When Magnavox released the Magnavox Odyssey, the first-ever home video game console, in 1972, people never thought of gaming as a way to make a living. Nearly 50 years later, video gaming has now turned into an E-Sport. With games like Madden and Fortnite having cash tournaments for players, people are now transitioning their gaming skills into a real-life payout. From the casual gamer all the way to YouTube influencers like PewDiePie, they are all looking to make some money from this E-Sports craze.
They aren’t the only ones looking to cash in on E-Sports. Sportsbook sites that usually handle NFL odds now have an option for betting on certain E-Sporting events. This takes gaming to a level that no one 50 years ago could have ever imagined. E-Sports, YouTube, and even gambling sites have brought new ways to make money from video games.
YouTube Influencers That Have Made It Big On Gaming
But is quitting a 9 to 5 job for playing video games really worth it? To gamers like Ninja and PewDiePie, it was. Ninja, whose real name is Tyler Blevins, now has an estimated net worth of $20 to $25 million from gaming. From YouTube videos, Twitch videos, and product endorsements, Blevins has amassed a nice fortune. Not bad for someone that plays Fortnite. PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, started his YouTube fame with funny reactions to gaming experiences. PewDiePie has a net worth of around $40 million earned from YouTube revenue, product endorsements, and even guest appearances in TV shows.
With success stories like these, people have become more intrigued by video games and how they can make money from playing them. In 2020, E-Sports generated a revenue of $947.1 million, with a projection to exceed $1 billion for 2021. Most of this revenue will be coming from product sponsorships and media rights to these video game tournaments.
E-Sports Going Mainstream On Cable TV And With Product Sponsors
E-Sports, in the form of EA’s Madden football, has a contract with ESPN to air their Madden tournaments on the ESPN stations. EA inked a multi-year deal with ESPN in 2018 to air Madden tournaments on ESPN stations. This helped put E-Sports in the public eye. No longer was it just people gaming on YouTube; it became lesser-known people being put front and center on a major sports cable channel.
But it takes more than just video gaming skills to make the big bucks. Streamers like Ninja and PewDiePie stand out the most because of their personality. People like watching entertaining things, and that’s the exact thing that Ninja and PewPiePie give their audience. Getting into E-Sports sometimes isn’t just about skill; it’s about the entertainment you can offer your fan base. It is also important to note that Ninja and PewDiePie didn’t become rich overnight. They slowly built a brand of making what they did in the gaming world.
Making Money From Home In The Age of YouTube And The Pandemic
In the age of YouTube, people have made gaming something profitable. Whether they have videos playing games, reviewing games, or even just making funny commentary on others gaming videos, there have been many ways that YouTube has allowed people to make a profit off of the gaming world.
So with the rise in E-Sports and at-home work, it seems like gaming can be a source of income for some people while being a source of entertainment for others. The major thing that most likely helped E-Sports viewership was the COVID-19 pandemic. While people were home looking for entertainment, E-Sports helped fill a gap left behind due to the pandemic.
With E-Sports more mainstream, that step into the gaming world as a job looks even better.