Minecraft, the bestselling 3D sandbox game in the history of video games, is also a lucrative earning channel for many people. To gain a competitive edge, players pay to develop new plugins, interfaces, features, and a variety of other in-game elements. As a result, there is a high demand for skilled players and builders worldwide.
Moreover, there is recent speculation that the game might even enter the industry of online betting NZ, where players might be able to enjoy Minecraft gambling at eSports betting sites! If that happens, then it will be a matter of time before professional builders are on the speed dial of eSports and gambling enthusiasts as well. Making sense of all your building skills?
Here are some of the best ways you can earn a steady income with them:
Monetizing the “Anyone Can Build Anything” Concept in Sandbox Gaming
Minecraft played a key role in boosting the Indie Game concept with the earliest access models of its open-world sandbox gaming environment. Today, it is regarded as one of the first successful games to employ an early access strategy and the “anyone can build anything” concept that has allowed players to generate real income by offering a wide range of services. Pro builders at ease can start a side hustle with their skills. The prerequisites to get started are listed below:
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Developing Your Skills: There are various ways to make money as a Minecraft builder. You can either stream your gameplay on platforms such as Twitch. Other than that, you can also create content for social media and YouTube, lend a server as a service, or even start a virtual business of buying and selling stocks and in-game goods from other players.
Whatever you want to do, first develop your strategy and skills to make a good sale and monetize the idea for the long run;
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Getting Your Minecraft Account: Until and unless you can make money simply by writing blogs, creating videos, or playing through someone else’s account, most of the monetizing routes would require you to have a Minecraft account of your own, or at times, separate accounts if necessary. But before you purchase your pack, there are certain points to consider to make your investment worthwhile.
First of all, you will need a Microsoft account, standard equipment like an Xbox, and a decent computer system with at least the latest generation of Core i5 and high-speed Internet. You need to invest in things if you don’t already have them to start your professional journey;
- Creating Your Professional Account: You need to tell people that you are offering your services. Either consider creating an account on Fiverr or Upwork or have your site showcase and offer your services online. Moreover, develop an interactive social media presence with accounts across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to get the maximum customer outreach.
A wide range of investors, from large companies and small businesses to individual players are attracted to placing their money on plugin developers, server platform providers, and professional builders. Perhaps even eSports enthusiasts will follow suit in the future. If you wish to make serious money with your services, have a strategic action plan, just like starting any other business. Don’t just focus on the gameplay but also on the game plan!
Different Ways to Make Money as a Professional Minecraft Builder
An Upwork profile of a professional Minecrafter said they offered “full-fledged online research reports” with their services, from platforms like YouTube and Instagram to even company emails. Recently, the U.S. National Science Foundation funded $30 million to the Beckman Institute in support of a grant program that will be awarded to a new multi-omics consortium relating to Alzheimer's pathology, where researchers will be using Minecraft for developing whole-cellular models of microscopic findings in vivo.
Having learnt various money-making aspects of this 3D sandbox game, you can easily conclude that it is beyond gaming for fun; it has become more of an industry.
Below are some ideas on how you can position your skills to earn real money from this game:
- User Interface Designer: You can stand your ground as a professional UI/UX designer to enhance the Minecraft interface. You can work on game controls, in-game environments, and inventory collection;
- Host a Server: You may either set up your server for other players to join and start playing on their own terms or rent space to other hosts. You can also scale your business by offering personalized gaming experiences for your customers, including in-game purchases, rankings, and rewards;
- Host Events: You can make a fortune by fueling the excitement around this game. Create paid events like competitions and tournaments or challenge-based games where winners could get prizes and participants would pay an entry fee. Other than garnering the pooled revenue, you can also stream the game live to further earn from spectators;
- Patreon, Memberships, and Partnering Programs: Create a Patreon page or a membership program on YouTube where fans may subscribe for exclusive merchandise, content, or customized builds. There are wide scopes for patrons to work with other Minecraft content makers, server owners, or YouTubers to promote each other's content or server services in an affiliation. This can assist in broadening your audience and monetization opportunities.
There are people who have managed to make a fortune by offering all the above-mentioned services, all at once or one at a time. While it is possible to do so much on a professional level, it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Remember that just because it is a game, pursuing professional service around it doesn’t mean all fun and frolic. You have to be serious and put in your hard work to retain the competitive edge.
Think Out of the Box and Make Money Out of Minecraft
If you are someone who likes thinking outside the box and has developed excellent skills in Minecraft architecture, you can help hundreds of people build their dream world in exchange for a fee. Remember, though, that this income channel is not for everyone, and to pursue it, you need in-depth knowledge of the environment and also have supportive resources and equipment to offer your services. Most of these income channels are more suitable as side hustles, but if you have a fail-proof plan in place, nothing can stop you from making a fortune out of your skills.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia Poglianich
Content Strategist
Olivia Poglianich is a nomadic brand strategist and copywriter in the wooden crafts and 3D product design space who has worked with brands such as Visa, Disney and Grey Goose. Her writing has taken her all over the world, from a Serbian music festival to a Malaysian art and culture event. Olivia is a graduate of Cornell University and is often writing or reading about travel, hospitality, the start-up ecosystem or career coaching. Her latest interests are at the intersection of web3 and communal living, both on and offline.
