Gaming is not just a time pass or hobby. It has now become a career. Esports has become quite popular and players earn millions by winning esports competitions. Several gamers also earn by streaming their gameplay. You may have seen videos of gamers playing games live on YouTube or on Facebook. Gamers do not just become popular by streaming their gameplay, they build followers and earn. If you also play games, you can think of streaming your gameplay live. In this article, I am listing the best video game streaming platforms where you can stream your live gameplay.
If you are also thinking to start game streaming, you should select the platform wisely. You need to first understand what platform is popular in your country. All these game streaming services are good and offer good exposure. Twitch is quite popular in Europe but YouTube gaming gives better exposure in India. So, you need to do a bit of research. You can also stream across all the platforms by using Restream. Restream lets you stream a video on multiple platforms.
Game Streaming Platforms
THese are the best game streaming platforms where you can live stream your games and earn money using different monetization methods.
1. Twitch
Twitch is still the best and most popular video game streaming platform. This Amazon-owned gaming streaming platform is used by top gamers to stream their games. This is the reason most people who want to watch quality gaming streaming prefer Twitch. So, you can get targetted viewers who are interested in gaming.
The process of a live streaming setup is easy. You can use OBS, XSplit, or Elgato Game Capture like software. Console users can use a capture card. Then use the Twitch stream key with your live capture software to stream games on Twitch. Even if your gaming PC is capable of streaming 1080p @ 60 fps, you cannot until you are Twitch Partner.
After you have good views and followers, you can obtain the “Affiliate” status. Once you are an affiliate, you get access to monetization tools and streaming capabilities that regular streamers do not. If your channel gets significant engagement, you can also be selected as a Twitch Partner. To give you an idea, little more than 1% of total streamers are Twitch Partners.
So, you need to first build an audience to reach the Affiliate status for making money on Twitch. For building an audience, you can use other social media platforms to bring your followers here on Twitch.
2. YouTube Gaming
YouTube launched YouTube Gaming back in 2015 in an attempt to challenge Twitch. Even if this is a separate section of YouTube, but it merges well with regular YouTube content. YouTube gaming is now quite popular and total watch hours of gaming videos on YouTube increased by 46% in 2019. It will be even better in 2020.
It is really easy to set up YouTube Gaming and start game streaming. It doesn’t matter if you play games on a PC, console, or on a mobile phone. You can easily set up live streaming and start streaming your gameplay. You can start streaming 1080p from day one, unlike Twitch and Facebook which asks you to first get some views to get 1080p streaming ability.
If you know SEO and keyword optimization, you can quickly build an audience on YouTube. YouTube also lets you monetize your videos in the same way you do regular videos. You need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 views to join the YouTube partner program. Then you can start earning by AdSense and YouTube Partner programs. YouTube also has a donation option where your followers can donate your money in the form of tips.
That means monetization is easy on YouTube Gaming as compared to Twitch.
3. Facebook Gaming
Microsoft-owned Mixer is no more and Microsoft suggested all gamers join Facebook gaming. That has made Facebook gaming quite popular as it got several users from Mixer.
Facebook’s game streaming interface is the same as on Facebook Live. You need to create a Facebook page and set it to the game content creator for game streaming. Then you can use software like XSplit, Elgato Game Capture, or Open Broadcast Software (OBS) to live capture and stream. Just like in Twitch, you need Facebook’s API key for streaming setup. Facebook’s Creator Studio is the place where you can manage your clips and go live.
Facebook also gives the option to monetize your streams. Once in the Level Up program, viewers can support you by giving starts. Each star is worth 1 cent. Once you reach the Partner level, your viewers can now subscribe to your channel at $4.99 a month. Facebook manually reaches to creators for the partner program. We are not sure what exactly is the criteria. Certainly, you need to get good views.
Facebook lets you share your stream to pages, groups, and on your profile. So, it is easier to promote your stream. But getting targeted views is still important for success.
4. Caffeine.tv
Caffeine.tv offers its own card software to live stream but can also be integrated with third-party apps, such as OBS. Everything is easy to set up and the community here is also helpful.
Unlike Twitch, it is easier to get viewers Here. If you play a game that is not being played by popular streamers here, you will certainly get tons of viewers easily.
There’s a Caster Program where streamers can win prizes for streaming. Like other game streaming platforms, you get a monetization option here. Viewers pay for stickers with gold currency and then reward stickers to streamers. Once you generate $200 worth of gold, you can case out with any payment site like Paypal.
Caffeine has a partner program offering perks like swag. Partners also get paid for hitting certain milestones.
5. VK Video
VK is a Russian social media platform with close to 100 million monthly active users. It also has a video streaming service where users can set up live streaming and broadcast. Several users also use this platform for streaming games and Esports. Streaming content on VK is easy. You just need to have OBS set up and then can easily stream content from the video section in a page or community. Streamers can receive donations from their viewers. If you get good viewership, brands can also pay for placing logos of their companies in a corner of your stream. VK doesn’t pay you anything for getting views. So, it feels similar to Facebook Gaming.
Wrap Up
There are several other game streaming platforms like NimoTV and MobCrush, but I am not much hopeful about them. The platforms I added in this article are beneficial in terms of earnings and streaming experience. YouTube seems a better option because you know when exactly you will start earning. You just need to hit the monetization criteria. Twitch is hard in terms of monetization, but it is the platform where you get interested viewers who want to watch your gameplay. Facebook is now gaining popularity.
If you are a serious gamer, you can use restream and start streaming across these platforms at once. This will give you a better idea of what platform is working for you. You will have to test several timings to understand what time is suitable for going to live while playing games.
