IGN
On the 29th of September 1996, a new website called IGN launched under the name Imagine Games Network. Media entrepreneur Chris Anderson created this platform to serve video game enthusiasts with dedicated content channels. The site began as five separate websites within Imagine Media: N64.com, PSXPower, Saturnworld, Next-Generation.com, and Ultra Game Players Online. These individual sites covered specific gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn before merging into a unified network. In 1998, the network introduced a new homepage that consolidated these channels under the single IGN brand. This consolidation exposed visitors to more than thirty different content streams from various sources. Some original sites like Next-Generation were eventually put on hold or dissolved during this restructuring phase.
News Corporation acquired IGN Entertainment in September 2005 for $650 million. Rupert Murdoch's multimedia business empire took control of the company after it had grown to include twenty-four million unique monthly visitors by June 2005. The acquisition included several other properties such as Rotten Tomatoes, GameSpy, and AskMen. In February 2013, News Corp sold IGN to Ziff Davis following a failed attempt to spin off the company as a public entity. Prior to this sale, IGN had acquired its rival UGO Entertainment from Hearst Corporation in 2011. After the purchase by Ziff Davis, the company laid off staff and closed several brands including GameSpy and 1UP.com to focus on flagship operations. Most recently, IGN Entertainment acquired Gamer Network in May 2024 for an undisclosed sum, adding Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun to its portfolio.
IGN originally assigned scores between 0.1 and 10.0 using increments of 0.1 based on individual aspects like presentation and gameplay. On the 3rd of August 2010, the site announced a change to a 20-point scale where games received scores in increments of 0.5. This new system maintained a maximum possible score of 10.0 but removed decimal points from most reviews. By the 13th of September 2012, IGN reverted to a 100-point scale without decimals, converting previous scores retroactively. The company later decided to retain decimal points despite initial plans to remove them entirely. In January 2020, IGN switched back to a simple 10-point scale ranging from 1 to 10. Staff found that finer distinctions on the 100-point scale were difficult to maintain consistently across all reviews.
By 2021, IGN operated twenty-eight editions across twenty-five different languages worldwide. The US and Canada, UK and Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand editions remain under direct Ziff Davis management while others use franchised publishers. In 2006, IGN opened its first international offices in the United Kingdom and Australia with shared content plus regional additions. The Middle East edition launched on the 16th of May 2012 through collaboration with Emirati-based t-break Media. IGN Russia began operations in March 2013 before closing abruptly in 2022 following the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Other regional launches included Spain in October 2012, India in December 2013, and Japan in April 2016. Each localized version uses geolocation software to redirect visitors automatically based on their IP address.
In November 2017, some IGN employees refused work to support Kallie Plagge who alleged sexual harassment by editor Vince Ingenito. Human resources reportedly told Plagge she needed better judgment about friendships during an inappropriate flirtation incident. A plagiarism scandal erupted in August 2018 when reviewer Filip Miucin was accused of copying a Dead Cells review from YouTube channel Boomstick Gaming. IGN dismissed Miucin after finding substantial similarities between the two reviews. He later admitted to taking complete ownership over what happened while claiming the similarity was unintentional. In May 2021, the main IGN site posted an article urging donations to Palestinian charities which sparked controversy among staff and readers alike. Over sixty employees signed an open letter condemning the removal of that article for violating editorial freedom policies.
IGN Convention began operations in the Middle East starting with Dubai events held July 5-6, 2013 at Meydan IMAX. These conventions featured celebrities like Kevin Nash and Troy Baker alongside cosplay competitions and gaming tournaments. The event expanded to Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and other locations through 2016. IGN Pro League launched in 2011 as a professional esports circuit featuring StarCraft II and League of Legends tournaments. On the 6th of March 2013, IGN abruptly canceled IPL 6 finals scheduled for Las Vegas just weeks before they were set to begin. Blizzard Entertainment acquired the league's assets and former staff shortly thereafter on the 8th of April 2013. The convention series continues today under IGN Middle East management with annual gatherings across multiple Gulf states.
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Common questions
When did IGN launch and what was its original name?
IGN launched on the 29th of September 1996 under the name Imagine Games Network. Media entrepreneur Chris Anderson created this platform to serve video game enthusiasts with dedicated content channels.
Who acquired IGN Entertainment in September 2005 and for how much money?
News Corporation acquired IGN Entertainment in September 2005 for $650 million. Rupert Murdoch's multimedia business empire took control of the company after it had grown to include twenty-four million unique monthly visitors by June 2005.
How many times has IGN changed its review scoring system since 2010?
IGN changed its review scoring system three times between 2010 and 2020. The site moved from a 20-point scale on the 3rd of August 2010, reverted to a 100-point scale without decimals on the 13th of September 2012, and switched back to a simple 10-point scale in January 2020.
Which international editions of IGN closed or stopped operations recently?
IGN Russia began operations in March 2013 before closing abruptly in 2022 following the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Other regional launches included Spain in October 2012, India in December 2013, and Japan in April 2016.
What controversy occurred at IGN regarding employee conduct in November 2017?
In November 2017, some IGN employees refused work to support Kallie Plagge who alleged sexual harassment by editor Vince Ingenito. Human resources reportedly told Plagge she needed better judgment about friendships during an inappropriate flirtation incident.