Advances in technology have inevitably made some things possible now. Gaming, which was only once considered an enjoyable pastime, is now a full-fledged career for elite professionals and an alternative stream of income for entertainers. PewDiePie, who is one of the most popular gaming figures on YouTube, started as someone who posted his gameplay on the video-sharing platform. His entertaining videos became a viral sensation and paved the way for others to follow his steps.

PewDiePie (Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg in real life) has earned millions of dollars since the start of his career. Apart from video games, he also does comedy-style videos with over a hundred million subscribers on YouTube. So how exactly do you earn while playing video games? Read below to find out.

1. Get Good to Turn Pro

Who says you can’t get anything out of being really good at a game? Esports, or electronic sports, is a competition in which the best of the best compete in organized tournaments for money and fame. Popular multiplayer video games in esports with millions in prizes are DotA 2, League of Legends, CS: GO, and Fortnite.

There are varying stories of players turning pro, and not everyone’s stories are the same. Some pros got picked up by fellow pros by being good at public matches. Others were recruited as stand-ins for other pros and, because of their exceptional performance, were made a permanent part of a team or were offered a spot in another group. And then some got in by sheer drive by competing and winning tourneys.

Being a professional gamer is a dream for many people, but it involves a lot of hard work. Apart from being good, there is constant travel to other places or countries for scrims, LAN games, boot camps, and tournaments. If you want to turn pro, you need to consider these things if you don’t enjoy being away from home too much.

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2. Be a Live Streamer

There’s a lot of pressure involved in professional gaming. In games, the outcome is always the same—there are winners and losers, so it can’t be helped if teams disappoint fans when they lose. The expectation of winning all the time with consistent or improved performance can be a lot to take in with the prize money and their reputation at stake.

Being a live streamer is less risky, but it’s still hard work. Sharing videos of yourself playing video games may look like a lot of fun, but you need to have a regular audience to earn money from supporters. The biggest platforms for building a live-stream audience are YouTube Gaming, Mixer, and Twitch.

There are up-front investments in streaming equipment, such as computers, cameras, lighting setup, microphone, and decent internet. These things are the basic streamer package. Streamers need to play video games and set themselves apart in the saturated industry of video-game streaming. You can do that by being good at the game, playing video games that are niche with a considerable fanbase, or having a notable personality.

3. Become a Video-Game Tester

Before professional gaming and streaming, being a video-game tester was one of the first ways to earn money while playing. Game developers hire game testers to play their games to get feedback, whether about bugs, mechanics, or even playability. While testers literally sit on a couch to play, it’s still hard work because they need to be thorough while testing.

For example, a fighting game can have as many as twenty characters to choose from. Matrix testing involves testing all of them in a one-versus-one mode to see if the gameplay is fair. There are several ways to test them, and it involves a lot of time to go through each match. The technical aspects of game testing will do well for those who are analytical.

Bonus: Sell Older Video Games to Buy New Ones

If you can’t do any of the things above but you want to earn a quick buck, consider selling older video games online so you can buy new ones. The profit can be used to purchase new games. Online selling is the most convenient way of earning cash because there’s little work to do and you’re sure that customers can see what you are putting up for sale. Transactions are easier online because of payment gateways that are secure and safe.

Do you think playing video games while earning cash is fun? Share what you would like to pursue as a future career in the comments below.