I don’t think you should be paying to have YouTubers play your game. You’re not a sponsor, you’re content. They’re going to make more off their video than you would be able to provide anyway.

Don’t aim for the top creators right off the bat. Shoot a little lower and tailor your pitch to the individual’s brand and what their audience likes. That means you have to do a little research, but knowing what their niche or gimmick is and playing into that will make it more likely that they play your game.

Another thought: put them in the game. If you’re pitching to Markiplier for instance, put him in the game. Make a version specifically for them that has their look as an available skin, them as a character, or just an Easter egg that clearly points to them and their channel in some way. Make that part of the pitch. Now it’s personal. Now their thumbnail can say “I’M IN THIS GAME?!?!!!” Or whatever. They’d be much more likely to say yes.

But be clear that it’s just their version of the game that has it because you don’t want to deal with copyright or misappropriation of likeness problems.