Gaming used to be about playing video games. Now, people all over the world enjoy watching other people play video games via platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Game streaming has become incredibly popular in recent years. In 2019, over 740 million people watched game streams. If you enjoy playing games, you might want to consider streaming yourself. If so, check out the following overview of how to get into game streaming.

What exactly is game streaming?

At its core, game streaming involves broadcasting your gameplay of games on platforms like Twitch. However, you do not only have the option of broadcasting video games. Many streamers broadcast slot games and other casino games like poker and blackjack. Check out Kazoom Casino to get an idea of just how many casino game options are available. In addition to simply streaming gameplay, the most popular streamers show themselves playing the games and talk to the audience as they are playing. They can also reply to comments in feeds.

Why would you want to stream games?

Most people stream games simply because it is fun. Others want to create a community of dedicated viewers. However, it is also possible to generate an income from game streaming. Superstar streamers like Tfue and Ninja attract millions of fans and make big bucks. While you may hope to also generate an income via things like viewer donations, advertisements, and partnerships, the reality is it will take you a lot of time and hard work to make game streaming into a lucrative career. But it can be fun to grow an audience anyway, and as you do so, you will have more opportunities to make money from your stream.

How do you attract viewers?

If one of your main motivations is to attract a high number of viewers, you need to think of a hook that will get them watching. Firstly, consider the types of games you broadcast. If you steam the same old RPGs, platform games, and first-person shooters that everyone else is streaming, it will be more difficult to get noticed. So, find a niche. You could stream old 8-bit games or focus on one game franchise, such as Pokémon. However, building an audience is not solely about your game choice. For instance, if you are able to make your audience laugh while playing or if you have a great way of commentating on your gameplay, people could be drawn to your channel.

What equipment do you need to stream games?

If you stream from an Xbox One or PS4, all you need is a broadband connection to stream. But you can get more specialized equipment to create better quality. You will also need specialized equipment for broadcasting PC or Switch games. For gaming on Twitch, you should have at least an Intel Core i5 processor, or equivalent, and 8GB of RAM. You will also need a video capture card. Other equipment that comes recommended is a high-quality microphone, if you want to provide commentary to your streams, and a camera that allows you to be seen while you play. You should also invest in a decent pair of headphones so that people will not be able to hear your game’s audio secondhand via your speakers.

Get Streaming!

Once you know what games you want to stream and whether or not you want to provide commentary and show yourself playing the games, and you have obtained all the equipment you need, all you need to do is get on Twitch or another streaming platform and start broadcasting. For further assistance, Twitch and other platforms have great tutorials.