From the C64 through to the PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and other immensely powerful gaming PCs we have today, video games are something we've enjoyed for decades now. And we’ve come a long way since the days of Space Invaders and Donkey Kong. These days, we’re communicating live with other people from around the globe in-game within virtual worlds.
Besides the significant advances in gaming tech, there are now people who are earning millions a year by gaming on YouTube too!
Legendary YouTube Gaming Personalities
When an industry is worth roughly $180 billion, you can bet there are people who will figure out ways to make some serious bank out of it. As the gaming industry continues to grow each year, there are quite a few gamers on YouTube making a living from streaming and through sponsorships.
Here are the top gaming personalities on YouTube you might want to check out.
1. Pewdiepie
Even if you’re not into the video game industry, chances are you’ve heard of Pewdiepie . Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, also known as Pewdiepie, is a Swedish YouTuber who started posting videos a decade ago of himself playing popular video games while commentating. Since his first upload Pewdiepie has evolved to become not just a gaming personality but also a famous internet celebrity with over 110 million subscribers.
2. JuegaGerman
Germán Alejandro Garmendia Aranis, better known online as JuegaGerman, is a Chilean YouTuber who boasts over 43 million subscribers, uploading pop-culture and gaming videos in Spanish. Germán has been active on the scene for more than 7 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
3. elrubiusOMG
Spanish-Norwegian YouTuber elrubiusOMG has the third-highest subscriber count of all the YouTube gaming personalities. To date, Ruben Doblas Gundersen has been uploading his gaming-centric videos for more than 9 years and has a subscriber count just shy of 40 million.
How to Avoid Burnout in the Video Game Industry
These 3 top gaming YouTubers have been active for a number of years, playing video games on an almost daily basis. Playing as much as they do, video games can become a source of stress and fatigue rather than fun and entertainment. Gaming fatigue is a real phenomenon experienced by people, especially those who rely on video games for a living such as professional eSports gamers. If you want to get into a game professionally or leverage on video games for a budding YouTube career, you'll need to know how to avoid gaming fatigue. Here are some top ways to keep gaming burnout/ fatigue at bay:
1. Recognise the signs of burnout
It’s important to know what the signs and symptoms of gaming burnout are so you can recognise them. They include:
- A feeling of mental of physical exhaustion
- Headaches and/or an overall feeling of weakness
- A dip in how you’re performing in the game
- Loss of interest in the game (or even gaming in general)
2. Take breaks
This doesn’t mean pausing the game for a couple of minutes and sipping some water, then getting back into it. We’re talking about stepping away from gaming and going for a walk or catching up with friends - really anything that takes you fully away from the game for an extended period.
3. Get plenty of sleep
It’s no secret that sleep is one of, if not the most important things you can do for your mind and body. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep each night - 8 to 9 hours ideally. And keep to a consistent sleep schedule - even if the game is calling out to you in the middle of the night. This also applies to the little ones who may be avid mobile gamers. To ensure that they don’t go overboard and spend hours on end gaming, you might want to limit their screen time using M1’s Cyber Guardian. You could even use it for yourself and restrict your internet hours.