Created in September 1996 as the Imagine Games Network, the IGN content network was founded by publishing executive Jonathan Simpson-Bint and began as five individual websites within Imagine Media: N64.com (later renamed ign64.com), PSXPower, Saturnworld, Next-Generation.com and Ultra Game Players Online.
در ماه سپتامبر سال 1996 به عنوان شبکه بازی تصور، شبکه محتوای IGN توسط انتشارات Jonathan Simpson-Bint منتشر شد و به عنوان پنج وب سایت شخصی در Imagine Media شروع شد: N64.com (که بعدها renamed ign64.com) ، PSXPower، Saturnworld، NextGeneration.com و Ultra Game Players Online.