We all have our idea of a dream job. If you’re a book lover, that may look like a career in publishing, or if you have a natural talent for numbers, you may decide to pursue a career in engineering. What matters most is that the work we do is fulfilling. Many people believe that gaming is their favorite pastime, and they like nothing more than to spend their days working in the gaming industry.
Elite gamers can become esports athletes; however, not everyone can reach those levels of gaming excellence. The good news is there are many more options. From game developers to animators, the gaming industry has many diverse jobs. Given all these opportunities, it’s unsurprising that many have turned their love for gaming into a career. In this article, we look at why more and more people are making a career out of gaming.
The Expanding Gaming Industry
The gaming industry has grown significantly in the past few years, making it one of the best times to start a career in it. Not very long ago, movies and music once sat atop the entertainment hierarchy, but that time has passed. No gaming generates more revenue than the two combined.
This good fortune hasn’t been lost on those seeking jobs in the gaming industry, who’ve noticed an increasing number of employers looking for people with their skills. One example is the iGaming industry, where software developers, data analysts, and cybersecurity experts are in demand. As casinos have gone digital in recent years, people with the skills to design the games people want to play, including online slots and interactive gaming experiences, have become highly sought after.
Beyond iGaming, game studios that design AAA titles are always looking for talent, whether in marketing or game design. The demand is so great that even universities have started offering courses, certifications, and degree programs to prepare students for roles in the gaming industry, recognizing that it has become a popular career path.
The Rise of Streaming and Content Creation
Few things have done more to change the gaming industry than streaming and content creation. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok have given gamers the opportunity to show off their skills to the world. These platforms provide players with the tools they need to create engaging content and reach a global audience. While streaming started off as a hobby for many gamers, it quickly became a multimillion-dollar industry.
Today’s streamers are now professional content creators who’ve been able to monetize their channels through advertisements, sponsorships, and contributions from their fans. The influencer Pokimane is just one example of how successful online streamers have become. She has over nine million followers on Twitch and six million on Instagram, having successfully turned her gaming experience and personality into a brand. Viewers are drawn to streaming content because of the real-time engagement and the ability to interact directly with the people they admire. Content creation via streaming is one of the most accessible careers in gaming but it takes a lot of hard work to find success.
Esports as a Professional Career
A couple of decades ago, most people would have had a hard time believing that gaming could ever be classified as a sport. However, that’s exactly what has happened, as professional gaming has become a recognized athletic career. Today, the best gamers in the world participate in organized tournaments that attract audiences comparable to those of traditional sporting events.
A number of professional esports players, like Emsy from Team Liquid, have made competitive gaming their full-time job, earning their income through tournament winnings, sponsorships, and team contracts. While you may think that only skilled gamers can make a career out of esports, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Esports athletes need a supporting cast to help them reach their goals, including coaches, trainers, analysts, and performance psychologists, just like professional athletes in other sports.