you know many gaming enthusiasts are searching for talk shows where they can fit in? You can launch a gaming podcast and discuss the fun and strategies of playing video games. This can be a weekly, daily, or monthly show about gaming, with round-the-table discussions and interviews.
However, your podcast must be compelling enough for gamers to tune in by ensuring the event is lively, and the production is of the highest quality to get the intended results. The good thing about podcasts is that the agenda can be varied. You could discuss gaming news, strategies, tournaments, and more.
Conclusion
It’s evident that one of the overlooked benefits of playing video games is earning money from the experience. But whichever way you choose to play and make money, it’s vital to remember that this could take lots of hard work and patience. This is especially true with options like becoming a professional eSports player, podcaster, or game developer. Just put in the effort and be patient to start making a good living from playing video games. Good luck!
