Hostnplay

HostnPlay is a new platform that taps into the booming creator economy in gaming. It was built by a longtime game developer who saw talented peers who loved gaming but had no easy way to break into the industry or earn from their skills. Today, even casual players can make money gaming whether through tournaments, streaming, or side gigs “you do not need to be a pro to start” HostnPlay extends this trend: ordinary players can earn real cash by hosting or joining structured private games with friends and other players. It’s like having your own mini-tournaments or game nights that pay off. Instead of paying entry fees for big events, HostnPlay flips the model – hosts (the players running the session) charge a fee for the experience, and the platform handles everything else.

Why HostnPlay? A Community-Driven Approach

Many gamers feel frustrated that only top streamers or pro players get paid while everyday players have no outlet. Our founder, decided to change that. He remembered classmates and colleagues with amazing gaming skills who couldn’t find a path into the industry. HostnPlay was born to bridge that gap. The core idea is simple: if you can run a fun, well-organized game session, people will pay to play. As one early user put it, “Non‑pro hosts can earn if they offer well‑run, fun sessions that attract repeat players.” Unlike one-off lobbies or ad-hoc games on Discord, HostnPlay lets hosts create polished events say a custom Among Us match or a Minecraft adventure and charge a per-player fee. Players join knowing it’s a verified session, and hosts know they’ll get paid securely after the game.

• Game Hosts: You set up a session (any multiplayer game you love: FPS, Fortnite, ARPGs, MMO raids, etc.), choose whether it’s free or paid, and invite players. HostnPlay handles scheduling and collects payments through Stripe, so you don’t have to chase anyone. (For reference, a similar platform for tabletop RPGs lets hosts keep 90% of the booking fee startplaying.games.) Once the game happens, the platform automatically pays you.
• Players: You browse the listings, join games that fit your interests, and pay securely through the site (Stripe is integrated). Because payments are handled on-platform, everyone’s protected HostnPlay even resolves disputes like no-shows, unlike casual Discord lobbies. The experience is vetted and structured, so you can focus on fun.
• Players-for-Hire: If you’re great at rallying friends or your community, you can become a “player-for-hire” essentially a recruiter. In this role, you bring players into sessions and earn a finders’ fee. One concept borrowed from similar sites is that “players-for-hire” get paid by hosts for finding participants reddit.com. (Yes, even non-streamers can use their social network to earn extra!)

These built-in features – official booking, identity verification, secure payments, and even achievements/badges for hosts – set HostnPlay apart. In contrast, most communities on Reddit or Discord rely on word of mouth and trust. There’s no easy way to handle money or verify players there. HostnPlay solves that: think of it as an organized marketplace for game sessions. Hosts and players build profiles and reputations; achievements show how many games they ran or attended. This gamified system rewards consistent hosts and helps players find quality sessions.

Not Just for Streamers – For Every Gamer

HostnPlay isn’t aimed at Twitch stars or influencers – it’s for anyone who loves gaming and community. You don’t need a big audience or fancy gear. In fact, many successful hosts and players on platforms like StartPlaying (for D&D and RPGs) came from humble backgrounds. Since 2020, StartPlaying’s Game Masters have earned over $3 million running games startplaying.games – and they weren’t all celebrities. The point is, there’s real demand for paid play sessions. HostnPlay simply brings that idea to mainstream multiplayer games (Fortnite, COD, Minecraft, you name it).

This focus on grassroots gamers means sessions tend to be fun, repeatable, and community-focused. Hosts can run the same event weekly, building a loyal player base. It’s not a one-time paid tournament; it’s about recurring game nights. Players are attracted to the reliability and quality (knowing the host is committed), and hosts get steady bookings. Over time, active participants earn achievements (badges) for hosting or playing many games, further boosting trust. This is a genuine community-building approach, not just another gig-site it’s gaming with a purpose.

The HostnPlay community enjoys sessions across genres and settings. The platform’s structure makes it easy: hosts list their session (with game, date, details), players sign up and pay, and the game goes ahead smoothly. No public Discord post or forum thread needed. The system even supports free or subscription-based games if a host prefers – this flexibility was inspired by other gaming marketplaces (for example, on StartPlaying hosts set their own rates and can even offer subscriptions startplaying.games).

What We’ve Built and What’s Next

We’ve launched a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of HostnPlay with the core features in place. Right now, you can sign up as a Host, Player, or Player-for-Hire. We’ve integrated Stripe for smooth payments, implemented session listings and booking flows, and started an achievements system. A small group of early users have tried it out: feedback has been positive. Hosts appreciate the ease of scheduling and payouts; players love discovering quality sessions they wouldn’t find elsewhere. Of course, HostnPlay is still growing. We’re improving the UX, adding more games, and building out those achievement tracks.

It’s important to set expectations for most people, this won’t pay the rent (at least not yet). In related platforms, even active game hosts earn a modest side income. For instance, one D&D GM wrote that after 50 games on StartPlaying (6 months of weekly games), he earned about $1,750 total – roughly $35 per game, which works out to only about $8–$10 per hour of That’s “hardly a living wage” and more like pocket. HostnPlay is similar it’s a fun way to get some cash back doing what you love, but we’re

upfront that it’s currently a supplemental income, not a guaranteed salary. We see it as a new side hustle for gamers, not a full-time job – and that appeals to many players who just want a little extra reward for their passion.

Importantly, HostnPlay has no crypto or NFT gimmicks – it’s all real money, no blockchain. (Earlier prototypes of the idea toyed with crypto, but we ditched that after community feedback. We pay hosts and recruit players in good old USD via Stripe, so it’s simple and transparent.)

Looking ahead, we’re inspired by how StartPlaying unlocked tabletop RPGs and how game creators can monetize user-generated HostnPlay aims to do the same for cooperative and competitive multiplayer games. We envision weekly Among Us debriefs, Minecraft adventures, or custom Fortnite lobbies run by skilled hosts earning a fee. The market is wide open and HostnPlay is here to capture it.