12 Ways Gamers Make Money Playing Games in 2024

Publishers tagged online gaming as a multi-billion dollar industry with $196 billion in revenue in 2022. Gaming industry statistics mentioned that the revenue result from 3.1 billion gamers worldwide. By 2027, that number will rise to 1.85 billion gamers. 

Around 215 million Americans play video games in 2022. This number reflects how playing video games can be recreational and a source of income.

People have created careers by playing games. If this is something you’re interested in, this article is for you.

These are 12 ways you can make money by playing games in 2024. 

12 Methods Gamers Earn Money in 2024

Playing games can be fun, especially when you’re earning while playing. Find out about the various revenue streams in esports. Here are methods that gamers do to make money.

#1: Participate in eSports as a Pro

Esports refers to gaming at a highly-competitive and professional level. Gamers who master their craft have four main ways of earning money: Tournaments, Pay To Earn Matches, Sponsorships, and Salaries. 

Tournaments

Tournaments offer esports athletes a big prize pool. The winnings from these tournaments usually come from crowdfunding, sponsorships, and in-game revenue.

Fortnite’s 2019 World Cup Finals had a $30.4 million prize pool, which Kyle Giersdorf won, taking home $3 million. DOTA 2’s The International had a $40 million prize pool in 2021.

Other games in tournaments are the following:

• League of Legends 
• Call of Duty
• PUBG
• Fortnite
• CS:GO
• Honor of Kings

Pay 2 Earn Tournaments

Pay-to-Earn is a type of Play-to-Earn. P2E gamers compete in paid and free entry tournaments online. Once logged in or subscribed, you can play unlimited matches on any game anytime. 

If you’re considering doing the same, below are the games you may want to try:

• Brawl Stars
• Rocket League
• PUBG
• DOTA 2
• League of Legends 

You can climb on the leaderboard and track points while playing. These features increase your chances of joining esports teams and competing more often. The best gamers can attract brands and marketers. 

Sponsors and Branding Rights 

Ohio University notes esports has become an industry attracting big brand sponsorships. Some of these brands are:

• Monster
• Gillette 
• Red Bull 
• HP
• Coca-cola

These brands saw the industry as marketable. The esports viewership and audience demographics are where this viewpoint is from. Today, there are long-term investments between big brands and gamers.

Salaries

The salary of professional esports gamers may vary. Their salaries generally range between $12,000 to $187,200 yearly. 

The highest-earning esports gamer today is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein. He has $7.18 million in earnings in his career. 

Earning continues beyond playing esports. There are more ways to profit besides competitive gaming.

#2: Streaming on Twitch

Another way to gain sponsorships from brands and earn money is Twitch streaming. Twitch is a live-streaming platform popular with gamers and fans.

Fans can interact with their favorite gamers via Twitch chat. Subscribers can support the streamer by buying “Bits,” a virtual currency. When a user sends “Bits” to the streamer, it becomes a form of “cheering.”

Streamers have a usual cut with Twitch in 50/50 or 30/70 to earn more. The average salary of gamers that stream is about $10,000-$40,000 annually.

#3: Streaming on YouTube

Streamers make substantial money on YouTube. Gamers can monetize their live streams by turning on ads.

Livestreamers can also use the “Super Chat and Super Stickers for Live Chat” feature, which allows viewers to pay around $1-$1,500 to have their chat on top of the feed. 70% of the earnings from the feature go to the streamer.

YouTube streamers earn around $0.10-$0.30 per ad view. Sponsorships from brands and organizations are also possible.

#4: Tutorials on YouTube

Another way gamers make money on YouTube is by making “how to play” videos. Some audiences are new to gaming and would want to learn by watching tutorials. 

Gamers earn money through views, sponsors, ads, and donations. Famous gamers on YouTube reach around $6 million-$10 million annually. Some of the biggest gaming YouTubers are PewDiePie and JuegaGerman.

#5: Gaming Blog

Some audiences may want to learn from reading blogs instead. Another reason is that, as a gamer, you may be more comfortable writing than making videos. 

You can produce game content for fans and newbies by joining freelance platforms. Your earnings depend on how much your rate would be. 

Here are some blogging tips that you can do:

1. Choose a video game as a niche.
2. Decide on a blog site name.
3. Write content with infographics, videos, or photos.
4. Advertise your blog site for more readers. 
5. Monetize your blog site with ads, sponsorship, or affiliate marketing.

Some websites focus on gaming content which you may learn from. These websites are Kotaku, Polygon, and GameSpot. 

#6: Gaming Writer or Editor

Also known as “Video Game Writer,” some gamers write creative game storylines. These stories include the characters’ backstories, locations, and details in their dialogues.

Gaming writers collaborate with other creatives for a game. They research aspects that make up the lore of the game. Because of these, the gaming writer needs to have these skills:

1. Writing
2. Collaboration
3. Game playing 
4. Coding 

After taking note of the skills, here are some pointers to becoming a gaming writer:

1. Develop your writing skills thru vocational programs or a bachelor’s degree related to writing
2. Play eSports games to increase your “game sense”
3. Practice coding so you can collaborate with the designers
4. Build a writing portfolio to increase your credibility
5. Connect with industry professionals
6. Apply for jobs to gain hands-on experience

These writers work for developers like Sony and Nintendo. There are also job postings from Riot Games and Pixelberry Studios. They earn around $76,083 annually, between $69,735 and $83,638. 

#7: Selling Skins and In-Game Features

A gamer can make money by selling skins and in-game features. “Skins” are in-game items players can buy or win to change their character’s appearance. “In-game features” may refer to inventories and mission passes. 

Here are the tips for doing this:

1. Choose a game where you have in-game items to sell. 
2. Look for online marketplaces for your items like: Player Auction, LootHunt, Mulefactory, BitSkins, Skins.Cash, DMMarket.
3. Sign in to your gaming account on one of these sites and put an item on sale.
4. Wait for the amount and for someone to buy your items.
5. Cash out your money from the site.

For example, gamers sell PUBG items for game currencies or real cash. They do this using websites like Gameflip. Earnings using this method depend on the quality and prestige of the in-game items.

#8: Testing Video Games

Gamers can do this part-time or full-time. Video game testers find bugs and glitches before developers officially release the game. 

This way can be a starter for some before having a full-blown career as a gamer or a game developer. 

The game tester’s salary is around $47,081 a year. This amount depends on the tester’s skills, experience, and educational background.

#9: Game Development

You can help game developers, or you can become one. Game Devs are the ones that create a game’s programming codes. They often serve as game testers themselves.

Gamers often find game dev jobs as freelance or on sites like Fiverr and Indeed. The estimated annual salary of game developers is about $73.5K-$93.1K. Game developers’ wages may depend on their rate, skill, and experience.

#10: Video Game Journalism 

Some gamers venture into video game journalism. A video game journalist reports about video games and the gaming industry. They plan, research, write, and edit content.

These are game reviews, profiles, video game statistics, and other industry updates. They produce unbiased and factual information.

The average annual earnings of a video game journalist can go up to $122,357.

#11: Betting on Fantasy Esports

Some gamers earn money by betting on fantasy esports, similar to fantasy betting on traditional sports. The gamers bet on players and teams. They can even bet on scores and in-game feature predictions.

Unlike other methods, this cannot assure a certain amount of earnings since it’s a risk and gamble. Gamers do this if they are willing to lose and still have fun.

#12: Video Game Coaching 

Professional gamers make money by coaching and doing analysis. They coach teams on how to play with coordination and help solo players develop their games.

A coach’s salary ranges between $20-$200 an hour, depending on the rate.

Video game coaches post services on social media accounts, freelance websites, and more.

Wrap Up

There are many ways video gamers earn money. These methods are playing esports tournaments and streaming on the internet. Creating video tutorials and writing for games may also help.

Others sell in-game items and test and develop games. Some gamers also venture into video game journalism, betting, and coaching.

Some ways ensure decent earnings, especially if the gamer has the skill, experience, and knowledge. Some methods don’t guarantee good profits since they are risky.

Note that consulting an expert before delving deep into these methods is essential.