What Does "IGN" Mean in GTA?
If you‘ve played Grand Theft Auto (GTA) Online, you‘ve probably come across players with "IGN" or "Ign" in their usernames or crew tags. As a gamer myself with over 200 hours sunk into GTA Online, I‘ve pondered the meaning of this abbreviation many times.
So what exactly does IGN stand for in the context of GTA? Well, gamer, read on to uncover the origins of this term and how its meaning has evolved over the past two decades.
The Origins of IGN
IGN stands for Imagine Games Network. IGN Entertainment is a popular gaming and entertainment media website that was founded in September 1996 and has over 88 million monthly visitors.
So originally, IGN was an abbreviation that stood for Imagine Games Network.
Over the years, as online gaming grew popular, gamers started using IGN independently to denote "in-game name".
For example, in MMORPGs and other online games where you create a character profile, IGN refers to the nickname or handle you give your character.
So that warrior mage you created named "Deathbringer"? Yup, that would be your IGN.
This definition of IGN is now used universally across games from GTA Online to World of Warcraft to COD Mobile.
The Meaning of IGN in GTA Online
So coming back to Grand Theft Auto, IGN stands for In Game Name when used in GTA Online contexts nowadays.
Your IGN in GTA Online is essentially your username or gamertag that represents your identity in the game world.
Below your GTA character model, your IGN is prominently displayed above your health bar.
This allows other players to identify you and enables unique social interactions that make GTA Online so fun!
Screenshot showing the prominence of your IGN in GTA Online above your health bar.
Having an edgy or humorous IGN also gives you a chance to express your creativity and style to other gamers playing GTA with you.
Crews like "[=IGF=] Intergalactic Federation" purposefully use "IGN" in their crew tags to signal that the crew name represents their collective identity or IGN in GTA Online.
Changing Your IGN in GTA Online
So what if you later want to change your In Game Name in GTA Online? Not feeling "xXDarkSlayerXx" anymore? I feel you.
Luckily, Rockstar makes it pretty straightforward to update your IGN within the Social Club platform. Just follow these steps:
- Log into the Rockstar Games Social Club at socialclub.rockstargames.com
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner
- Select Settings to pull up your profile details
- Scroll down and click "Edit" next to your Nickname
- Type in your new desired username aka IGN
- Hit the "Save Changes" button at the bottom
Once saved, you should instantly see your new IGN reflect across GTA Online and even other Rockstar titles like Red Dead Online if you play that as well.
Do note that changing your IGN too many times in a short period does cost a small $100,000 GTA dollar fee though. So choose wisely!
Check out this quick video showcasing the above steps:
[GTA Online – Changing your IGN Tutorial]Pretty simple right?
Comparing GTA IGN Policies to Other Games
Now that you know all about IGN names in Grand Theft Auto Online, you may be wondering about the IGN rules and policies in other games.
Does Call of Duty or Fortnite or World of Warcraft treat IGNs the same way?
Let‘s compare GTA Online‘s IGN policies to several other major multiplayer titles:
| Game | IGN Meaning | IGN Policy |
|---|---|---|
| GTA Online | In Game Name (gamertag) | Can edit via Social Club. Fee to change frequently |
| Call of Duty | In Game Name (username) | Tied to platform (Blizzard, Steam). Can edit at no cost |
| PUBG Mobile | In Game Name (gamertag) | Limited edits. Must pay to change |
| Fortnite | In Game Name (username) | Free changes. Can revert to old names |
| World of Warcraft | Name of your character | Paid character name changes only. Adds surname after multiple changes |
So in summary:
- IGN refers to your public player profile identity in all the above games
- Some tie your IGN tightly to platform accounts, while games like GTA give you more freedom to update
Hopefully the above gives you insight into IGNs across other popular multiplayer game worlds!
Parting Thoughts on IGN
Like many gamers who grew up on MMORPGs in the 90s and early 2000s, the term IGN brings up nostalgic memories coding gaming forums, configuring Ventrilo servers, and questing online at odd hours as students with fledgling IGNs like “PwnerDude” and “LegolaSlayer”.
The evolution of the abbreviation IGN from officially standing for Imagine Games Network to now simply meaning In Game Name has been an intriguing transition reflecting culture shifts in online entertainment.
And deciphering what “IGN” means continues to be many gamers’ first foray discovering the multiverse of influential gaming sites like IGN or Killer Guides covering the pastime we love.
So whether you’re a veteran who remembers life before IGNs or a wide-eyed newbie full of possibility, choose your namesake carefully across Los Santos and other sandbox worlds!
I remain, xXxSephirothDudexXx signing off until 2077 when we can jack into the OASIS full dive. Game on amigos!
