Despite gaming being an extremely fun hobby, it is also a gold mine if you are looking to make money professionally or as a side hustle. It presents a unique opportunity for players to have their passion double as a way of making a living, something many yearn for. Of course, this is easier said than done, and you may be wondering how you can get started when you don’t know the industry too well. However, there are quite a few avenues, some requiring prior experience, and others depending solely on the effort you put in. Let’s look at eight ways you can make money from gaming:
1. Play-To-Earn and Crypto Gaming
If you have explored all types of gaming, you might be familiar with P2E (Play-To-Earn) models, which are usually found within crypto gaming. In essence, players are rewarded with digital assets (such as NFTs or cryptocurrency) for their in-game achievements. For example, this is similar to online casinos that give you instant access to thousands of games, from high-RTP slots to classic blackjack, roulette, and video poker. However, as opposed to online casinos that payout real money in exchange for your wagered money, with these gaming archetypes, there is no give-and-take relationship. Players receive these assets, which can be exchanged for traditional finance (or leveraged for items with higher value or rare in-game items), without a deposit. In fact, it is entirely free and is currently taking the gaming world by storm.
2. Competitive Gaming (Esports)
If you are extremely skilled in popular eSports titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Valorant, perhaps it’s time for you to go pro. Although professional eSports players dedicate much time and energy to reaching their skill level, this might be a good fit for you. Not only would you have fun enjoying your hobby as a profession, but you could make money as you climb your way to the top. Generally, eSports gaming tournaments (even on a smaller scale) have massive prize pools, especially for the more competitive titles.
3. Content Creation and Streaming
This is a pretty well-known space in the gaming world, because behind every gamer is their favourite Twitch streamer or YouTuber. While the market is already very convoluted, there is always room for new content creators, especially with niche genres. Bear in mind, however, that this is more than just recording yourself playing games; you need to build a brand, a fanbase, and offer engaging content. Revenue would be generated through fan subscriptions, donations, big brand sponsorships, and ads, which is how you would make your living.
4. Game Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)
Have you ever wondered what goes into the lifecycle of developing a game? If there is a glitch, bug, or something that is not working correctly, who catches those errors? That’s where game quality assurers come in: professionals who specialize in testing newly developed games to track and report any issues developers may have missed. Despite being a less glamorous part of the gaming industry, it offers professional, full-time means of making a living. The best part is that you will still be working in close proximity to something you really enjoy doing in your free time.
5. In-Game Asset Trading
Many popular, competitive games have strong in-game economies where players are constantly looking to upgrade and trade skins and other items. If you are just looking for a side hustle, trading rare virtual items such as cosmetics, cards, and other equipment is a good option. Naturally, you would need to educate yourself on market trends and value, and from here, construct a plan. Will you focus on selling in-game items for one specific game, or will you dabble in multiple economies? Ultimately, you need to be strategic and not just blindly buy and sell skills, as that could leave you at a loss.
6. Creating and Selling Gaming Merchandise
Perhaps you are an avid gamer, but you enjoy the creative side of things more than the business and strategizing aspect. A great entrepreneurial path that will offer more creative freedom could be creating and selling gaming merchandise. In doing so, you can combine two passions into one by designing fan art, custom apparel, or even 3D-printed figures. This might be an even more fitting option if you don’t feel you are a good enough player to go pro or become a content creator. However, you can still interact with the gaming community and bring fans’ favorite characters and scenes to life while still having fun.
7. Running a Gaming Blog or Website
Standing as another form of content creation, starting a website or blog dedicated to gaming is another means of making a living. This can be done professionally (especially if you have a writing talent), as many companies are hiring freelance gaming writers. If you prefer to do things on your own, then it will require consistent effort on your part to set up and regularly update the site or blog with content. Look for an area that many gamers flock towards, such as guides or opinion pieces, and commit to it so your content is consistent as well. Remember, you want to connect with your audience with your words while showing them your passion for gaming. The more clicks you get, the more money you can generate.
8. Game Development or Modding
Although game development immediately makes you think you need a software engineering degree behind your name, that is not always the case. Many smaller indie games have sold hundreds of thousands of copies from developers who merely know how to code and design. Either you could go about creating your own game (think of this as a start-up author trying to write and publish their own book), or craft new content for existing games. A good example of this would be the way Skyrim and Minecraft have thousands of popular mods that were all created by fans. Regardless, this option is probably the most lucrative of ways to make money, whether you want to do it professionally or on the side.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Overall, there is no easy way to make money through gaming (or in general), and it will require much dedication and hard work. Regardless of the path you choose, the important part is that you enjoy it despite the time and effort you are putting into it. Good luck!
