Yesterday, I was scrolling through Bluesky and stumbled upon a fun thread about the charm of late-’90s and early-’00s websites. Those sites had a unique appeal: simple designs, quirky fonts, and personal touches. It’s amusing to think how massive companies now had humble beginnings as personal blogs sharing everyday thoughts on life, marriage, and travel.
This got me thinking: what about video game websites? How did they start? With a little help from the Internet Archive, I took a trip down memory lane to see what major gaming websites used to look like.
Let’s start with EA back in 1997. Their site was filled with flashing images and a welcoming message that bounced back and forth. It’s a charming reminder of the past. Then there’s Bullfrog’s website, which humorously instructs users on the exact browser window size to use.
Ubisoft’s 1998 page had an exciting announcement: “the pod GAME SERVICE IS HERE!! Download it Now!!” It was a lively time in gaming!
Remember GameFAQs? In 1996, it was a simple site, likely run by just one person who could take vacations without worrying about constant updates.
Nintendo in 1997 linked closely to their magazine, Nintendo Power. Back then, it was all about sharing content in a way that felt much more personal.
Blizzard’s site from 1996 is another interesting look back. It’s hard to imagine that Battle.net has roots going back that far. At the same time, there were job openings listed, showing they were looking ahead.
While many gaming websites have existed for a while, others have changed dramatically. For instance, Polygon’s site looked completely different when I found a snapshot from its earlier days. It was surprising how minimalist it originally was.
There’s also EpicGames.com from 1996, focusing on their early titles—certainly before Fortnite took the world by storm.
As a fun twist, I looked up the domain “discord.com.” Before Discord became a popular chat platform, it belonged to someone with a fascination for MUDs and classic literature—a delightful surprise!
Another site, elgato.com, is now known for streaming gear. Back in the day, it was a cigar shop, which is a far cry from its current use.
Lastly, there’s Kotaku. I found a snapshot from 2004, which marked a big step into the gaming news landscape. It’s fascinating to see how far everything has come.
This exploration reveals how gaming websites have evolved from casual blog-like pages to the tech-heavy platforms we know today. Despite the changes, the nostalgia for those early days remains strong among gamers. Just like the late ’90s websites, today’s platforms have their own unique charm—let’s see where they go next!
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Electronic Arts,Epic Games,Kotaku,Nintendo,Ubisoft
