What Happened to IGN?
IGN (Imagine Games Network) is a prominent American video gaming and entertainment media website, founded in 1996. It has evolved from a network of gaming sites into a global digital media powerhouse, now a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc., providing news, reviews, and content across various entertainment forms. Despite facing controversies, IGN continues to expand its reach and influence, notably acquiring Gamer Network in 2024 and hosting major fan events like IGN Live in 2026.
Quick Answer
IGN is a leading global video game and entertainment media company, currently operating as a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. Since its founding in 1996, it has expanded its content beyond gaming to include films, TV, comics, and technology, reaching over 229 million monthly users worldwide. In recent years, IGN has continued its growth through strategic acquisitions, such as Gamer Network in May 2024, and remains a key player in the industry, hosting significant events like IGN Live in June 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
IGN Founded as Imagine Games Network
IGN was created as the Imagine Games Network, starting as five individual websites within Imagine Media, including N64.com.
Sites Consolidated Under IGN Brand
The network consolidated its individual gaming websites as system 'channels' under the unified IGN brand.
Parent Company Snowball.com IPO Bombs
Then-parent company Snowball.com held an IPO that subsequently failed with the burst of the dot-com bubble.
Acquired by News Corporation
IGN was acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation for $650 million and merged with GameSpy Industries, also acquiring AskMen.com.
Acquired UGO Entertainment
IGN Entertainment acquired its rival UGO Entertainment, which included 1Up.com, from Hearst Corporation.
Sold to Ziff Davis
News Corp. sold IGN Entertainment to the publishing company Ziff Davis, which was recently acquired by J2 Global. Following this, IGN closed 1Up.com, UGO, and GameSpy to focus on its flagship brands.
Acquired Humble Bundle
Humble Bundle, a digital storefront known for its game bundles and charity work, announced its acquisition by IGN.
Plagiarism Controversy
IGN faced a significant controversy when one of its Nintendo editors, Filip Muicin, was found to have plagiarized a review for 'Dead Cells' from a YouTube channel, leading to his termination and a site-wide review of his past work.
Acquired Gamer Network
IGN Entertainment acquired UK-based Gamer Network, including prominent sites like Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun, and VG247, for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition was followed by layoffs within Gamer Network.
Face-Off Community Poll Controversy
IGN's community 'Face-Off' tool, used for ranking games, movies, and TV shows, faced controversy due to accusations of vote manipulation, particularly concerning the game 'Black Myth: Wukong'. IGN later published an article explaining the issues and how they were addressing them.
Conducted 'Generations in Play' Study
IGN Entertainment conducted its largest research initiative to date, the 'Generations in Play' study, in partnership with Kantar and UC Berkeley, surveying over 5,500 respondents across the US, UK, and Australia to understand modern audience engagement with entertainment.
IGN Fan Fest 2026
IGN Fan Fest returned in February 2026 as a digital showcase, featuring over 80 exclusive reveals and 50+ games across various entertainment platforms, including celebrity and industry appearances.
IGN Live 2026 Event
IGN is hosting IGN Live 2026 in Los Angeles, a two-day fan event featuring exclusive game reveals, new trailers, celebrity interviews, and hundreds of playable games, including titles like 'Forza Horizon 6' and '007: First Light'.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
IGN, originally known as Imagine Games Network, was established in September 1996 by Jonathan Simpson-Bint as a collection of five individual websites within Imagine Media, including N64.com. It quickly grew, consolidating its various console-specific sites under the unified IGN brand by 1998. The company's early years saw rapid expansion, but its parent company, Snowball.com, experienced a significant setback when its IPO bombed with the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000.
A major turning point occurred in September 2005 when Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation acquired IGN for $650 million, integrating it into its Fox Interactive Media unit. During this period, IGN expanded its portfolio by merging with GameSpy Industries and acquiring AskMen.com. However, News Corp later sought to divest its digital properties, and in February 2013, IGN Entertainment was sold to publishing company Ziff Davis, a subsidiary of J2 Global. This acquisition led to significant restructuring, with IGN closing several acquired sites like 1Up.com, UGO, and GameSpy to focus on its core brands.
Under Ziff Davis, IGN continued to grow its global presence, localizing content in numerous languages and countries. The company has also faced its share of controversies, including a notable plagiarism incident in 2018 involving a game review, which resulted in the reviewer's termination and a re-evaluation of editorial processes. In September 2024, IGN's community 'Face-Off' game of the year poll also drew criticism for perceived vote manipulation, prompting the company to address the issues publicly.
Recent years have seen IGN further solidify its position in the entertainment media landscape. In October 2017, IGN acquired Humble Bundle, a digital storefront known for game bundles and charity initiatives. A significant development in May 2024 was IGN Entertainment's acquisition of Gamer Network, which includes prominent UK-based gaming journalism sites like Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun, and VG247. This acquisition, while expanding IGN's media empire, also led to an undisclosed number of layoffs within Gamer Network. As of June 2026, IGN remains a dominant force, reaching over 229 million monthly users globally and actively engaging its audience through various platforms. The company is currently preparing for IGN Live 2026, a major fan event scheduled for June 6-7 in Los Angeles, featuring game reveals, celebrity appearances, and playable demos, underscoring its continued relevance and active role in the gaming and entertainment industry.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if IGN made different choices?