How to Make 6 Figures As A Game Developer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a game developer? Good for you! Being a game developer is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a game developer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business can be a strategic way to make six figures as a game developer by leveraging your industry expertise to help others succeed. As a game developer, you could offer personalized guidance on resume building, interview prep, and career transitions specific to the gaming industry. Your unique insights could resonate with aspiring game developers looking to break into the field or advance their careers.
By designing custom sessions tailored to your clients' aspirations, you could turn your natural motivational abilities into a profitable side business. Flexibility for virtual or in-person meetings means you could scale up your client base without compromising your primary job. This entrepreneurial venture could add a significant revenue stream while empowering others to achieve their professional goals.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
2. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a game developer looking to boost your income and reach that six-figure mark, becoming an affiliate marketer offers a practical and low-cost opportunity. By promoting products or services from other companies within the gaming niche, you could leverage your existing network and industry knowledge to drive sales. For each successful referral, you would earn a commission, translating your marketing efforts into a steady stream of passive income.
Unlike creating games, which can be time-intensive and costly, affiliate marketing requires minimal upfront investment, allowing you to start on a budget. By signing up for affiliate programs and sharing unique tracking links, you could effortlessly integrate this side business into your current workflow. This approach not only diversifies your income but also equips you with valuable marketing skills that could further enhance your primary career as a game developer.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
3. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
As a game developer, you could leverage your specialized knowledge to create and sell online courses, bridging educational gaps for aspiring developers. By identifying niche areas within game development where new learners need guidance, you could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials that cater specifically to these needs.
The flexibility of offering self-paced or cohort-based structures means you could build a growing student base, creating passive income potential over time. For those who enjoy sharing information and helping others, launching an online course platform is a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with minimal startup costs, allowing you to serve eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to advanced game development skills.
How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Becoming a social media influencer could significantly supplement your income as a game developer. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could establish credibility within the gaming community and connect with a vast audience. Brands are eager to collaborate with influencers to reach their target market, which means your insights and recommendations could translate into lucrative sponsorship deals and partnerships.
To start, choose a popular niche within the gaming industry, such as game development tips, tutorials, or reviews, and consistently create high-quality content. This approach not only builds your reputation but also opens doors for monetizing through ad revenue, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Evidently, with the right strategy, becoming a social media influencer could be a viable path to making six figures while maintaining a fulfilling career in game development.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
5. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a fantastic way to supplement your income as a game developer and even help you reach six figures. By creating content around game development tutorials, industry insights, or showcasing your own projects, you could attract a dedicated following of aspiring developers and gaming enthusiasts. Consistency and quality content are key here, and with YouTube's established monetization system, you could generate revenue through ad placements, sponsored content, and even direct contributions from fans through features like Super Chat and channel memberships.
Furthermore, building a successful channel could open additional revenue streams beyond YouTube's direct monetization. For instance, you might attract clients for freelance work, sell your own courses or digital products, or even land speaking engagements and consulting gigs. Utilizing these opportunities could transform your YouTube channel from a side hustle into a significant source of income, contributing substantially to your goal of making six figures.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
6. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly boost your income as a game developer by leveraging your expertise to reach a broader audience. By sharing insights, tutorials, and industry news, you could establish yourself as an authority in your field, attracting a dedicated readership. Given that blogs are considered one of the most trustworthy sources of online information, your content could easily become a go-to resource for other game developers and enthusiasts.
Monetizing your blog through advertising, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing could turn it into a lucrative side business. Many bloggers have successfully transitioned to full-time careers, earning substantial incomes by delivering valuable, engaging content. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and billions of page views each month, the potential for growth and financial gain is enormous.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
7. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
If you're a game developer looking to supplement your income, starting a social media marketing agency could be a viable option. You could leverage your existing skills in digital media to create effective social media marketing strategies for local businesses, indie game developers, and other clients. This side business would not require a significant time commitment, as many processes can be automated using social media marketing tools.
By developing a comprehensive social media marketing strategy and building an impressive portfolio, you could market your services effectively to a range of potential clients. Not only could this help you generate extra income to cover utility bills or save for a vacation, but it could also potentially grow into a full-fledged business, enabling you to achieve six figures and beyond.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
8. Digital products ($261K/month)
Creating digital products could be a game-changer for supplementing your income or even establishing a full-blown business as a game developer. Digital products, such as apps, games, ebooks, courses, membership sites, or communities, are top-rated due to their ease of creation and distribution. You could leverage your game development skills to develop software-based products or share your expertise through information-based products.
One of the key advantages is that digital products require minimal upfront investment besides your time and expertise, making them less risky compared to physical products. Since you don’t have to worry about inventory, you could sell your digital products directly from your website, generating revenue 24/7. This level of flexibility and scalability could significantly boost your income, putting you on the path to earning six figures.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
9. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative side hustle or even a full-time business for a game developer, allowing you to leverage your industry expertise and passion. By creating audio content that resonates with game development enthusiasts, you could attract a dedicated audience eager to learn about insights, trends, and behind-the-scenes stories from the gaming world.
With relatively low startup costs—requiring just basic recording equipment and a hosting platform—you could produce episodes consistently while continuing your primary job. As your podcast grows in popularity, opportunities for monetization through sponsorships, advertisements, and even premium content subscriptions could help you significantly boost your income, moving you closer to making six figures in your career.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
10. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
As a game developer, you could leverage your industry knowledge and technical skills to establish a successful freelance writing business, creating content for gaming websites, blogs, and industry publications. This side gig offers you the flexibility to work from home and set your own schedule, allowing you to balance freelance projects with your existing job.
By focusing on gaming-related topics, you could tap into a niche market, providing valuable insights and expertise that generic writers cannot easily match. To thrive as a freelance writer, you would need strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and effective communication abilities. Taking on freelance writing projects could supplement your income significantly and pave the way towards earning six figures.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
11. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative way for a game developer to supplement their income and work towards making six figures. By leveraging your industry knowledge, you could create and sell products such as custom game assets, software tools, merchandise, or even exclusive content that other developers or gaming enthusiasts would find valuable. This entrepreneurial venture benefits from lower overhead costs compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, allowing you to achieve higher profit margins.
The flexibility and reach of an ecommerce store enable you to market your products globally, thus tapping into a wider audience and increasing your potential revenue streams. With the convenience and efficiency that online shopping offers, consumers are more likely to make purchases from their devices, contributing to the booming ecommerce trend. Setting up a website, integrating payment processing, and managing inventory might require an initial investment of time and resources, but the scalability and income potential make it a worthwhile endeavor for a game developer looking to increase their earnings.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
