Tips for Live Streaming Gaming Content

Live streaming is becoming increasingly popular as a format for gaming content that can provide you with a stable and possibly sizeable source of revenue depending on the size of your channel. The growth of streaming platforms also creates opportunities for you to reach new and wider audiences with your content and provide a more interactive experience for your auidence if you have an existing viewership.

According to Statista, the global gaming live streaming market is projected to grow by 8.4% by 2027 with an expected market value of $17.4 billion and will reach a total of 1.8 billion users by 2029. With the rapid growth of streaming platforms in recent years, the market could grow significantly more so the sooner you start establishing your channel, the better.

Here at MinMxD we help creators monetise their gaming content. In this blog post we’ll provide guidance for anyone who is starting out and looking to live stream their favourite games to audiences worldwide.

There are quite a few live streaming platforms out there but choosing the right one can make a huge difference as there are a lot of considerations you need to make such as:

• Does the streaming platform have a lot of active users?
• What kind of gaming content is popular on the platform?
• How much can you directly earn and is there potential for brand relationships?
• Will the streaming platform survive in the long-term?

Although it’s quite difficult to predict whether a live stream platform will be popular in years to come, this is a particularly important consideration, and it also makes streaming on multiple platforms a good idea. This is because live streaming is still growing as an industry and the platforms rely on available funding which can change at any time.

For example, Mixer had a lot of potential and interest when it was first announced but live streamers who moved to Mixer exclusively were forced to move back to other platforms after their viewership plummeted. Similarly, Facebook was forced to shut down its mobile app for Facebook Gaming due to a declining user base and is losing interest so it might not be a great long-term option.

Here is a list of the best streaming platforms for gaming in 2024:

1. Twitch – Twitch has always been synonymous with live streaming and gaming, it will always be a great choice for anyone looking to build a gaming community as it has a large amount of active users who are interested in a wide variety of gaming content. As it is owned by Amazon, their Affiliate and Partner programs can help provide a reliable income.
2. YouTube Gaming – YouTube’s answer to Twitch, YouTube Gaming is probably the best alternative to twitch because it is equally as stable in terms of viewership and provides great revenue generating opportunities. YouTube Gaming can also be great for reaching younger audiences or targeting a more diverse, global audience.
3. Kick – This is a relatively new streaming platform and although it isn’t exclusively for gaming content, it has a sizeable gaming viewer base and is very similar to Twitch. Kick offers great revenue earning opportunities, boasting a 95% ad revenue split compared to Twitch’s 50%. Their partner program also allows you to earn more as a small streamer compared to other platforms.
4. Facebook Gaming – Although Facebook Gaming lost a large portion of their audience when the mobile app was discontinued and they have always struggled in the gaming live streaming market, it is still a relatively good option for streaming your gaming content. It can help you to reach a global audience and has some pretty good revenue generating opportunities.

Find out more about streaming platforms for gaming content >

Your streaming set-up can have a huge impact on the quality of your streaming content and it’s extremely important to make sure you have all the necessary equipment. We’ve provided some guidance on vital things you’ll need to start live streaming gaming content.

A Powerful PC

This is extremely important as the performance of your PC will determine whether or not you’ll actually be able to stream while playing games and it will also determine the quality of your stream. This is because you’ll need to be able to run streaming software such as native streaming software or third-party software like OBS.

You will also need to run multiple other programs at the same time and if your PC is not powerful enough then it will make things very difficult. Although streaming on a console or gaming laptop are also an option, it’s not really viable and they are not as effective as streaming on a PC.

Minimum PC Specs for Streaming Gaming Content in 2024:

• CPU – Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 but higher spec if possible
• Memory (RAM) – 8GB – 16GB RAM
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
• Memory (RAM) – 8GB – 16GB RAM
• Storage – 256BG SSD
• A decent Monitor

Webcam & Microphones for Streaming

A good quality webcam and microphone are two very important considerations for streaming your gaming content. The microphone is probably slightly more important and can impact how enjoyable your stream is, a bad microphone can ruin the experience for your viewers.

Webcam recommendations for streaming gaming content:

• Logitech C920 or Brio 4K
• Elgato Facecam
• Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra

Microphone recommendations for streaming gaming content:

• Blue Yeti USB
• Rode X XCM-50
• Audio-Technica AT2020
• Elgato Wave 3

Find out more about recording equipment for gaming content creators >

Other useful considerations for your set-up

Here are some other tips and important considerations for your streaming set-up:

• A strong, reliable internet connection
• Good lighting
• Streaming software

Although this is something that you will learn naturally over time with streaming, there are a few ways you can make it easier to grow if you are just starting out. We’ve outlined some proven techniques that can help you to get more viewers or convert viewers into subscribers and followers.

Create a streaming schedule – having a consistent streaming schedule is important as your viewers know when you’re going to be live, and it may fit their own personal schedule or routine. Streaming for longer periods can also be beneficial.

Choose the right games – your game choice can make a huge difference and some large streamers have benefitted from choosing a specific game. Similarly, knowing when to change or diversify your game choice is equally as beneficial.

Avoid peak streaming times as a new creator – you don’t want to stream when the most popular streamers are streaming as they naturally attract a large viewership that can impact your stream.

Engage with your viewers or chat – you should engage with your viewers or messages sent in your chat because it makes the stream more exciting and a better experience overall. It also encourages more engagement from viewers.

Collaborate with other streamers – collaborating and interacting with other streamers can grow your viewership and make your content more interesting.

Use social media to promote yourself – social media is generally effective for influencers and content creators but actively promoting yourself on these platforms can help attract new viewers, especially if the communities are relevant to your content.

Don’t focus on your viewer count – it will take a while to develop a following so try to not obsess over you viewer count and maybe even cover it while streaming as it can be a distraction or affect how you behave on stream.

Grow your stream by better engaging with your community >

Hopefully the tips and insight outlined in this useful guide will help you to get started with live streaming your gaming content or grow your channel and generate more revenue. Choosing the right platform or streaming on multiple platforms with a focus on one is a great place to start but making sure you have the right equipment and set-up is key.

Growing your stream and making the right decisions to create an engaged audience can also make a huge difference for how successful your live stream is but ultimately, understanding the streaming landscape and the changing expectations of gamers is what will determine your long-term success.

The next step is to connect with a partner like MinMxD who can help you take your channel to new heights. Find out more by getting in touch!

Check out the complete guide to affiliate marketing for gaming channels >

Read our guide to social media marketing for gaming creators >

Learn how to win brand collaborations for your gaming channel >