It's no surprise, but a recent report found that top-tier video game streamers get paid brain-surgeon bucks for playing the newest games and streaming them to their fanbase. However, what is surprising is that this doesn't just mean the streaming elite. Based on the latest reports from the Wall Street Journal it seems that video game streaming could potentially be one of the fastest-growing careers today.
Based on the report, we know that publishers are willing to pay big bucks to get their brand and their games out on the internet. Streamers who can hold a concurrent viewership of around 15,000 viewers can earn between $25,000 to $35,000 per hour streaming new games. Of course, 15,000 viewers can take years to acquire, but even if you start small, publishers are willing to pay up-and-coming streamers just to spread the word about their games. If you get really popular, and I mean really popular, you might even earn upwards of $50,000 per hour, just like the top streamers in the world.
Of course, it's not all about the money. Being a Twitch or YouTube personality - whether you're an "influencer" or a video game live-streamer, entails a hell of a lot of responsibility. Online personalities, especially the most popular ones, will always have their fans listening and watching. It's important to remember that, especially for those with millions of followers, any one act or word can be seen or heard by millions. That's a lot of pressure, and if you're doing that full-time, you really ought to be well-compensated.
However, for those vying for a career that involves playing games all day, now's your chance. The way the industry is moving, it doesn't seem like "influencers" and "online personalities" are going to lose industry value any time soon. For any marketing and advertising campaign nowadays, not just in the gaming industry, influencers are an extremely effective, and therefore lucrative position that brands and companies pay good money for.
What do you think about how handsomely live-streamers are getting paid to play new video games? Is it making you re-consider your career choices? Let us know in the comments section below!
