Gen Z & Gaming: How To Make Real Money By Playing Video Games? 🎮
Gone are the days when gaming was an underground subculture; when cheat codes were found in gaming magazines and AOL chat rooms. Ever since Sony launched the Playstation 2 in 2000, there has been an outstanding gaming evolution, coinciding with the birth of Generation Z.
The gaming industry evolution has already crossed the $138 billion market and is growing at 12-15% globally.
Around 73% of the Gen Z population owns at least one video game console and a smartphone. With such an exponential surge of youngsters playing online games, new opportunities to earn money are cropping up. Earning money through video games is the latest GenZ trend to become a Teen Entrepreneur.
From testing games to broadcasting them online to playing professionally, we are listing down some of the best video games for GenZ to turn their passion into a lucrative business.
Earn by Playing Trivia Games
With the evolution of the gaming industry , earning money through games has become a completely different experience. You can simply earn money by testing your IQ and knowledge. No professional skills required here.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks hands out cash and free gift cards for clicking on ads, taking surveys, selecting free trial offers, and for playing games online. This is a sure-shot way of earning in cash and kind. To make more money, you can join their “Pay to Play” program.
HQ Trivia
HQ Trivia is currently one of the most popular gaming mobile apps. You have to compete in 12 rounds of Tricky Trivia. End goal: A shot at the prize pool, the best way to keep learning and earning.
Make Money through Video Games
If trivia games are not your kinda thing, you can always turn to your faithful console or PC game. Yes! That’s a cool way to earn a side gig as a teen. Perks of being a part of the GenZ and the gaming evolution - more savings, more fun!
Popular gaming websites like PlayVig.com, PlayersLounge and Dream11 reward you with points, coins, or prize money, depending upon the game, which you can later redeem through mobile wallets.
Here are some of the best video games for Gen Z that helps you win money:
Fortnite
League of Legends
PUBG: Player Unknown's BattleGrounds (PUBG)
FIFA
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Dota 2
Naman Mathur has seized the opportunity in the gaming industry's evolution. He is considered to be one of the best GenZ gamers in India. Did you know he earns approximately Rs. 1-2 lakh per month ($150000) from playing PUBG?!
Streaming LIVE on Twitch and YouTube
With the rise of live streaming websites like YouTube and Twitch, avid gamers are broadcasting themselves while playing games in real-time and taking advantage of the gaming evolution. This is perhaps the most sought after way of earning while playing video games. You need to have a strong follower base, thousands of daily views on your videos, interesting content, exciting commentary, and you're good to go!
You can check out some of the famous Gamer Influencers to get an idea: Markiplier, PewDiePie, OMGitsfirefoxx.
Create Your Gaming Blog
With too many successful gaming vloggers in the scene, you can create a chance for yourself to have a niche platform for your content. Start a gaming blog! This is a decent way to bring some extra income for yourself by marketing gaming products, sharing recommendations, handing out tips and tricks, writing about the best video games for Gen Z, and associating your content with your YouTube or Twitch channel. You could also level up by creating a short gaming course or writing a short ebook on the same.
Participate in eSports Tournaments
If you and your peers are amongst the top players in your choice of eSports, you can register for eSports competitions that offer huge prize money. eSports is regarded as a billion-dollar industry where top gamers participate and compete in online tournaments. These tournaments are streamed live. This is probably one of the most exciting concepts about the gaming industry evolution.
Games like Dota 2, Doom, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, League of Legends, Formula One, NBA 2, Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA, Pokemon, Overwatch, etc., are among the best video games for GenZ that hold international tournaments. This is the only way to make some serious cash as a professional gamer. In India, we have some talented players like Ankit “V3nom” Panth, Krish “MooN” Gupta and Amit “Zapheto” Malwal.
Become a Video Game Tester
Several companies such as Rockstar Games, Gameshstra, GameCloud Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and more, look for gamers to test out beta versions of their online games and expect decent feedback on the experience, bugs, features, performance, and the overall look and feel. This is quite a smooth way to add some extra cash to your digital wallet or FamCard.
Conclusion
The gaming evolution has moved from console to the cloud. You choose your arena. You hone your skills. You battle. To turn this into business, you have to choose to either be on the frontline, playing video games online, streaming them to your audience or participating in eSports tournaments; or be behind the scenes, testing games, writing blogs and more. You can also combine these moves to make more money. After all, it’s the ultimate dream to earn money while playing video games! That brings us to the end of our guide to earn real money while gaming as a GenZ teen. Are you ready to take up the challenge?
