Shacknews was founded in 1996 by Steve Gibson.[2][3] The website, originally named 'Quakeholio', was dedicated to the then-upcomingID Software gameQuake.[4]FileShack, a spinoff-site forgame demos,patches, videos, and miscellaneous game-related assets forShacknews users and others, was launched in August 2002.[5][better source needed]
On February 3, 2009,Shacknews and all relatedShacknews destinations were purchased byGameFly.[6][7] Asif Khan, a financial analyst, contributed to purchasing the site from Gamefly near the end of 2013 and became the site's CEO.[1][8] The sister siteFileShack was shut down in 2014.[9][better source needed]
In August 2004,Maximum PC magazine featuredShacknews in its list of "11 Websites That Every Geek Should Bookmark".[10] Then, in November 2007,PC Magazine recognizedShacknews in its "Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites" list.[11][12] In 2018,Shacknews raised over $100,000 in the Extra Life 24-Hour Gaming Marathon for the Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation.[13] David L. Craddock, a long-form videogame journalism writer ofShacknews published several books onDiablo,Shovel Knight,Pillars of Eternityand Quake and credited Khan with publishing his findings.[14]
