Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Humble Bundle has been acquired by IGN

By - | Views: 46,479

This is rather unsettling to see, Humble Bundle has now officially joined with the massive media site IGN.

A small cut from their official announcement:

Announcing our biggest bundle ever: Humble Bundle is proudly joining the IGN family! We will continue to bring you all of our humble products, but with more resources and help from IGN.

I'm not entirely sure why Humble needed to join with anyone, considering the amount of money they were pulling in they must have been pretty secure. I'm sure they have their reasons, but something about this doesn't feel right to me. A media company controlling one of the biggest online stores and an occasional games publisher, it feels like a conflict there.

Gamasutra has reported that IGN executive VP Mitch Galbraith said that they don't plan to change anything, "If it's not broken, don't fix it", but then John Graham from Humble said "We want to stick to the fundamentals in the short term.", the key there is "short term". How long will it be until IGN start throwing a bit of weight around to change things up?

In the end though, it could end up being positive. There's no denying how big IGN is, so their extra resources could well help out Humble in a lot of ways.

Honestly, I would be really surprised now if we ever saw a proper Humble Indie Bundle again, I certainly doubt that Humble would ever be getting Linux games ported like they used to. We are more likely to see even more bundles from bigger publishers, likely more console bundles too.

See the full announcement from Humble here (Archive link). How do you feel about this?

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
13 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
60 comments
Page: «4/6»
  Go to:

Cheeseness Oct 14, 2017
Regarding this:
QuoteGamasutra has reported that IGN executive VP Mitch Galbraith said that they don't plan to change anything, "If it's not broken, don't fix it", but then Galbraith also said "We want to stick to the fundamentals in the short term.", the key there is "short term". How long will it be until they start throwing a bit of weight around to change things up?

The second part was actually said by Humble co-founder John Graham (source and not Galbraith, but the original article has been misquoted in a bunch of places.

The quote has some different connotations when it's said by someone from Humble rather than someone from IGN, but I still suspect there'll be significant changes moving forward.
Grazen Oct 14, 2017
Unexpected and very sad. Goodbye Humble Bundle - it was a great ride. Congrats to the selling shareholders. I'm not as inclined to shop there anymore :(
Luke_Nukem Oct 14, 2017
Rather pleased I stopped supporting them years ago. When they stopped caring about DRM that was one notch on the hatchet. The next notch was bugger all Linux games in bundles. The final notch on the hatchet was when I realised just how little many very very good developers were getting from them.

I buy from GOG only now. Well, mostly. I'll buy from Steam if that's my only option, but that's not very frequent. Itch.io leaves a bad taste in my mouth with the unrestricted variety of ways people package stuff.
ElectricPrism Oct 14, 2017
I cant imagine merging indie inocense with corporate ruthlessness turning out well.

Well, maybe now IGN can stop shitposting everything that isnt AAA for $$$ now that they own a significsnt distribution mechanism used by indies.

We will see how much IGN abuses their new play toy in the coming months.


Last edited by ElectricPrism on 14 October 2017 at 7:26 am UTC
Alm888 Oct 14, 2017
My reaction is rather dull compared to the most of people here. Never used "Humble Monthly" or got non-Linux or non-DRM-Free games form Humble and due to lack of regional pricing Humble did not have an edge over GOG for me (I can get games 4 times cheaper on GOG normally). So, it is not much of a loss, really.
But just as I said "Nothing personal, just business" to GOG, the same rule must be applied to Humble. We shall see…
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: sn0rlaxTime to launch a Gaming on Linux Bundle site? I'll buy my games from you.
One step at a time, one day we shall conquer the world and spread the good word of Linux :P
Yay! LiamBundle confirmed!!!1111
It absolutely must be DRM-free and Linux only!!!! ;)
Quoting: Avehicle7887Humble Bundle for me died ever since they stopped caring about DRM-Free, even worse some devs don't update the said builds. Now I either buy a game on GOG these days or not buy it at all.
More of the latter than the former, I suppose. As GOG stopped caring about Linux (or didn't even start in the first place) and have began to release for Windows and Mac only due to lack of "optional" "GOG Galaxy" certainly_not_a_DRM client.
Quoting: PublicNuisanceI will keep my eye on things as most will. If they continue to give me a place to purchase DRM free Linux games then I will shop there but if they cease to do that then I will take my business to GOG and Itch as I already do since no one place has every game I want.
I second that! :D
Quoting: Luke_NukemItch.io leaves a bad taste in my mouth with the unrestricted variety of ways people package stuff.
Well, GOG leaves even more of a bad taste in mouths of many with its "optional" Galaxy installer bundled with game installers. :)
Liam Dawe Oct 14, 2017
Quoting: CheesenessRegarding this:
QuoteGamasutra has reported that IGN executive VP Mitch Galbraith said that they don't plan to change anything, "If it's not broken, don't fix it", but then Galbraith also said "We want to stick to the fundamentals in the short term.", the key there is "short term". How long will it be until they start throwing a bit of weight around to change things up?

The second part was actually said by Humble co-founder John Graham (source and not Galbraith, but the original article has been misquoted in a bunch of places.

The quote has some different connotations when it's said by someone from Humble rather than someone from IGN, but I still suspect there'll be significant changes moving forward.
Woops, fixed that bit. Cheers.
tuubi Oct 14, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter
This is depressing, but as long as their bundles give us the option to decide who gets what, even dropping the "humble tip" entirely, I might still buy a bundle once in a blue moon. And if they come up with a proper indie bundle with great Linux games, I don't see any reason not to support that. Also no reason to give up on your game library at Humble. You've already paid for them, and Humble already got their cut.

I'm happy to hear people are giving up on their Monthly Bundle subscriptions though. I was never quite comfortable with the concept.
elmapul Oct 14, 2017
that is very bad.
now they can at the same time promote some games because they are paid to do it, not because its good..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxR9ek176LQ

and sell it.

its too much power for an single company.
i didnt trusted ign before, and did trusted humble bundle as well as planned to buy some stuff on it.

now i dont know what to do...
Lonsfor Oct 14, 2017
is GOG still "not so linux friendly"?
Nanobang Oct 14, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter
Headline at Jaded Cynic Gazette:

[center]Humble Bundle becomes IGN's Bitch.[/center]
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.