adminIGN is marking its 30th anniversary with a year-long celebration that will look back at the games and entertainment industries while considering what may come next. Planned features include interviews with influential industry figures, anniversary editions of established editorial series, the return of IGN Live in Los Angeles and a partnership with Humble Bundle focused on games and retro merchandise.
Image credit: IGN
IGN 30th anniversary celebration plans
The editorial program will include special anniversary editions of Art of the Level and Art of the Scene, IGN series focused on how games and screen productions are made. Readers can use these features to explore creative decisions and production details behind familiar entertainment experiences.
IGN30: Icons interviews
Another planned feature, IGN30: Icons, will present longform interviews with notable people from gaming and entertainment. The conversations are intended to cover what interviewees were doing in 1996, how they view three decades of change, and what they expect from the next 30 years.
Justin Davis, IGN’s SVP of Commerce and Editorial, described the series as an opportunity to hear perspectives from across both industries. For readers, the format offers more context than a brief anniversary roundup by connecting personal career histories with broader changes in games and entertainment.
IGN Live and the Humble Bundle partnership
The celebration is also set to include the return of IGN Live, an event in Los Angeles. IGN has additionally announced a games and retro merchandise partnership with Humble Bundle. Specific event details and partnership offerings were not included in the announcement, so readers should check official updates for schedules and availability.
Humble Bundle and IGN are both part of IGN Entertainment. This shared ownership is relevant context for the announced partnership.
IGN’s history began in 1996
IGN traces its beginnings to September 23, 1996, when an article appeared on N64.com. The piece covered Nintendo of America chairman Howard Lincoln’s discussion of a price reduction that brought the Nintendo 64 to $199, matching the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
The brand began as the Imagine Gaming Network, a collection of five sites operated by Imagine Media, a US subsidiary of UK games magazine publisher Future Publishing. It has since changed ownership and is now operated by IGN Entertainment, a division of Ziff Davis.
Peer Schneider, who became editor-in-chief in 1997 and remains with the company as EVP and Chief Development Officer at IGN Entertainment, said the early aim was to publish daily coverage of the N64, PlayStation and Saturn rather than rely only on monthly magazines with long production lead times.
IGN has since expanded its publishing across formats such as YouTube, podcasts and social media. Schneider noted that adapting to changing ways of using the internet has helped the brand continue to grow.
What the IGN 30th anniversary means for readers
The year-long program combines retrospective storytelling with events and commercial partnerships. Readers interested in the history of gaming can follow the interviews and anniversary features, while those looking to attend IGN Live or explore retro merchandise should watch for further announcements. Together, these plans make the IGN 30th anniversary both a look back at the brand’s beginnings and a chance to revisit major shifts in gaming and entertainment.
