Gaming

Want to Make Money Streaming Video Games? Run It Like a Business

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2022

The pandemic changed the landscape of streaming forever. Before the pandemic, the largest concurrent audience on Twitch was just 3.9 million. That record was shattered in 2021 when 6.57 million viewers tuned in at the same time.

In response, thousands of gamers have started streaming and are attempting to make serious cash from their favorite hobby.

But getting started in the streaming industry is tough. However, one thing is clear: if you want to make it as a streamer, you have to start running your stream like a business — here’s how.

Finances

Almost all businesses require an initial investment to get off the ground. Luckily, starting a stream requires almost no money: all you need is a camera, an internet connection, and your favorite game.

Over time, you should upgrade your offering by improving your stream quality. Here are a few investments you might consider:

Improve your mic/camera quality
Upgrade your gaming system to get better frame rates and improve the viewing experience
Add lighting to professionalize your on-screen presence
Modify your background and build the ultimate game room

However, you can’t just start spending and expect your stream to remain profitable.

Instead, you need to have a clear understanding of personal finances that details your income and expenditures. This will show you exactly how much you have made from streaming and will help you save towards upgrades that help you land new partnerships.

Partnerships

Partnerships are to streamers what Poké Balls are to Ash Ketchum — you simply must land partnerships go full time as a streamer.

There is no “quick” way to land a partnership. You must show that you have a quality, professional offering before any business will associate their name with your stream. But, you can make it a little easier to get spotted and sponsored by registering with sites like PowerSpike and WeHype.

However, to be considered a good investment for these businesses, you must put forward an engaging, well-made stream. You can work towards this by making small, marginal gains every time you stream.

Marginal Gains

The idea of marginal gains really caught on during the 2010s, when business leaders took inspiration from the successful British Cycling team. The British team dedicated themselves to making 1% gains every day, and these marginal gains resulted in Great Britain winning 7 out of 10 gold medals.

To make marginal gains as a gamer, you should take an honest look at your current offering and identify areas of improvement. It can be difficult to make this assessment, but you should start by organizing your thoughts with a mind map. Organizing your thoughts is important as it allows you to visualize the way you work and crystallize your objectives.

Every few weeks, you can return to your mind map and evaluate the changes you made. For example, did it improve engagement with audiences? Did your background change result in a longer average-watch time from viewers? Did a change you made to your music positively affect your audience’s retention?

By making small changes every day, you can improve your offering and start working towards bigger partnership contracts.

Find Your “Thing”

Niches are overrated in the world of gaming and streaming content. Very few people will find your stream if you only ever play unpopular games, and fewer still will stick around if you decide that your niche is more important than audience engagement or a consistent offering.

This can feel a little dissuading, but it shouldn’t stop you from trying to deliver a unique, engaging experience for viewers — you can still discover your particular “thing” while playing popular games that attract viewers.

Take, for example, Broxh. He splits his stream into two approaches: gaming and woodworking. His woodworking draws in a large audience for his stream and he routinely plays popular games like Valorant and Super Smash Bros. But, his “thing” which draws repeat viewers is simple: he is extremely friendly and strikes an authentic chord which makes audiences feel comfortable and happy.

So, when you next go live, try to consider what your “thing” is, and build on it over time.

Conclusion

Making money from streaming feels impossible at first. You should start by treating your stream as a business that requires time, money, and effort. After your initial investment, you should seek to make marginal gains that improve your offering and increase your chances of being spotted by brands that are looking for professional, engaging streamers like yourself.

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Gaming

Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of Sony’s top-selling games in the US

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.

According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.

He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.

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Gaming

The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.

The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.

Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024

There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.

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Gaming

Will Stellar Blade be available for PC?

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2024

Zach Riley

It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.

The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.

Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?

In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.

Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.

Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.

Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.

In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.

Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.

It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.

However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.

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