Modern gaming has really opened up the opportunities for gamers, both as a profession and as a hobby. As graphics have improved and games become more impressive, they’re excelled as not only a fun way to pass the time, but a great spectacle for eSports and beyond. Gaming used to be relegated to dingy diners, smoky arcades, and the general comfort of your own home. Now, the gaming industry has surged massively, resulting in hugely popular game tournaments, long-term professional options for dedicated gamers, and plenty of other ways to make a buck. With each new passing generation of home console and PC gaming, the hobby of video games gets bigger and bigger. There’s no sign of things slowing down, so if you’ve been thinking about monetizing your gaming experience, there’s no better time to start. With this article, we’ll detail a few ways to make some cash while you game. From selling items on awesome marketplaces to streaming your gameplay to adoring fans, modern gaming is a treasure trove of financial fun.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, it’s hard to ignore the continuing trend of streaming platforms. Websites like Twitch have been growing exponentially, with hundreds of thousands of viewers tuning in. Sites like Twitch function in a pretty straightforward way. You can stream yourself playing your favorite games, amass an audience, and earn some revenue off donations and other payment forms. Twitch specifically has a subscription program, where loyal viewers can spend a few bucks on your stream to earn some unique goodies. As a streamer, you can earn a couple bucks per subscriber, but you can also earn a hefty sum through ad revenue and sponsorship. While only a few truly talented gamers rise to the top, it’s hard to ignore the success of some. Take Ninja for instance, one of Twitch’s most popular streamers. Ninja amassed his fanbase by excelling at the massively popular game Fortnite, quickly picking up thousands of rabid fans. With his current monetization and fanbase, Ninja clears upwards of $10,000,000 a year playing his favorite games. It’s still a job, but one that can pay off in huge ways.
Perhaps being an on-air personality isn’t quite your forte. Streaming games for a living is a lot like running your own television show; you have to consistently put out content on a schedule, and rarely miss a day at work. If those kinds of pressures are too much, but you consider yourself a highly skilled gamer, you might want to think about joining the competitive scene. The eSports (electronic sports) scene has taken off in huge ways, and almost every conceivable multiplayer game has a bustling competitive scene to get into. If you find success overcoming your online competition, you can take your talents to real-world physical tournaments. Unfortunately, not every prize pool will be a life-changing amount of money. However, hugely popular games like League of Legends and Fortnite see massive prize pools, totaling upwards of $100,000,000 per season. If you fancy yourself a league above the rest, competitive gaming is a surefire way to make a name for yourself, and also add a few 0’s to your bank account.
Regardless of how you choose to monetize your gaming hobby, there’s one constant that you can rely on; in-game items. Whether you want to become the next big streamer or the biggest name in eSports, you’re going to spend hundreds of hours playing games. It doesn’t matter what genre you’re playing; looter-shooter, MMORPG, competitive FPS, or anywhere in between. While you spend hours upon hours grinding away, you’ll likely earn a slew of valuable and rare in-game items. If you don’t plan on using them (or your ultimate goal is to make some cash), you can sell your wares on real-world marketplaces. If you come across an exceptionally rare item, you might be surprised how much it’s worth. Sites like Eldorado.gg offer a place for your to trade and sell your in-game goods without worrying about the negatives that come with it. There’s a wide selection of games to choose from, so whether you have a rare Rocket League skin or a massively powerful weapon in World of Warcraft, you’ll be able to post it and fetch a fair price. In that way, sites like Eldorado.gg offer a great option for making cash while you play. With the amount of time you’ll spend trying to reach the pinnacle of professional gaming, you’ll likely end up with a sizable inventory. Even if all else fails, you’ll be able to fetch a pretty penny by posting your items on marketplaces like Eldorado.gg.
