Is Starting a Gaming YouTube Channel in 2026 Still Worth It? (Valorant Clips → Edited Content Plan)

Hey everyone,

I’m thinking about starting a YouTube channel in 2026 focused on Valorant content.

Right now, my plan is to:

• Upload less-edited Valorant clips consistently
• Improve my editing skills using DaVinci Resolve
• Slowly transition into more heavily edited, higher-quality videos once I get better

Basically: start simple → improve skills → level up production.

My main question is:

Is it still worth starting a gaming channel in 2026, or is the niche too saturated at this point?

I’m trying to be realistic. I know:

• Gaming is competitive
• Valorant has tons of creators already
• Growth can be slow

What I’m unsure about is the timeline.

For those who’ve started recently:

• Did you see traction within the first year?
• Or is this realistically a 3–5 year grind before meaningful results?
• Is clips content even viable anymore, or does it require a strong personality/unique angle from day one?

I’m not expecting overnight success, but I also don’t want to grind blindly for years if the ceiling is extremely low for new creators.

Would really appreciate honest insights from anyone who started a gaming channel in the last 1–2 years.

Thanks in advance.