YouTube has become an integral part of many people's online lives and entertainment. From watching cute cats to hilarious pranks gone wrong, there's something for everyone. But what about gamers? While it might be true that some platforms offer better games than others, there are still plenty of great titles out there just waiting to be discovered by more viewers. And while most content producers will likely want to start with their own channels first before branching into third-party promotion, this doesn't mean they won't eventually end up on other sites like YouTube as well. If your goal is to build a sizable audience through video sharing services, then you'll need to know how to get started. So if you're interested in becoming one of those YouTubers who posts gaming clips...what next? Let's take a look at whether or not you can post gaming videos on YouTube, where you could potentially earn revenue from them, and which types of videos you should focus on producing.
Unfortunately, no. The answer isn't entirely clear cut because each platform has its own set of rules regarding what content is acceptable. For example, Twitch does allow game streams (though these typically require a paid subscription), but YouTube prohibits any form of gameplay recording unless it falls under fair use guidelines. However, since YouTube is owned by Google, we'll assume that it also follows the same rules. As such, even though streamers have been able to break free from this restriction, full playthroughs of games are off limits. That being said, if you wanted to create high quality videos showing specific moments within a certain period of time (e.g., "10 minutes of Mario Odyssey"), this would fall under fair use guidelines.
On top of streaming restrictions, another major barrier preventing users from posting gaming footage directly onto YouTube is copyright ownership. In order to upload anything without permission, you'll need to obtain written consent from the publisher/developer(s) involved. Additionally, you may wish to consider using copyrighted material in accordance with Fair Use laws so that you don't accidentally violate anyone else's intellectual property rights. To ensure compliance with all parties' interests, check out our guide detailing how to properly cite sources when referencing video game assets.
Finally, while many publishers do give developers access to pre-release materials, this often comes with strings attached—for instance, companies may ask for exclusive distribution deals via official channels. On the upside, however, many big names now see social media influencers as useful marketing tools. Therefore, if you happen to work with a developer that prefers working with independent personalities, you might find yourself gaining exposure faster than expected!
In short, gaming videos aren't currently possible on YouTube, but that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't try creating them anyway. After all, YouTube is home to countless hours worth of content, including plenty of non-gaming related vlogs. Plus, if you ever decide to move away from the service altogether, YouTube allows users to download their videos for offline viewing.
While you may have noticed that YouTube itself hasn't outright banned gaming content due to licensing issues, it certainly wouldn't hurt to keep all options open. Thus, if you've already obtained the necessary permissions from publishers, feel free to share gameplay footage on your channel after adding relevant metadata to help identify the source. Just bear in mind that doing so is technically against YouTube's Terms of Service.
However, if your intent was to simply distribute a promotional clip for a particular title, this process probably won't hold much water. Even if you did manage to gain approval beforehand, you'd only receive a link to view your creation elsewhere (like Facebook). Granted, there are ways around this limitation, but you must tread lightly lest you run afoul of copyright law once again.
As previously mentioned, Twitch also offers live broadcasts for players to watch and interact with other spectators, regardless of region. However, despite having partnered with several leading studios, Twitch remains somewhat restricted in terms of its ability to promote exclusivity among subscribers. Still, given that both companies essentially cater to similar audiences, there's little reason why either site couldn't coexist peacefully.
If you really want to go ahead and produce original gaming videos on YouTube, you're going to have to rely heavily upon third party promotions. Unfortunately, these methods come with their own sets of risks and caveats, ranging anywhere from ad placement to lack of control over pricing.
To learn more about this subject matter, read our article discussing the differences between affiliate links and sponsored ads.
Once you've built up enough trust and popularity, you may begin receiving requests to join partnerships or partnerships offering direct income streams. For starters, you'll want to familiarize yourself with different types of advertising available to YouTuber, such as branded sponsorships, product placements, and merchandise endorsements. Then you'll want to determine whether or not your target demographic actually wants to purchase these products. Some advertisers prefer to partner with established influencers, while others may seek out newer faces. Either way, the key takeaway here is to always put your best foot forward by demonstrating that you have a large following and broad appeal.
Of course, the vast majority of marketers will also want to leverage your brand recognition for increased visibility. One option is to utilize display advertisements placed above the fold. Not only do these provide higher conversion rates than banners, they can also help boost impressions and overall reach. Of course, there are also text ads and native advertisement units that let brands advertise right inside your feed. Once again, you'll want to carefully review potential opportunities to figure out which ones fit your needs and goals best.
Regardless of the method chosen, remember that you'll ultimately retain full creative control over your creations. It makes sense to strike a balance between maximizing profits and maintaining autonomy, but it's important to note that neither approach is inherently superior. At least in theory, it's theoretically possible to turn YouTube Gaming into a successful business by leveraging your existing subscriber base. All you need is a team dedicated to managing day-to-day operations, keeping track of statistics, and coordinating multiple campaigns simultaneously.
But wait, there's more! If you enjoy creating video series instead of individual episodes, you can also opt to release them episodically as standalone webisodes. Doing so lets you avoid breaking YouTube's embedding policy and gives you greater freedom over pacing. Alternatively, you can choose to include viewer polls and surveys to capture feedback from fans. Finally, if you're looking for inspiration, peruse trending topics on the Creator Studio tab located toward the bottom left corner of your screen. Here, you'll find information pertaining to current trends, events, and stats, plus tips for improving engagement.
When deciding what kind of content to feature on your channel, pick an angle that reflects your personality and style. Ideally, you want to showcase your expertise and enthusiasm. Think of ideas that showcase your unique point of views and opinions. Don't worry too much about coming across as overly biased or opinionated—nobody expects you to present facts unquestioningly. Instead, aim for engaging discussions that leave room for opposing viewpoints. Remember that engaging conversations tend to draw more attention than lectures.
The most common genres on YouTube include travel, comedy, music, lifestyle, shopping, food & drink, sports, fashion, makeup, pets, fitness, technology, etc. With so many niche categories to explore, there's bound to be something interesting to suit every taste and preference.
For instance, if you love cooking, how about uploading recipe roundups featuring your favorite dishes? Or maybe you're passionate about photography and fancy taking pictures of your meals? Perhaps you prefer spending time outdoors and want to document nature shots? Whatever the case, think creatively and experiment until you discover your personal sweet spot. Also, don't forget that you can easily branch out beyond games and apps. Consider experimenting with TikTok alternatives and other digital platforms for extra funds.
With that said, it's important not to stress too much about building a massive viewership overnight. Most aspiring content creators fail to realize that gradual growth takes precedence over rapid expansion. Focus on providing authentic value to your loyal followers and establishing a strong presence before trying to chase fame and fortune.
YouTube has been around since 2005 and became one of the most watched platforms in the world with over two billion logged-in users who watch an average of 45 minutes of video per day. It’s easy to see why YouTube is such a valuable platform for content creators.
But even though YouTube is great for original content creators like YouTubers, podcasters, bloggers, etc., there's still some confusion about what types of content can get featured on the main channel or if they're allowed at all. This article will help clear up these questions by providing answers on how gaming channels should approach uploading their content onto YouTube.
If your goal as a creator is to make money from your content then it’s important to know which type of content is considered “allowed” when it comes to monetizing them. The basic rule of thumb here is that anything that falls under fair use cannot be monetized. Fair Use is generally defined as "the right to reproduce (copy), distribute, adapt, transform (modify), perform, display, broadcast, and communicate works" without permission from rights holders. So basically, while this applies to many other areas, including music and news reporting, it does not apply to games.
In addition, creating original non-gameplay footage within the context of game play itself may also violate intellectual property laws and could result in legal action against the user/creator. For example, using copyrighted characters or locations from a video game as part of your own parody work would fall within fair use guidelines, however, using those same characters or locations for commercial purposes would likely be illegal. If you plan to create any kind of original content that involves someone else’s assets, consider getting a lawyer involved early so you don't find yourself facing unexpected legal issues down the road.
The following are examples of videos that are typically OK to monetize on YouTube:
News reports involving clips from live events (such as sporting venues) where people are actively participating in the event.
Videos featuring commentary on current events related to sports teams and leagues.
Podcast episodes featuring highlights from recent matches.
Reaction videos to viral trends with actual footage of the scene.
Live streams of real-life competitions between professional athletes.
A roundup of top moments from notable tournaments.
Parodies of well known celebrities and public figures.
Original creations like fan art, cosplays, and artwork created specifically for fans.
Pubg Mobile FreeKicks [Broken URL Removed] is a free-to-play battle royale first person shooter developed by Epic Games. In late 2018, the game was released worldwide on Android devices after its initial launch in South Korea back in 2017. As mentioned earlier, because Pubg Mobile FreeKicks uses third party assets, it violates copyrights laws and therefore can’t be uploaded to YouTube directly. However, there is technically no IP infringement happening here—it is simply a matter of distributing different versions of the same product with varying restrictions based on region availability. To avoid running into trouble with local authorities, it’s best to check out regional differences before doing something similar.
As far as publishing goes, there are a number of ways to publish your content depending on your goals. One common method used by publishers is to license their content through services like Twitch.tv and Mixer.com. By utilizing these methods, publishers have more control over how their content gets distributed and can choose whether or not to allow advertising. Another option available to gamers is to utilize streaming sites like Streamlabs or Justin TV. Since these companies offer tools that streamline distribution and take care of things like ad sales, they provide a better overall experience than traditional options like Facebook Live.
One thing to note is that unlike most social media accounts, you won’t be able to link your YouTube account with your Twitch account automatically. Instead, you'll need to follow separate logins for each service.
However, despite being streamed online, the PUBG mobile version of the game isn't actually playable online. Players must download the app instead.
Yes! While the above section covers general rules regarding content creation, this section focuses on specific concerns surrounding gameplay videos posted to YouTube. Many argue that since gameplay videos are meant to show viewers exactly what happens during certain scenarios, they shouldn’t be subject to monetization restrictions. After all, the only reason behind these limitations is to generate revenue for the company producing the content. But YouTube itself states that these restrictions exist due to the fact that they want to protect creators from losing credibility via deceptive ads. And while we agree that keeping advertisers happy is certainly beneficial, it doesn’t always mean that it’s necessarily best for everyone.
While it’s true that monetizing gameplay videos seems counterintuitive, it’s worth noting that monetizing gameplay videos is completely optional. Creators can easily opt out of having their content monetized altogether. Doing so means that the viewer will never receive advertisements, but it will also remove the possibility of earning income off of views. On the flip side, making your entire channel private will prevent monetization altogether.
So long as you keep in mind that monetizing gameplay videos is entirely optional, there really isn’t much harm done either way. Just remember to remain respectful of others' creative efforts just like you'd expect from anyone else.
You might notice that some creators have said that they chose to skip YouTube’s monetization policy entirely, opting instead to sell merchandise or sponsor themselves directly. We recommend checking out our guide detailing how to set up your own Patreon account to learn everything you need to know about setting up your very own crowdfunding campaign.
No. Permission slips aside, posting gameplay videos on YouTube isn’t ever going to infringe upon another entity’s copyright unless you explicitly ask the owner of the asset(s) you intend to feature for consent beforehand. Even if you did somehow manage to sneak past that line, chances are good that whatever the offending material was would be protected under copyright law anyway.
For instance, let’s say you decided to film yourself playing Super Mario Bros 3 on SNES. That wouldn’t normally be covered by copyright law, but once you start incorporating elements from other games in the franchise, you’re now potentially infringing upon Nintendo’s exclusive usage of their intellectual properties. Of course, this is unlikely to happen considering that most major entities usually give creators explicit permissions prior to filming or editing in order to ensure compliance.
That being said, there are times where the situation is less straightforward. Let’s say you were given access to a location that houses a famous tourist attraction (like Times Square). Normally, you’d probably assume that you’d still need to seek approval from the proper authorities before airing it publicly. But if you filmed the exact same clip somewhere else entirely, like near a statue dedicated to the city your channel represents, you’d likely be fine. The difference here lies in whether or not the location features recognizable landmarks associated with the name of the location.
And while it’s true that copyright law varies by country, this is especially relevant in countries like China where the government heavily censors internet content regardless of origin. In cases like these, it’s often best to reach out to a reputable digital agency that specializes in working with international clients in regards to obtaining licenses and approvals for overseas projects. They'll handle all of the necessary paperwork required to complete production and shoot in accordance to local regulations.
YouTube has been home to some incredibly entertaining and educational gameplay content over its years. And while there's no shortage of people who want to see more from this genre, many games simply don't fit into traditional video game coverage or just haven't received one yet.
But what if we told you that it was possible to create your own channel based around your favorite game with the help of YouTube Gaming? We're not talking about a "Let's Play" series either — these channels have gone beyond their original purpose as they expand to cover news, reviews, and even commentary. So how does all this work exactly? Can I monetize my gaming videos on YouTube? Let's find out!
This might be obvious, but yes, absolutely anyone can start creating an entertainment-based YouTube channel today. All you need is a computer, internet connection, camera, microphone, editing software, and creativity. However, what makes YouTube different than other platforms like Twitch is that it allows users to upload any type of media they'd like to share. It's also why so much of the most successful YouTubers focus around specific topics instead of individual games.
There are several ways in which a creator can go when building their audience:
Create a dedicated channel specifically for gaming content. Make sure to pick something that isn't already covered by another platform, whether that means choosing between PC vs. console, strategy, or MMOs.
Add gaming content to your existing channel. If you've created a channel focused around fitness or food, consider adding a few clips here and there to keep things interesting. The same goes for regular vloggers.
Use multiple accounts to build separate audiences. For example, use one account to post footage from your main channel and then add additional ones for gaming, comedy, etc. Just try to avoid using the same username across them all.
If you feel comfortable doing so, consider becoming verified. This will allow viewers to easily identify your channel as belonging to someone official. In addition, having a badge next to your name shows potential subscribers where to find your content. There are two types of verification available: community and staff. Community verifications require followers to approve your request before you become verified. Staff verifications only take a couple days and involve uploading a file containing documentation proving ownership of your channel.
You'll notice that none of these options mention monetizing at this point. That doesn't mean that you won't get paid later down the line though. Instead, this is meant to let creators know the basics of starting a YouTube gaming channel. Once you've established yourself, you may choose to pursue further opportunities within YouTube itself such as advertising sales or branded deals.
What kind of content can you expect to see on a YouTube gaming channel? Well, anything really. Creators often utilize live streaming technology to play through entire chapters of a certain title or show off skins/mods/maps that change the way a particular character looks (or behaves). Others prefer to record themselves playing through single missions of a game without commentaries. Still others opt to combine both forms of presentation. Either way, you should always stay true to your style and voice, however unconventional it may seem compared to other gamers online.
And remember, these channels aren't limited to games alone. Creators regularly publish gameplay walkthroughs for titles ranging from AAA blockbusters to indie gems alike.
PUBG stands among the biggest names in multiplayer first person shooter (MMO) communities. Since its release in March 2017, hundreds of thousands of players worldwide have logged tens of millions of hours spent inside Fortnite Battle Royale's massive map. As a result, the popularity of this mode continues to grow alongside professional esports leagues popping up everywhere. But despite being arguably the best competitive experience in modern FPS history, PUBG hasn't seen the success enjoyed elsewhere.
That said, Fortnite remains hugely popular due to Epic Games' willingness to give third parties access to Epic Games Launcher, allowing fans to download free copies of the latest releases directly onto their devices. Additionally, the company offers special promotions every now and again to entice those interested in crossplay capabilities. While Fortnite is certainly better suited to mobile devices, there's still room for growth outside of Epic Games' launcher thanks to tools like GameStream.
So what happens once you actually log in? The answer varies depending on the game, but generally speaking the standard process involves finding opponents via matchmaking, fighting until one player dies, and repeating the cycle for as long as desired. Of course, the specifics differ from title to title since each developer tends to handle everything differently.
Since Fortnite and similar shooters tend to rely heavily upon user generated content (UGC), the real meat of PUBG's viewership comes from streamers offering tips, tricks, and strategies to newcomers hoping to climb higher in rank. Many of these streams happen exclusively on YouTube because it's easier to navigate and manage than dedicated apps like Mixer. After all, if Fortnite didn't exist, would there still be enough interest in PUBG to sustain a dedicated channel? Probably not.
That said, there are plenty of great streamers who specialize in the format. One notable example includes Alina Whiteley, whose weekly broadcasts offer insight into her personal experiences during matches. She typically covers tactics used against her opponent, giving viewers a chance to learn useful information without feeling overwhelmed. Other examples include Ryan Connolly, who focuses primarily on his thoughts during fights, and Dan 'KrulSpydro' Watson, who specializes in helping newer players develop a sense of confidence and skill.
In general, it's important to note that UGC streams are not subject to the same rules as professionally recorded programming. Therefore, creators must comply with local laws regarding profanity and other potentially objectionable material. Furthermore, copyright claims remain commonplace, meaning that copyrighted materials cannot be shared unless permission has been granted beforehand. With that in mind, it's important to respect your fellow players and refrain from sharing links to unauthorized streams.
Unfortunately, PUBG has yet to receive the full treatment from developers. As such, monetization options vary widely, but there are a handful of methods that streamers use to generate revenue. Most notably, advertisers occasionally seek partnerships with streamers in order to promote products related to their interests. Another method entails selling banner space on streaming websites. Finally, many streamers sell ad space inside their feed and profile descriptions.
The latter option works well for larger personalities willing to pay large sums per month. Those looking to earn smaller amounts may wish to look at alternatives such as Patreon, where creators charge monthly fees to support themselves financially.
Some individuals may worry that making money from Twitch could leave them open to accusations of collusion. On the contrary, there are numerous cases of popular streamers gaining significant notoriety after appearing at major events, conventions, and festivals. For instance, Mike Ross became known for his appearances at E3, PAX West, and other industry gatherings. Meanwhile, Samm Vail earned fame for his appearance at RTX Australia 2018.
These figures weren't chosen randomly. Rather, many talented professionals started pursuing careers within our field simply because they found themselves unable to stand idly by watching others rake in monetary rewards. And regardless of your decision, please never forget that the vast majority of influencers spend countless hours working tirelessly behind the scenes. Their hard work deserves recognition too!
While many of us dream of earning six-figure salaries or even more, everyone knows that nothing lasts forever. No matter how much effort you put into growing a loyal following, eventually the time will come when you'll need to move on. Thankfully, there are quite a few viable alternative career paths waiting for those who decide to continue forward.
Of course, the easiest path involves continuing your current job. But if you enjoy your role, chances are good that you love coming to work everyday. Why throw away a steady paycheck for something entirely unrelated when you can leverage your skillset to succeed in your newfound passion?
For starters, you can explore affiliate marketing. Essentially, you act as a middleman between brands and those seeking exposure. Your clients provide you with promotional items and banners designed to attract visitors to their website. From there, you direct traffic toward relevant product pages or landing pages. When prospects click through, you pocket a portion of the sale.
Another route is freelancing. Working under contract gives you the freedom to set your own schedule and determine your rates. Plus, you can rest assured knowing that you don't risk losing income due to nonperformance.
Finally, you could consider launching your own business. Perhaps you wanted to be involved in social media management, graphic design, customer service, or consulting anyway. Now's the perfect opportunity to turn your hobby into a side gig. Depending upon your area of expertise, you may even be able to scale your efforts exponentially.
It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to achieve success in the world of independent gaming. Hopefully, this guide helped shed light on some basic concepts related to running a YouTube gaming channel. Good luck out there, friends!
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.