The PC gaming industry generates about 37 billion dollars per year. The best part is that you can be part of this billion-dollar industry even if you aren’t a gamer yourself.
By investing in a game server, you’ll be able to start a lucrative business that’s based on the time people spend playing video games. Game servers allow people around the world to play a multiplayer game without worrying about lag, downtimes, and more.
If you’re looking to make money hosting game servers, you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll break down the basics of game servers, including what they are, why gamers need them, and what you can do to make money from them.
What is a Game Server?
A game server is a computer program that serves gamers by enabling them to participate in multiplayer games over the Internet. Players have to connect to the server via separate computers in order to take part in multiplayer games like Counter-Strike, Terraria, and Minecraft. It basically hosts games for a large number of players and enables them to play simultaneously.
What is the Use of a Game Server?
To run a single-player game, players need a single computer. However, to participate in a multiplayer game, they’ll need to hop onto a game server that can “record” certain in-game details. This ensures that the entire game is in sync for all of the players. For instance, if in a multiplayer game, Player A shoots Player B, that detail will be carried over to every other player’s game, as long as they’re on the same server.
Some game servers are run by developers, but others are hosted by individuals who have invested in hardware that can host games for clients (i.e. gamers). In addition, there is a wide variety of game servers, but if you want to make money hosting games, you should host a dedicated server.
What Should You Host a Dedicated Game Server?
A dedicated server, as the name suggests, is designed to host a video game – nothing more. Compared to listen servers, virtual private servers (VPS), and so on, a dedicated server does not need you to play in order to host the server. This gets rid of low-latency issues, slow loading times, lag, and worst of all – crashing
Additionally, a dedicated server gives you complete control over the video game. You’ll be able to dictate who can and can’t enter the server – and even who should be booted! Furthermore, if you’re into mods or modifications, you can offer features that players won’t be able to find in other servers, such as custom environments, maps, sound effects, and more.
Simply put… your server, your rules.
How to Make Money With a Dedicated Server
Aside from the gaming side of things, did you know that a dedicated game server is a money-maker? Although hosting a game server can be costly, you can turn it into a lucrative business. You’ll be in the ranks of those who’ve figured out that servers are the best way to make money on Terraria, Minecraft, and the like.
So, how do the pros do it? Make money hosting game servers with these insider secrets:
1. Choose a Game People Actually Want to Play
Give gamers a reason to get on your game server. Keep in mind that your server will make money only when people actually play on it. To start, set your sights on multiplayer games that have a massive player base. If you want to play it safe, you can’t go wrong with Minecraft, which has more than 141 million players worldwide.
To find profitable games, go to Google and search for the best multiplayer games of the year. If you want to start making money with a server in 2022, we’ve narrowed down your options for you:
- Minecraft
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Starbound
- Rust
- Terraria
- Ark
- Arma
2. Ask For Donations
People will pay you to maintain your server if it’s worth it. To do this, you need to make sure that gamers return to your server every time they play a particular game. In short, you have to provide players with a unique experience that exceeds their gaming requirements.
Whether that involves getting rid of lag for good or increasing the RAM time and again, it should be your full-time responsibility to make your server “donation-worthy.”
Alternatively, you could make money by streaming on platforms like Twitch and Owncast, but be sure that your gameplay is engaging enough (or that you are entertaining enough) to encourage players to hit the donate button.
3. In-Game Sponsorships
The gaming industry is a billion-dollar industry. Advertisers are taking advantage of that by looking for ways to literally get in the game. If you manage your server right, you will soon be able to get sponsorships from brands that want you to promote their gaming products, such as gaming chairs, gaming mice, and more. You’ll be starting your streams by saying “sponsored by” in no time!
The best part? You don’t even need to rave about the brand. For instance, if a company wants you to promote a shirt, you can simply wear it when you stream your game and mention it once or twice. For very minimal effort, you’ll be able to earn up to $10,000 per hour on sponsorships – that’s money that you can use to maintain your server.
4. Promote Games
You’ll also be able to make money hosting game servers by promoting games. Let’s say that your server has blown up and now you’ve got about 10,000 active players. Because of its popularity, game companies will now be willing to pay you to promote their brand-new games. They know that your audience is their kind of audience, so they’ll be willing to pay you a premium to talk about their games to the right people.
You can promote it in-game, during your live stream, or on video channels such as YouTube. However, as a way to make money with servers, it can be a bit time-consuming – and you’ll have to work on building your brand as a live streamer, too.
5. Create a Webstore for Your Game Server
Finally, creating a webstore and selling in-game perks and products like donator ranks is another effective way to monetize your dedicated game server. With the help of an online webstore management application like Tebex, you can easily customize your webstore, create exciting products, and generate big amounts of revenue for your server.
Tebex has continuously given significant payouts to its clients, thanks to its extensive features and collection of high-profile games. You can manage your packages, auto-renew products, and oversee your team members. But on top of these technical aspects, you can expect high-security measures and worldwide payment methods.
Conclusion
You can make money from a game server, however, you need to know how to do it the right way. Anyone can set up a server, but what sets successful people apart is that they’ve invested their time into studying the gaming industry, growing their pool of gamers, and more.
By taking these tips in mind, you’ll be able to start making money from games like Minecraft, Rust, and Terraria in no time.
