How To Make Money Playing Video Games

How To Make Money Playing Video Games

Gamers have spent an estimated $135 billion on games in 2018, according to Newzoo. But it isn’t just the big-name gaming companies that are making tons of cash — the gamers are, too. Gaming enthusiasts have turned playing video games into a full-time job that can earn some of them millions of dollars before age 30. Watch the video above to see how gamers make money.

Generally speaking there are two big ways that gamers can make money: esports and live streaming.

In the former category, twenty-eight year old Ho Kun Xian started gaming as a young boy. He came from a poor family who managed to spare him $2 to spend on video arcades whenever he went. There he began to master the art of fighting games. Years later, he turned pro, earning thousands of dollars in prize money as a gamer.

Xian’s story highlights the burgeoning esports industry, which is minting millionaires who play video games for a living by the age of 30.

Esports refers to competitive video gaming where teams or individuals play against each other in games such as EA’s “FIFA” series or Valve Corporation’s “Dota 2” for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money, in front of millions of viewers watching online and in physical arenas. Market research firm Newzoo forecasts the esports economy will grow to $905.6 million this year and $1.4 billion by 2020.

While esports may be smaller than traditional sports leagues like soccer’s Premier League in the U.K. or the NBA, it’s growing rapidly with new jobs and careers being made.

“I think I never thought, ‘I better do this,’ because even when I was 18 years old, there was no such thing as a pro gaming career, so this career didn’t exist,” Xian told CNBC.
» Subscribe to CNBC: http://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC

About CNBC: From ‘Wall Street’ to ‘Main Street’ to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online
Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/
Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Facebook: http://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Twitter: http://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Google+: http://cnb.cx/PlusCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Instagram: http://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC

#CNBC
#esports
#LiveStreaming

How To Make Money Playing Video Games

50 Comments

  1. Alex Shd on October 16, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    Would love to see your review of this app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.winning.rewards

  2. NARESH on October 16, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    He even wants Money so he does this videos so that
    he can get More views

  3. NSSupremacy _ on October 16, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    My issue with this video is that it speaks of "how to make money" making out like its an easy achievement, but it is not, yes cloud9 is successful but their are hundreds of thousands of players getting scammed, used, and losing money through false promises, bad organizations, and big issues with players having any chance of ever receiving a proper income or actual money. also with sponsors, orgs, etc all taking cuts, you can have your money cut in half.

  4. Micah S on October 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    I no longer need my job thanks to, *p a i d t o b e h o m e .c o m

  5. Edfuad Mo [ The Phenomenal] on October 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    As Software Engineer That’s when I hate my carrier when I see all this teens loosing there time playing what we build in months.

  6. Beannoo on October 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    That will never be me😪

  7. KexFN on October 16, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    2:43 he said 310 billion and the screen said million

  8. Random Warrior_08 on October 16, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    Bugah 15 3m

  9. Hamza Khan on October 16, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    lesson 1 –

    git gud

  10. randompro gamer on October 16, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    Background music is irritating

  11. Amber Cox on October 16, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    I have no more stress with the help of *2OnlineJobs. Com*

  12. محمد on October 16, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    Gaming Is the future.

  13. Camilla Molly on October 16, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    One trustworthy paypal hacker i know is >websterhackswordpresscom. they are so legit.

  14. TK Studios on October 16, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    🦵Legg go kik

  15. Sleeplxss_692 YT on October 16, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    Crazy how you can make millions off of moving your fingers and some people work so much to make less money than thay do

  16. Ashley plays on October 16, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    *my future job I don’t care what my parents say like: game does nothing for you ima prove them wrong so ik my future job gamer*

  17. drtirtha das on October 16, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    boomers just can’t seem to move on with times they still think it’s the 80s and 90s where you have to get a prof. job to make money when nowadays streamers literally make more money than journalists and teachers per month

  18. Searchingforcrosser on October 16, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    Back then, if you are a nerd. It is ok to be a loser. Afterall, you think that hey these "jockies" will be THE losers when they grow up. They won’t be able to hold a steady job because they are dumb. They did not persevere studying so obviously they would not have the same grit and drive as the person who was put into a situation where he/she studied and sacrificed his/her social status.

    NOW IT IS NOT IMPORTANT ANYMORE. EDUCATION. AND ONE OF THOSE REASONS IS BECAUSE OF GAMING. Basically, you can "waste your life away". Party. Drugs (Ecstasy and Marijuana). Be a criminal. Do not study. Be dumb and happy AND THE WORST PART? WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY DO NOT NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE. AFTERALL THEY CAN HAVE THIS JOB GAMING. A job THAT PAYS AS MUCH AS A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT OR ENGINEER WHO FINISHED COLLEGE.

    Maybe I am biased. Maybe I hated gamers. Whatever. You can’t blame me. This online gaming UNDERMINES MY YEARS OF HARD WORK STUDYING. My salary does not even hold a candle to the profit of these gamers.

    That’s why I am NOW AN ADVOCATE OF LET’S DITCH EDUCATION MOVEMENT. NO BIG DEAL. YOU NEED NOT STUDY HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY OR COLLEGE. AFTERALL, it’s a WASTE of effort. For what? You will NEVER have an entry level job that pays you JUST AS MUCH AS THESE GAMERS EARN. JUST BE A BUM! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.

    What is the biggest treasure your parents can give you before they die? Give you A GAMER ACCOUNT THAT CAN EARN YOU MILLIONS. NOT EDUCATION BECAUSE NO EMPLOYER WILL GIVE YOU A DECENT JOB THAT WILL EARN YOU THE GAMERS PROFITS.

  19. TakiGames on October 16, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    I got into the wrong genre of videogames

  20. Stephanie Gawith on October 16, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    Get them off me please

  21. Blu on October 16, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Personally, for me, I think I would be too stressful to be a professional gamer, lol. I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

  22. Omar Abdul-Malik DHEd, MPAS, PA-C on October 16, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    Hmmm….maybe I should stop yelling at my son to take a break from video games🤔! That would be cool if he ended up making more than me doing something he REALLY enjoys!😃💵🎮🕹👨🏽‍💻

  23. TreoView on October 16, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    All the parents kicking themselves for telling their kids video games were a waist of time. Your kid could have been making millions a year. Yet now your kid is making 40k a year in an office where they’re miserable.

  24. TK Studios on October 16, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    I… WILL ….WIN

  25. TEVNIN GAMING on October 16, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Plz talk to my parents😆

  26. lima rais on October 16, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Cool

  27. Nnamdi kid on October 16, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    I am very good

  28. Caleb Tan on October 16, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    alternate title
    CNBC telling us to play video games for 7 minutes straight

  29. Never without Ky Keet on October 16, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    #7DaysOut #TeamLiquid

  30. Dorcas Bill on October 16, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Hello Honey, have you had of Bitcoin? Its a crpto currency and it have value like dollar, you can search about Bitcoin on google and see some information about it. Currently I have invested some money about $2000 worth of Bitcoin and I earn $100 everyday from the investment and also my friend Jack invested $5000 bitcoin in fact he borrowed some money and invested now he receives $200 daily,..

  31. Marcus White on October 16, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    Sign me up where do I start

  32. Indrajit Das on October 16, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Please I wanna make big with games

  33. Sean Kim on October 16, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    It’s purely entertainment. There is no physical benefit for the "professional" gamer compared to professional athlete.
    Also, this is a zero-sum game. In the end, there is no product produced through these VIDEO game industry. People, especially young, often forget that these are GAMEs.
    They really cannot be taken seriously. Enjoy for a little while, and they are forgotten and not known by the next generations.

  34. Howalk on October 16, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    for me its just risky to be pro gamer 1st u cant do this when ur 40+ and so much competitor who better than u

  35. Nnamdi kid on October 16, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    I want to join

  36. Zones on October 16, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    Boomers and co who bash us are just mad that they have to go to a job that they hate, and to a family that despises them

  37. KexFN on October 16, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    2:43

  38. Faheem on October 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Imagine the Internet goes out in those places

  39. Romum Mecul on October 16, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    If you have not ever heard this creating money online technique, *4 N e t J o b s . C o m* is the best for you. If you have still been wanting to discover a successful online business opportunity this one is what you need. The moment you get started with this wonderful program, you’ll discover what you really require to know about becoming a dotcom entrepreneur. I know without a doubt you will achieve success like I have.

  40. BECKY CHAMBERS on October 16, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    Making income online is quite difficult. Do not worry though as *4 N e t J o b s . C o m* would make earning online simple for you. Just read it on their website as a jump start. This site will let you get training resources and learn tactics which could strengthen your business online..

  41. matt on October 16, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    Disgrace.

  42. Rajat Roy on October 16, 2020 at 4:03 pm
  43. mia on October 16, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    It was a wonderful experence with E x p e n d a b l e m o n e y s o l u t i o n . c o m, they were efficient and my balance keeps increasing daily

  44. scxff on October 16, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    This is literally my dream

  45. belqis momeni on October 16, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    Male

  46. azae00 Vids on October 16, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    and here I am trying to draw and build my artwork channel.. tough times .. lol

  47. KexFN on October 16, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    2.43

  48. Jayden Hargreaves on October 16, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    What subject do I have to choose to work for a gaming company

  49. Eleonora Polishchuk on October 16, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    What is video about: what is E Sports and how much do cybersportsmen got in revenue
    What I see on the screen: bottom Jenna + Le Blanc

    I HAVE QUESTIONS

  50. SENxRyZe on October 16, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    I’m a small YouTuber trying to become recognised!
    It would really mean a lot if you guys subbed my channel😁

Leave a Comment