Facebook gaming has become an increasingly popular platform for gamers to stream and monetize their content. With over 2.5 billion active monthly users on Facebook, there is a huge potential audience for aspiring streamers. However, one of the most common questions for those looking to get into Facebook gaming is: how much can you actually make? In this article, we’ll break down the Facebook gaming payout structure and revenue opportunities.
Facebook Gaming Partner Program
The Facebook Gaming Partner Program allows eligible gamers to monetize their content through advertisements placed in their video streams. To qualify for the program, you need:
- At least 100,000 total minutes viewed on your game streams over the past 60 days
- At least 300 concurrent viewers on your streams
- Stream at least 4 hours of content over the past 60 days
- Have an authentic Facebook gaming profile
Once you are accepted into the program, you can earn revenue through ad placements during your streams. The ad revenue you earn will depend on factors like:
- Your viewership numbers
- Stream duration
- Ad inventory availability
- Viewer demographics
Facebook pays out ad revenue on a monthly basis once you’ve earned over $100. The minimum user threshold to earn money is 10,000 followers and 100,000 post engagements over the last 60 days.
How much money can you make?
The actual revenue Facebook gaming partners earn can vary quite a bit based on view count, stream frequency, and audience demographic factors. Here are some average earnings reported by Facebook gamers:
- 100,000-200,000 followers: $300-$500 per month
- 200,000-500,000 followers: $500-$1,000 per month
- 500,000-1 million followers: $1,000-$3,000 per month
- 1 million+ followers: $3,000-$5,000+ per month
The top Facebook gaming creators with millions of followers can earn $50,000-$100,000 per month from ad revenue sharing. However, these numbers represent the very top earners.
For most aspiring streamers, it takes time to build up an audience and have ad revenue numbers high enough to make a full-time living. While Facebook ad revenue sharing can provide supplemental income, many gaming creators diversify with other monetization methods as well.
Other Monetization Methods
In addition to the built-in Facebook monetization programs, there are several other options for making money as a Facebook gamer:
Brand Sponsorships
Popular streamers can leverage their audience to earn sponsorships and brand deals. Companies may pay for sponsor segments, product mentions, custom content, or other promotions. The rates for sponsorships vary greatly based on the size and demographic of your audience. Micro-influencers can earn around $100 per post, while top gaming influencers earn $10,000+ per sponsorship.
Fan Subscriptions
Through a feature called Stars, Facebook allows fans to purchase virtual goods to support streamers and show appreciation. As a streamer accumulates Stars, they can later redeem them for cash payouts. The more popular a streamer is, the more Stars they will accumulate over time.
Merchandise Sales
Gamers can supplement their income by creating and selling custom merchandise through partnerships with platforms like Teespring and Spreadshirt. Products like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and other accessories let fans support streamers while getting something in return.
Patreon
On the membership platform Patreon, fans can pay monthly subscriptions to support creators. In return, members get special perks like bonus content, early access, shoutouts and more. Popular gaming Patreons often have thousands of members paying up to $10 per month.
Donations
Direct donations from fans are another revenue stream for gaming creators. Streamers can use tools like PayPal, Super Chat and Stripe to collect one-time or recurring donations from their biggest supporters.
YouTube AdSense
If streamers also upload highlight videos to YouTube, they can supplement income through YouTube’s Partner Program and ad revenue sharing. Requirements are at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 annual watch hours.
Maximizing Facebook Gaming Earnings
Here are some tips gaming creators can use to maximize their earnings potential on Facebook:
- Stream consistently – Build a schedule and stream frequently to grow your audience.
- Engage with your audience – Interact and engage to build a loyal following.
- Optimize game choice – Play popular but not oversaturated games that align with your niche.
- Produce other content – Upload clips, tutorials, and other videos to expand reach.
- Promote outside Facebook – Share your streams on other platforms to drive new followers.
- Provide exclusives – Special perks for subscribers and supporters incentivizes support.
- Collaborate – Partner with other creators for cross-promotional opportunities.
Facebook Gaming Alternatives
While Facebook Gaming is newer than platforms like Twitch and YouTube, it is growing rapidly. But if you want to maximize revenue as a gaming creator, using multiple platforms is key. Here’s a look at potential earnings from other top sites:
Twitch
As the most popular live streaming platform, Twitch offers multiple ways to monetize for partners who meet strict viewership requirements. Top Twitch partners can earn $250,000-$600,000 per month.
YouTube Gaming
YouTube allows both live streaming and video uploads. Top gaming creators like PewDiePie and Markiplier earn millions per year in ad revenue sharing.
Caffeine
This newer platform has a revenue sharing model and subscription features. Micro-influencers earn around $2,000 per month on Caffeine.
Mixer
Microsoft’s Mixer offers monetization through ad revenue, subscriptions and digital goods. Top partners earn around $100,000 per month.
Conclusion
While it’s possible to earn a living through Facebook Gaming alone once you build a large enough audience, most successful streamers leverage multiple platforms and revenue sources. With Facebook’s massive built-in audience, it can be quite lucrative especially when combined with other sites like Twitch and YouTube. But it takes time, strategy and consistency to truly maximize earnings as a gaming creator.