Last Updated on September 30, 2019 by Larious
Global gaming revenue is believed to be up to $20 billion higher compared to the music industry and closely getting near the profits of the movie world – one article from The New York Times reveals.
This proves the solid potential of e-sports to generate tons of profits. The good news is that it is not only the huge gaming companies that are enjoying a share of the earnings. Even gamers can make money by playing the games that you love.
In this article, we’ll talk about the possibility of earning money on Steam. In case you aren’t a gamer and not familiar with Steam, the latter is a gaming software or platform that is popular globally. Developed by Valve Corporation, it is the largest digital gaming distribution platform.
The most popular games on the platform include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, DOTA 2, Rocket League, and Grand Theft Auto 2, among others.
First Things First
To start with, let’s answer the question that brought you into this post – can you make money on Steam? The simple answer is YES, there is a huge potential to get rich playing. However, this is not as straightforward as it seems. There are many ways to make gaming a big business, but earning money is not that easy. In the rest of this post, we’ll explore the best ways by which gamers in Steam can take advantage of the platform and make money out of it.
Go on a Live Stream
Streaming is one of the best and most popular ways to earn money on Steam and playing any other e-game. All that you have to do is to broadcast your game. While playing, you will also have to interact with your audience. Keep them entertained and you will be able to build your audience in no time. This is easy for those who are already experts in their games as it will be effortless to captivate the attention of viewers.
Among others, Twitch is one of the most popular streaming platforms you might want to embrace. In one article from Forbes, the author notes that gamers can earn as much as $50,000 an hour while playing and streaming. While this is indeed possible, do not get your hopes up.
It takes time before you can be one of those people who earn a living on the platform. You need to be good at what you do. You also need to promote your channel to build a global audience before you can finally take off and make it big in the world of online gaming.
Sell In-Game Items
If you are an avid gamer, you will know the importance of in-game items. In many Steam games, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and DOTA, your inventory can make you rich, especially if you have rare and valuable items in your perusal.
For instance, you can sell DOTA 2 items on Skinwallet and make money out of it. Choose the items in your inventory and sell it for real money! Skinwallet is an easy-to-use platform that uses PayPal to pay its users depending on the value of the items that you are selling.
Wondering about how much money you can earn from selling your items? This isn’t a question we can answer. This depends on the item that you are selling and the prices from the buyer. Take your time to evaluate a variety of platforms and see which one can provide the best value for the item you are willing to let go.
Join Tournaments
Another good opportunity to earn money from Steam is by joining tournaments. Globally, there have been several competitions that gathered some of the best people in the world of e-sports. It has been a lucrative industry for skilled individuals.
This changed the perspective of many about gaming. Gone were the days when gamers are stereotyped for being lazy. They are now seen as money-makers earning millions of dollars for their gaming experience and expertise.
Build a team of gamers who have the same passion for what you are playing. Work on the competitiveness of your team before you move to the major leagues. You will be splitting the money depending on the number of members of the team, but chances are, you can still get a lot of money.
Develop Your Own Game
This is the direct way to earn money on Steam. This is a platform that accepts games from its members. If you have a bright idea and if you have knowledge in game development, now is the time to bring it into reality. You will get a lot of money from your game sales, including the items that you are selling.
However, developing and distributing a game on Steam is not as easy as 1-2-3. It takes quite a financial investment. More importantly, time and energy will be needed to gain a market share for the game that you wish to distribute.
There are specific rules when it comes to making a game for Steam. Be sure to read and follow the company’s guidelines so that your efforts won’t end up going to waste. See to it that you are making an acceptable content based on the standards that Steam sets. Also, take note that the company takes a share of the earnings.
To increase the value of the game, more than making it engaging, you also need to mind its promotions. Marketing is crucial for the success of the game. Take advantage of the various platforms that are available to spread the word about your game. The more players you will get hooked, the higher is the income potential of your game.
Conclusion
In sum, YES you can earn money on Steam! However, this isn’t one of those get-rich-quick schemes. Whether you resort into live streaming, selling your in-game items, joining tournaments, or developing a game, you won’t earn a fortune overnight. Take things slowly but surely. You need to work not only on your gaming skills but also on other things that will allow you to make gaming your bread and butter.
