The global gaming industry is expected to be worth $256.97 billion by the year 2025. The proliferation of games is partly thanks to the constantly evolving and expanding technology.
It has also created new jobs that never would have existed before the digital age. Case in point: the huge expansion of gaming jobs available to the public.
The gaming industry has been active as early as the 1970s, with the creation of arcade games and early video game consoles. But it’s only recently that gamers have been able to make a living out of playing. If you’re looking to start a career as a gamer, here are three ways you can do it:
Become a professional gamer
To become a professional gamer, you can either play games for entertainment or join an eSports team. Gamers who play to entertain usually set up streaming channels, where they share footage of their playthroughs. This lets them either monetize their content or get donations from their followers. Given this, your profit greatly depends on the number of subscribers you have. Luckily, there’s a huge market for this type of content. Spokesman.com’s article on video game streaming writes that its audience grew significantly in 2020. The most prominent streaming platform, Twitch, went from 1.4 million average viewers to 2.5 million in three months. Other live streaming platforms include Mixer, YouTube, and Facebook.
On the other hand, to join an eSports team, you need to become adept at a competitive game, like League of Legends or Overwatch. New York Excelsior (NYXL) is a prime example of a successful eSports team. They placed 3rd in the Overwatch League 2019 Playoffs and their biggest win was a prize pool of $450,000. And though this year’s Overwatch League has been delayed to spring, NYXL had their roster ready as early as December of last year. Now that spring’s here, we’ll soon see the team’s synergy in action.
Play casino games with prize money
Of course, you can always play casino games that already have the promise of prize money. One example is poker which can be played both online and in a traditional setting. But it’s worth remembering that it takes a skilled player to make money from high-risk games like these. A guide to playing for real money by Poker.org points out that even top pros spend plenty of time studying the game. With a lot of training, networking with successful professionals, and brutal analysis of your techniques after every session, you can win big too!
Depending on your skill and luck, this can become a profitable side gig or even a full-time career. One pro who’s done it is New York native Vanessa Selbst. She’s amassed over $11.8 million from live poker tournaments and has won three World Series Poker tournaments. She currently holds the title of the highest-earning female poker player.
Write game reviews
In the video game review industry, reviewers are sent free copies of a game a few weeks before its release. Their job involves playing it and writing a review for it. Although take note that the video game review industry is infamous for questionable practices. No Man’s Sky is a prime example of this. Its developer, Sony, promoted the game tirelessly during the months before its release. Mainstream news outlets like Wired and The New Yorker wrote features on it. They showered the game with praise and appreciation, even though no one had ever played it before. And when the game finally came out, it was a massive letdown.
If you’d like to steer clear of this controversy, you can opt to review tabletop games, instead. There’s a thriving market for freelance board game reviewers. While it works in mostly the same way as video game reviewing, there’s far less controversy involved.
If you’re gunning to make a living out of gaming, you’ll need to invest in the right equipment. For video games, a reliable, high-speed internet connection and a PC that can easily run graphics-heavy games should make for smooth sailing. It’s also worth getting a comfortable chair from brands like GTRACING or DXRacer. But don’t forget to do some research before making a purchase. And when you’re no longer getting bothered by your setup, you can focus on improving your skills, which is the first step to making money from your gaming hobby.
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