Game streaming, which is where people live broadcast their video game play for an audience, is a growth industry. The number of people who are choosing it as a full-time career is going up all the time.
It is a legitimate career choice for many too. Watching games streamers is very popular so there is an ever-increasing audience base for it.
This is important, because streamers earn their income from that audience. Knowing that there are a lot of people eager to watch streamers who can combine real gaming skills with a strong personality is why people pursue it as a living.
Before you can do that you need to invest in a streaming setup though. The optimal equipment can vary depending on how ambitious you are about it.
Choice of Game
Before thinking about investing in a live streaming setup, the first step will be to decide what sort of games you want to broadcast yourself playing. A big part of the appeal of games streaming is watching someone who is highly skilled providing in-game advice on dealing with typical problems that occur; so picking a genre of game that you have real ability at will be a good decision.
There are some types of games that are particularly popular among streamers and those who watch them on sites like Twitch.
Grand Theft Auto V
This action-adventure game is a common choice for streamers and viewers. It provides in-depth game play with lots of excitement and great visuals, making for compelling watching.
Online Blackjack
Casino sites now offer live blackjack gaming where the player is up against a real-life dealer. This is another popular choice to stream because blackjack is a game of strategy and skill, so there is a lot for a knowledgeable streamer to teach viewers during the games.
Betting games of this kind also provide plenty of raw excitement, making for good viewing.
League of Legends
This is a battle arena game that has been a big hit among streamers for many of the same reasons. Being a multiplayer game helps too though, because it allows for streaming sessions involving several people, leading to banter that further entertains the audience.
Many people also watch streams featuring teams playing League of Legends against each other in e-sports tournaments.
The Best Streaming Setups
PC
The first essential piece of games streaming tech is a really good gaming PC. That means it needs to have a fast graphics chip, lots of RAM and a powerful processor. If you just want to be able to buy a computer that has all of those elements, there are three great choices: the Alienware m15 R4; the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and the Acer Nitro 5.
On the other hand, many streamers choose to customise by buying the components separately and building themselves. That will mean installing a minimum 16GB RAM, something like the NVIDIA RTX 4090 or Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics chip; and an Intel Core i5 processor.
Resolution levels should be 1080p, with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Webcam
The webcam will be what lets people see you play and you must think about the field of view, image quality and software compatibility. If you are just streaming as a hobby, an HD webcam like the Logitech C310HD will be simple to install and cost-effective.
Those who intend to stream professionally would be advised to invest in a full HD webcam as part of their setup though. The Ausdom AW615 will provide an ultra-sharp 1080p image to attract viewers.
Microphone
Next comes the microphone. You will be maintaining a regular monologue throughout gaming sessions so people need to be able to hear you clearly.
It is not a good idea to use the built-in microphone even if your PC has one, because it will not provide audio of the expected quality. Best streaming microphones on the market right now include the Blue Yeti Nano, the MSI Immerse GV60 and the Elgato Wave 3. The Blue Yeti Nano is the most affordable one for people who are just getting started as streamers.
Streaming Software
Finally, investing in good software for your PC will ensure smoother games streams, which will help in building your audience. OBS Studio is by far the best for a streaming setup because it is free and compatible with all of the major operating systems.
It has excellent features like a sound mixer and unlimited scenes and can support pretty much any streaming platform. So you can choose which one you stream on.
Getting a good setup for games streaming is not always so cheap, but there is real money to be made if you are good at it and have the personality to build up an audience.