There are a couple things in this world that I love. I love a fresh spring day; I love long walks on the beach. I love the smell of lavender laundry soap. But mostly, I love video games. Unfortunately, and despite my best efforts, no one pays me to play video games. So all my time and devotion to the wonderful life of a gamer is basically for nothing, besides my own enjoyment. Enjoyment doesn’t pay my bills, either. I can’t take my enjoyment to my landlord and use it to pay rent. I can’t buy delicious salsa from the store with enjoyment, even if I ask really nicely. So we gamers have to use video games as a side gig to our main job. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just make money playing video games? Well, if you think you’re up to it, we’ve got a couple options.
Professional Video Game Players
Of course, the most skilled players among us could always turn pro. The top Dota2 players in the world have cleared a million bucks in their playing careers, and some of them aren’t even old enough to vote yet. And with the rise in popularity of eSports, there has never been a better time to start your career in pro gaming. All you need are thousands and thousands of practice hours and you’re well on your way to being a pro gamer.
YouTube Personalities
Now, for most of us, this isn’t a realistic goal. I still can’t even pass the waterfall level on Lion King for the SNES, and my K/D on Cal of Duty hovers between .8 and 1.4 depending on how much camping I do. So I probably don’t have the skills necessary to be a pro gamer. But luckily, there is a market for fans like me to shine. YouTube has made it much easier for people to make money playing video games. Whether you’re posting a game review, revealing some cheats, or letting people follow along in a “Let’s Play”, there are literally dozens of different ways to showcase your own specific gaming style on Youtube and get paid for it. People like to watch other people play video games, and if enough people like watching you play, you can definitely monetize that exposure.
PewDiePie, Markiplier, Vanoss, CaptainSparklez, KYR Sp33dy, imaqtpie the guys at RoosterTeeth, all completely normal people who found financial success just from playing video games and posting their gameplay online. So fire up the recording device, throw on some GTA V, and try to be entertaining, and you’re well on your way to all that sweet YouTube money.
Video Game Gold Farmer
Now, maybe you don’t have the right personality for the YouTube route, or maybe you just don’t like your own voice. It happens. But fear not, there are still other ways to make money playing video games. Bear in mind, these next few aren’t sexy options, but they are options. The first is to become a farmer. “But I don’t know anything about chickens or soybeans,” I can hear you saying. That’s OK, because I’m talking about gold farming. Now, I wouldn’t recommend this one, because it is illegal in most games. But if you don’t mind the grind, or the possible legal battles you’ll face, farming gold and other items to sell on the open market is an option. This option, however, is like saying that robbing banks is a career choice. I mean, it is, but it’s not a very smart way to make a living.
Video Game Testers
Another way to live off of video games would be to become a video game tester. I don’t know about you, but this was my dream job when I was a kid. And also now. What could be better than playing games before they even come out, all day every day? Nothing, probably. There are a bunch of video game developers out there, and more pop up every day. All these companies need people to test their games and provide useful feedback, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, yearly salaries can reach $60,000.
So making money through gaming is a possibility for lots of people. Whether you’re a pro, a reviewer, a tester, or just a guy that people like to watch, there are many different ways to make a living playing video games, So keep playing, you might need the practice for your career!
If you could have a job in the video game sector, which would you want? Who’s your favorite Youtuber to watch play?
