Most gamers take video games as a hobby, some take it as a way of relieving stress and some people play games casually. Up until the early 2010s, making money from the gaming industry was not that broad. But now, almost everyone can make money playing video games.
I decided to do research and came up with different ways video game lovers can make money doing what they love, which of course is playing games. From streaming, to reviews, to testing, there are many ways to make money playing video games. Get on this jolly ride with me as I open your eyes to endless opportunities.
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REVENUE IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY
Before we dive into the main purpose of the post, let's discuss a little bit on how much the gaming industry generates.
The gaming industry has experienced unprecedented growth, surpassing expectations and shattering records. In 2022, the global gaming market generated:
- $190 billion in revenue (Source: Newzoo).
- A 13% increase from 2021 (Source: Statista).
Segment Breakdown:
- Console gaming: $51.6 billion (27% of total revenue).
- PC gaming: $38.2 billion (20% of total revenue).
- Mobile gaming: $92.2 billion (49% of total revenue).
- Esports: $1.4 billion (1% of total revenue).
PROJECTING FUTURE GROWTH:
By 2025, the gaming industry is expected to reach:
- $256 billion in revenue (Source: Grand View Research).
- A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2022 to 2025.
The gaming industry's remarkable revenue growth is driven by:
- Advancements in technology
- Increased accessibility
- Expanding audience demographics
- Innovative business models
It is said that the gaming industry generates more revenue than the movies and music industry combined. With the data above, we can say hell yeah, this is true. And it gets bigger each day.
READ ALSO: Top 3 Mobile Battle Royale Games Played Worldwide
HOW TO MAKE MONEY PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
Below are some ways you can make money playing video games. Take your time and read through them. Please take note that this post highlights ways you can make money playing video games only. The post is not meant to teach, please do your own research and learn if you are willing to go into the areas mentioned below.
1. VIDEO GAME STREAMING
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In this current age, media content is the new goldmine. Whenever we talk about making money from playing video games, streaming always comes to mind.
Video sharing and streaming platforms like YouTube, Twitch and others have made it simple for gamers to record themselves live while playing video games and make revenue from it. Youtube and Twitch streamers mostly make their revenue from advertisements and selling off their own merchandise. Sounds easy right? Well, no. Nothing good comes easy, you have to put in the work.
2. GAMING JOBS AND CAREERS
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Taking up gaming jobs is also a cool way to make money off video games. Jobs and careers like:
– Game Developer
– Game Tester
– Game Graphic Designer
– Script and story writing etc, generates cool cash if you are willing and put in the work.
Other gaming job opportunities like marketing, virtual coaching can also come in handy and make you a huge sum of bucks. Keep in mind that game development needs much expertise and you need to have programming knowledge. It's hard at first, but it is worth it in the long run.
3. CREATING VIDEO GAME GUIDES AND WALKTHROUGHS
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This can be making eBooks on how to navigate a video game, or even making tutorial videos on how to complete missions, use skills in video games.
Platforms like Amazon KDP can come in handy for marketing your eBooks and video sharing platforms like YouTube and the likes can make you money from ads etc. When making eBooks or videos on video game walkthroughs, make sure they are on relevant games that people are playing and searching for, so you don't work In vain.
SEE ALSO: PS Vita Specifications And Price In Nigeria
4. VIDEO GAME PROMOTIONS
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This one is difficult in a way since it requires a well established gaming personality to work properly. But hey, if you are quite popular and you've got the audience, you can promote new games from popular and upcoming game studios and get paid for doing so. Sounds easy right? Well, it's not, you have to put in the work, grow the audience, so that video game studios and developers can come to you for promotion.
5. VIDEO GAME REVIEWS
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This somehow falls under content creation. You can utilise platforms like Tik Tok and YouTube to make short reviews of trendy video games. Reviews don't need to be long, 3 minutes max and it's ok.
Before making game reviews, make sure it's a game you have played or currently playing, so as to make your review honest and unique. Making videos that are plagiarised will bore your audience or followers. This is because people want to know about other people's opinions before making a move to play a game.
6. ATTENDING GAMING EVENTS
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Gaming events like gaming competitions can earn you real cash for participating and winning gaming tournaments. Gaming events such as ESports Tournaments and PlayStation Experience (PSX), gives gamers the opportunity to compete with fellow gamers and win cool prizes asides cash.
They are other numerous ways of making money playing video games, however, the ones mentioned above are the most lucrative. Try one of them out and see where you can reach.
READ MORE: How To Download PPSSPP Games On Android
RANDOM FUN FACTS ABOUT THE GAMING INDUSTRY
Below are some random gaming facts you should know as a video gamer. Enjoy.
1. The gaming industry is projected to reach $256 billion in revenue by 2025. (Source: Grand View Research).
2. 65% of American households have at least one person who plays video games regularly. (Source: Entertainment Software Association).
3. The average gamer spends around 6 hours per week playing games. (Source: Nielsen).
4. Fortnite generated $5.4 billion in revenue in 2020 alone. (Source: SuperData Research).
5. Minecraft has sold over 238 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling game of all time. (Source: Statista).
6. Grand Theft Auto V has generated over $6 billion in revenue since its release in 2013. (Source: Rockstar Games).
7. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) reached 50 million players within its first year. (Source: Steam).
8. The 2020 League of Legends World Championship had a prize pool of $2.2 million. (Source: Riot Games).
9. Professional gamer Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf won $3 million at the 2019 Fortnite World Cup. (Source: ESPN).
10. The esports industry is expected to reach $1.5 billion in revenue by 2025. (Source: Deloitte).
11. The first video game, "Computer Space," was released in 1971. (Source: Smithsonian Magazine).
12. Pac-Man was released in 1980 and became a massive hit, selling over 400,000 arcade units. (Source: Pac-Man Museum).
13. The original Super Mario Bros. game (1985) has sold over 40 million copies. (Source: Nintendo).
14. The longest gaming session lasted 72 hours and 1 minute. (Source: Guinness World Records).
15. 55% of gamers play games to relax and unwind. I belong to this percentage of gamers as well. (Source: Nielsen).
16. The gaming industry employs over 220,000 people worldwide. (Source: Entertainment Software Association).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the gaming industry offers countless opportunities to turn your passion into a lucrative career or side hustle. From professional gaming and game development to content creation and esports management, the possibilities are endless. With the global gaming market projected to reach $256 billion by 2025, there's never been a better time to join the gaming community.
Whether you're a casual gamer or an aspiring pro, remember: Your skills are valuable, Your passion can pay off, The gaming industry is waiting for you. Thanks for reading this piece of work, see you another time on my website. Adios!