The Internet Game Database (IGDB) is an online database about video games launched in 2014. It was acquired by Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc, in 2019.
 | |
Type of site | Online database |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Headquarters | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| CEO | Christian Frithiof |
| Parent | Amazon.com, Inc. |
| URL | igdb.com |
| Registration | Optional, Free |
| Launched | 2014 |
| Current status | Online |
Overview
editThe IGDB lists details about video games and their companies, crew and cast. Similar to Amazon's Internet Movie Database, IGDB's content is user focused, letting registered users rate, list and review games. Users can also edit and create pages, which are published after being validated by IGDB's employees.[1]
History
edit
IGDB was founded by Christian Frithiof after he first got the idea in 2010 and was able to gather a team of like-minded people. The first beta version containing around 200 game titles was first launched in 2014.[2] In August, 2015 IGDB launched their developer API free for non-commercial & commercial usage.[3]
In 2016, IGDB secured their first investment which allowed its employees to work full time and relocate to Gothenburg, Sweden. As of 2020 IGDB has their own office, with a branch in USA and 11 employees working remote from various countries.[2]
On September 17, 2019, IGDB was acquired by Twitch, a livestreaming video platform owned by Twitch Interactive, a subsidiary of Amazon. Twitch use IGDB's database to feed its search and discovery functions.[4][5][6][7][3]
As of March 2023, IGDB has 99,000 members and encompasses 428,000 games (of which 196,500 are DLCs and re-releases), 44,300 companies and 217,000 people as well as over 1.1 million reviews, screenshots and videos.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "About IGDB". IGDB. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ a b "About IGDB". IGDB. Archived from the original on 2020-04-09. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ a b Bishop, Sam (19 September 2019). "Twitch acquires Internet Gaming Database". Gamereactor UK. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
- ^ "Twitch acquires Internet Gaming Database". GamesIndustry.biz. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
- ^ Humphries, Matthew (2019-09-18). "Twitch Acquires Gaming Database Website IGDB". PCMag UK. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- ^ "Twitch makes a play to improve discoverability with IGDB acquisition". finance.yahoo.com. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
- ^ "Twitch acquires gaming database site IGDB to improve its search and discovery features". TechCrunch. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
