Shabby Chic Boho As we’ve grown up alongside video games and digital entertainment of all kinds, our expectations of the kind of thrills games provide have gotten more complex as well. This has led to the rise of more complex game mechanics, as well as more engaging and mature narratives, but perhaps the change that’s easiest to notice is how gaming has added real stakes and real worth to the hobby over the years. If you’re looking to make a little extra cash from your favorite hobby or just want a way to make it even more exciting to play, here are a few options and opportunities worth considering.
The Growing Competitive Scene
The competitive side of gaming has been around for a long time, especially in real-time strategy and fighting game spaces, but nowadays, it’s growing to levels that would have previously been unthinkable. The rise of esports has led to a whole host of professional players and teams competing for prize pools that often go into the thousands of dollars. Aside from global audiences of gamers, their play is now attracting corporate sponsors who have made professional gaming a viable career choice. Of course, the caveat is that you have to be one of the top players of that game in the world, and keep an eye on which games are attracting the biggest playerbases, the most tournaments, and the pay that can sustain you as you compete for those prize pools.
The Rise Of Virtual Assets
More and more, virtual assets like skins, weapons, characters, and even digital land are coming with a real-world price tag. Not only does that make those items feel that much more valuable in the game, but it is beginning to see the rise of real economies attached to them as well. The rise of NFTs and blockchain technology has seen these assets gain even more worth, with some of the most expensive digital in-game items selling for tens of thousands. Some games even have whole fan-run digital marketplaces and auctions to help people buy and sell the assets that they earn in the game.
Pay-To-Earn Games
One niche that is starting to be explored a little more thoroughly lately is the sector of pay-to-earn (or P2E) games. As the name suggests, P2E games offer direct financial incentives to players who play their games. This typically comes in the form of tokens or assets that can be converted into real currency or vouchers for stores. As such, some games are able to more directly reward players for their time and skill, to the point that some people have started to use them as a reliable supplement to their main income. Of course, the rate of how much you earn per game can vary drastically, so you have to keep a close eye on the best rates in the market.
Online Casinos And Gambling Games
Since the boom of online poker and casino games in the mid-to-late 2000s, there have been plenty of real stakes gambling options that allow players to both wager and make real money online. Although the risk of losing is ever-present, online gambling is one of the most heavily regulated forms of gaming monetization, so long as you’re playing within the right jurisdictions, and casinos have to be clear and transparent about their average return rates, as well as the winnings they offer. As such, whether you opt for the biggest sweepstakes you can find or games like online slots that offer the most reliable returns, you can ensure that you’re playing responsibly. The market has only been growing lately, so there’s an ever-increasing diversity of engaging gaming experiences available.
Streaming And Content Creation
While this might not apply ot the games themselves, gamers have been finding other ways ot monetize how they play. Nowadays, becoming a video game-centric streamer and content creator is a truly viable career choice, with platforms like Twitch and YouTube able to help players reach audiences in the thousands, making money from ads, subscriptions, donations, and sponsorship deals. Of course, it’s not easy to make reliable money from streaming, as it requires the right balance of on-screen/on-mic charisma, showmanship, niche focus, or skill in the games, as well as dedication to maintain a schedule and engage your audience routinely. However, for those who have the personality or the skill, it’s certainly a path worth considering.
Skill-Based Services
For some players, their skills are not just the ticket to help them become a competitive gamer or a content creator; they are valuable commodities that they can sell to others as well. Perhaps the most direct form of this is working as a coach, helping competitive players sharpen their own skills to increase their chances of winning the prize pot in the future. However, boosting, item crafting, and doing in-game labor for real money have become increasingly popular over the years. Many players will spend hours building up an account that has access to end-game content and items, only to sell them to others who want to skip the grind. A lot of online games do classify this as being against their terms of service, which can see players banned for doing it, but the marketplace is there.
The Importance Of Realistic Expectations
The stakes are becoming increasingly real for a lot of gamers, and there are legitimate opportunities to make money by gaming, but it’s always important to control your expectations when looking for real stakes in gaming. There’s no guarantee that you’re going to be able to make a career from any of the paths mentioned above. For the more skill-based options, such as streaming or competitive gaming, you have to be an exceptional talent, which might make it worth trying out, but you might not want to quit your day job any time soon until you’re able to get your feet firmly on that ladder.
The stakes in gaming have never been more real for those who want to try them. Just make sure that you play responsibly and keep your expectations realistic.
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Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-playing-computer-game-7915228/
