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Over the past two decades, the video game industry has evolved from a casual pastime to a lucrative career path for a lucky few. The advent of e-sports, live streaming, and competitive gaming has paved the way for gamers to earn a healthy income doing what they love. But where exactly do these profits lie? It’s a difficult gig to break into, but this article seeks to unravel the best games, genres, and platforms for anyone looking to cash in on their gaming skills.
Choosing the Right Game: The Big Names on the Block
Just like in any other field, not all video games offer the same earning potential. Some have wider audiences, bigger tournaments, or a larger base of viewers willing to part with money to watch their favourite players. With no disrespect intended to iGaming, we’re going to ignore online casinos. We’re not ignoring the fact that plenty of people make big money at their casino sister site of choice, but the whole issue with casino games is that, poker aside, they rely on luck more than skill. We’re going to focus instead on opportunities for skilled players. With that in mind, here are some of the top contenders:
Fortnite
Epic Games’ Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game that has taken the world by storm since its 2017 release. It’s not only popular among casual gamers but has also established itself as a major e-sport. Professional Fortnite players can win massive prizes at global tournaments. It’s not unheard of for some major Fortnite events to offer prize pools of £30m or more. To sweeten the pot further, Fortnite’s in-game creator code system allows popular streamers to earn a cut from in-game purchases made by their fans. The game might not be quite as popular as it was in 2020, but it’s still very much a going concern – and it still pays out in a big way at the very top level.
League of Legends
LoL, a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, boasts a vast player base and one of the largest prize pools in e-sports. Besides prize money from tournaments, skilled LoL players can earn a substantial income from streaming their gameplay and securing sponsorships. Becoming good at League of Legends is likely to require a little more skill and practice than Fortnite does, but the players who earn the most out of the game would tell you that the time sacrifice is worth the rewards.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
A first-person shooter game, CS: GO is known for its competitive scene. Counter-Strike games have been around for years, with the first game released in the year 2000, but the passing years only seem to have brought more new players with them. With international tournaments offering huge prize pools, the game provides a solid avenue for players to rake in significant earnings. Some players look at it as a “grown-up” version of Fortnite. While we think that’s a little harsh on Fortnite players, we can see why.
The Golden Genres: Where to Invest Your Time
While specific games come and go, certain genres have proven to be reliable money-makers over time. If you can develop your skills within a specific genre, you can still make money even as one game falls out of fashion to be replaced by another. Let’s explore the top genres that have been successful in generating income:
Battle Royale
Games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends fall into this genre. They typically involve multiple players fighting it out on a shrinking map until one player or team remains. These games often have massive audiences and significant e-sport scenes, making them excellent options for both competitive and streaming revenue.
MOBAs
League of Legends and Dota 2 are the key games in this genre. They involve strategy, teamwork, and quick decision-making, making them thrilling to watch. As a result, MOBAs offer great opportunities for streamers and professional players. We should note that in early 2023, a massive expansion to Dota 3 refreshed the game and brought renewed attention to it. If you’re thinking of getting involved, this is probably the optimum time.
Collectable Card Games (CCGs)
Games like Hearthstone and Magic: The Gathering Arena fall under this genre. They offer competitive play and large tournaments and are popular on streaming platforms, making them a solid choice for gaming careers. Ignoring the fact that some people still think card games are “nerdy” compared to the other suggestions we’ve made so far, there are still around eleven million people playing Magic: The Gathering Arena as of 2023, and tournaments that pay upwards of £500,000 to the very best players.
Platforms: The Launchpad for Your Gaming Career
Your chosen platform can significantly impact your income as a gamer. While the decision largely depends on your specific circumstances and preferences, some platforms tend to provide better opportunities.
Twitch
As the king of video game streaming platforms, Twitch is home to millions of viewers who regularly donate to their favourite streamers. It also offers partnership programs, advertisements, and subscriptions as additional sources of income. It’s had its controversies over the years, but even with changes to the way it pays its top streamers, it’s still the number one choice among professionals.
YouTube Gaming
While Twitch dominates live streaming, YouTube Gaming is an excellent choice for uploading recorded gameplay, tutorials, and reviews. YouTube’s monetisation options include ad revenue, channel memberships, merchandise shelf, and super chat donations during live streams. YouTube would dearly love to become a bigger player in this scene, so it’s known to be accommodating to successful gamers.
E-Sports Tournaments
E-Sports competitions and leagues provide chunky prize money for top-performing gamers. Games like LoL, Fortnite, and CS: GO often host large-scale tournaments with significant prize pools. If you’re highly skilled at a game with a strong e-sports scene, this could be your ticket to a lucrative gaming career.
Final Thoughts
Turning gaming into a career is no easy feat—it takes time, dedication, and talent. But with the right game, genre, and platform choice, the dream can become a reality. It’s also essential to remember that building an audience and brand can take time. Interacting with your audience, posting regularly, and continually improving your skills are key. So keep grinding, and who knows? You might just be the next big name in the gaming industry.
