How to Earn Money Playing StarCraft II

Wondering how you can make money playing StarCraft II for a living? You have come to the right place. Here at Game Tutorials, we aim to teach you exactly how to make money from video games.

Being over a decade old, StarCraft II is one of Blizzard’s best-rated titles with a timeless storyline revolving around a galactic war between three extraterrestrial “races” or species. It is a game that has hit the jackpot on with quality and quantity.

Why not hit the real-life jackpot too and monetize your gameplay?

If you’re a sci-fi video game lover looking to earn some dosh, StarCraft II has some of the best opportunities out there. Keep reading for the best ways that you can make money playing StarCraft II.

Live-Stream Your Gameplay

If you have looked into monetizing your gameplay, you have probably come across streaming video games for money.

StarCraft II is not at the front of the pack when it comes to the most sought after titles to watch streams of, coming in at the 49th most-watched game on Twitch. However, this does not mean you cannot make money from streaming your gameplay – it just means there is less competition.

Revenue from streaming comes initially from fan donations, subscriptions, and advertisements. The amount of money you receive does depend on the platform you use and the monetization methods you apply.

Most importantly though, your income from streaming depends on one thing: the size of your audience.

To get a loyal following you need to be good at playing Starcraft II, have an entertaining personality, and constantly work to promote and grow your channel.

It is estimated that the average StarCraft II streamer earns around $2,000 to $4,000 per month. But become an infamous streamer and you could be making even more!

Compete in eSports Events

StarCraft II is one of the most prolific electronic sports events there are, especially in Korea. It sits alongside other influential eSports titles such as DOTA 2, League of Legends, and CS:GO. This means a great way to make money playing StarCraft II is through competing and winning tournaments.

The biggest StarCraft II events are the ESL Pro Tour StarCraft II (ESLSC2) and the DreamHack SC2 Masters.[1] These are taking over from the World Championship Series in 2020 and have a combined prize pool of $1.9 million to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the game.

However, becoming a professional gamer and entering these contests is no easy feat. It requires constant practice, motivation, and skill, but if you think you have what it takes you can make six-figure salaries from winning a few games.

Take Lee “Rogue” Byeong Yeol, for example. He is the highest earning SC2 professional player based on prize winnings, having taken home $875,769 over his gaming career. On top of this, professional players also get paid a salary by their teams and sponsors.

Do you have the skill and dedication to follow his success? Read our guide on entering competitive gaming tournaments for everything you need to know to get started.

Bet on eSports

If you don’t think you have what it takes to earn a living playing StarCraft II professionally or streaming, try making money through betting.

Most online sportsbooks will offer eSports odds including odds for all major StarCraft II tournaments. Thankfully, due to the annulment of PASPA in 2018, many US states have now legalized online sports betting so you can bet on state-regulated websites and place eSports bets from the convenience of your home!

When it comes to StarCraft II wagering options, moneyline bets, match winners, and handicap bets can be seen across all sites. Unlike other eSports, there are few game-specific bets. However, you can bet on the total number of Maps and who will be the winner of the Map in question.

Before betting on any video game, it is essential you understand the gameplay and the players. This is especially true for StarCraft II as the different races – Protoss, Terran, and Zerg – have different strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to check which race a player selects as this can hugely affect their play.

Our top tip? Look at the outcome of player’s matches historically and look for trends relating to their chosen race.

Make Investments

Another way to make money from StarCraft II is by investing. People often prefer investing over betting as it carries less risk but, similarly, does not require you to be an epic SC2 player.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy StarCraft II stocks. However, you can buy shares in Activision Blizzard, the publisher of the game. This is arguably a better investment.

StarCraft II is a decade old now, and although still going strong, its growth from here on out will be limited. However, buying Activision Blizzard stocks should be a profitable investment as they are behind several other popular franchises including COD, Overwatch, and Hearthstone. Blizzard is also constantly looking to bring out new games, so whereas StarCraft II may reach a dead end, it is highly likely that Activision Blizzard will continue to grow.

Visit our eSports investments page for help on investing in StarCraft II and other video game publishers, hardware companies, and streaming platforms.

Become a Gaming Coach

Last but not least, you can also make money playing StarCraft II by becoming a gaming coach.

Being notoriously known as one of the hardest games to learn, StarCraft II coaches are well-searched. You will need to be a highly-skilled player to do this so that you have the knowledge to pass onto other gamers.

Finding your first few students is the hard bit, but once you have built up a reputation as a SC2 coach, the job gets easier and the money only goes up!

What Else?

Not sure StarCraft II is your jam? We have a list of gaming guides that walk you through the ways you can make money playing other top titles. Here are a few of our favorites for some video game inspiration:

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