Best video editing software for gaming videos

People who create gaming videos have more to think about than just putting together nice storylines. Gaming is strategic and involves a lot of diverse, critical elements. In order to do this correctly and really show your audience that you know your stuff, you need to find the right video editing software to perfect your videos.

Creators might have different needs depending on their purposes, the gaming levels they work with, etc. Let’s take a look at the leading programs on the market and what their features are.

Just how important is gaming today?

If you hesitate to invest in an editing program for gaming, you shouldn’t: the industry is huge and it is only getting bigger. University programs for studying gaming design are growing exponentially, and sales of the most popular games are similarly getting bigger and bigger every year. If you still doubt the seriousness of the industry, no less a source than the World Economic Forum estimates that it could be worth $321 billion by 2026. So it’s time to spiff up your videos.

1. Movavi Video Editor

Movavi’s video editing software provides all the essential features sought by gamers. This includes:

• AI motion tracking for precision in following game moves
• The ability to trim, split, and combine game clips any way you wish
• A countdown timer video for accurate timing

Movavi’s video editor is available for Mac and Windows and has both a free version and a paid version.

2. Pinnacle Studio

Pinnacle Studio is a program that allows you to piece together videos as you please and keep an eye on your overall timeline as you do so. If you have videos that are complex and require a “bird’s eye” view, you should consider this program.

Pinnacle features include:

• Storyboard and timeline editing, which can be critical for gamers with a larger plan
• The ability to incorporate outside audio, such as narration
• Video capture and screen recorder to record directly from games

Pinnacle Studio is available for Mac and Windows.

3. PowerDirector

PowerDirector is a popular option among beginners thanks to its smooth user interface and easy learning curve. With it, you can create videos within just a few minutes. The program offers the following features:

• The ability to split, trim, and cut game clips
• Motion tracking to study strategy
• Live streaming for sharing gameplay footage in real time

PowerDirector is available for Mac and Windows and has only paid versions.

4. Shotcut

For people not looking to make a huge investment, Shotcut could be a good choice. It is free and open-sourced, and it provides many of the features of other quality gaming editors:

• The ability to add outside effects
• The ability to create a wide screen, to track game actions in sequence
• Interesting sound mixing abilities

Shotcut works on FreeBSD, Windows, Linux and Mac if you work with iPhone footage.

5. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is the upgraded version of Apple’s iMovie. It offers more advanced features and a wider range of editing tools that gamers find useful in their editing. Features include:

• Motion graphics for easy tracking of gaming moves
• Customizable transitions and effects
• 2D and 3D titles to illustrate different elements on-screen

Start putting together spectacular gaming videos today

The nature of gaming is such that if you really master your videos, your fans will truly be devoted to you. There are a lot of diverse elements involved in putting together good videos, though, so you should keep several things in mind as you look for a program to use. This includes the level of gaming that you want to focus on; whether you want your videos to be instructional, for entertainment, or some other purpose; and what kind of audience you are speaking to. If you get it right, you will quickly see your following start to grow.

Featured image credit: Sean Do/Unsplash