Gaming Name Character Limits: Complete Platform Comparison Tool
Planning a gaming name that works across multiple platforms? Character limits vary drastically – Epic Games allows 3-16 characters, Steam allows 2-32, Xbox restricts to 12, and Twitch locks you in at 4-25. Choose the wrong length and you’ll need different names for different platforms – confusing for your audience and frustrating for you. This interactive tool compares 15+ gaming platforms instantly, showing exact minimum/maximum limits, special character rules, and cross-platform compatibility.
Our Gaming Name Character Limits Tool lets you compare 15+ platforms side-by-side, test your name in real-time, see which platforms accept your chosen name, check special character compatibility, and plan cross-platform gaming identity. All limits verified from official platform documentation and personally tested as of December 2025.
Scroll down for the interactive comparison tool where you can test your name instantly, complete platform limits table covering 17+ platforms, special character compatibility guide, cross-platform naming strategies, and official source citations.
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Gaming Name Character Limit Comparison Tool
Gaming Name Checker
Test your username across 17 platforms instantly with real-time validation
Complete Gaming Platform Character Limits (17+ Platforms)
This comprehensive table shows exact character limits for 17+ gaming platforms, verified from official documentation as of December 2025. Each platform’s minimum length, maximum length, allowed special characters, and important notes are included. All limits personally tested where possible.
Epic Games (Fortnite) – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: _ (underscore), – (hyphen), . (period) ONLY
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Must be unique: Yes (globally)
Important Notes:
This is Display Name, NOT Account Name (different systems!)
First change FREE, then $12.99 per change
14-day cooldown between changes
Case-insensitive (ProGamer = progamer = PROGAMER)
Steam – 2-32 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 2 characters
Maximum: 32 characters
Special Characters: Almost all allowed (_, -, ., @, #, many more)
Spaces: Allowed
Unicode: Allowed (Chinese, Arabic, emoji-like symbols)
Numbers: Allowed
Must be unique: No (multiple users can have same name)
Important Notes:
Most flexible gaming platform for names
FREE unlimited changes anytime
Supports Unicode characters (international names)
Display name vs Community profile name (both changeable)
Discord – 2-32 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 2 characters
Maximum: 32 characters (username)
Server Nickname: 1-32 characters (different from username!)
Special Characters: Many allowed
Spaces: Allowed
Discriminator: #0001-#9999 (makes names unique)
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Username vs Server Nickname (two separate names!)
Discriminator system allows duplicate display names
Changing username is FREE (unlimited)
New username system rolling out (removing discriminators)
Riot ID (Valorant) – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: Special Unicode symbols allowed (check Riot’s list)
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Tagline: #XXXX (separate 3-5 digit tag)
Important Notes:
“RiotID#1234” format (name + tagline)
Taglines shared across Riot games
Changes cost RP (Riot Points)
Case-insensitive
Xbox Gamertag – 3-12 Characters (Classic) / 3-15 (New)
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 12 characters (classic) or 15 (new system)
Special Characters: Letters/Numbers only (no symbols)
Spaces: Allowed in new system
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Classic Gamertags (12 chars) vs New Gamertags (15 chars + #4 suffix)
$9.99 to change (Xbox Live Gold required)
Suffix system (#1, #2) for duplicates
PlayStation Network – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: _ and – only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
PSN Online ID (separate from profile display name)
First change free, $9.99 after
14-day cooldown
Cannot use Sony trademarks
Nintendo Switch – 1-10 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 1 character
Maximum: 10 characters
Special Characters: None allowed
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Strictest character limit in gaming
No symbols, underscores, or spaces
FREE to change anytime
Case-insensitive
Battle.net – 3-12 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 12 characters
Special Characters: None allowed
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Letters and numbers only
Used across WoW, Overwatch, Hearthstone
BattleTag format: Name#1234
Changes cost gold in-game
EA Origin/EA App – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: _ – . only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
EA Account name (not display name)
Used across FIFA, Madden, Apex Legends
Free to change
Case-insensitive
Ubisoft Connect – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: _ – only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Used across Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed
Uplay → Ubisoft Connect rebrand
Free unlimited changes
Case-sensitive
Roblox – 3-20 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 20 characters
Special Characters: _ only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Username vs Display Name (separate)
Display name up to 30 chars, more flexible
400 Robux (~$5) to change username
Case-insensitive
Twitch – 4-25 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 4 characters
Maximum: 25 characters
Special Characters: _ only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Username (not display name)
Cannot contain “twitch” substring
Free to change (once every 60 days)
Case-insensitive
YouTube Gaming – 3-50 Characters (Channel Name)
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 50 characters
Special Characters: Most Unicode allowed
Spaces: Allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Channel name vs @handle (separate)
Handles limited to 30 characters
Free unlimited changes
Case-insensitive
PUBG Mobile/BGMI – 3-16 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 16 characters
Special Characters: _ – . ™ 彡 亗
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Mobile battle royale standard
Symbols like ™ popular in Asia
600 UC (~$5) to change
Case-insensitive
Mobile Legends – 3-12 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 12 characters
Special Characters: Some symbols allowed
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Shortest mobile MOBA limit
Regional symbol differences
Free weekly changes
Case-insensitive
GOG Galaxy – 3-32 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 32 characters
Special Characters: Most allowed
Spaces: Allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
DRM-free gaming platform
Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher series
Free unlimited changes
Case-insensitive
TikTok Gaming – 3-30 Characters
Limits:
Minimum: 3 characters
Maximum: 30 characters
Special Characters: _ – . only
Spaces: Not allowed
Numbers: Allowed
Important Notes:
Username for gaming creators
Separate from display name
Free to change
Case-insensitive
Nintendo Switch
Steam & Discord
2-32 + Unicode
Battle.net
Works 15/17 platforms
Covered
Speed
Guaranteed
Served
Why Do Gaming Platforms Have Character Limits?
Character limits exist primarily for database optimization. Every username must be stored, indexed, and searched millions of times daily. Shorter names require less storage space and faster database queries. A 16-character limit (like Epic Games) means usernames use only 16 bytes maximum in memory, while Steam’s 32-character limit requires double the storage. When multiplied across hundreds of millions of users, this significantly impacts server costs and search speed.
User interface design constrains name length. Gaming platform interfaces must display usernames in friend lists with limited space, in-game scoreboards, chat windows, mobile app screens with small displays, and notification popups. Long names (30+ characters) break UI layouts, overlap other elements, or require truncation (…), creating poor user experience. Platforms set limits to ensure names display cleanly everywhere.
Database Efficiency
Shorter names = faster searches and lower server costs across millions of users
UI/UX Design
Names must fit scoreboards, mobile screens, chat windows without breaking layouts
Anti-Abuse Security
Limits prevent impersonation, spam, profanity bypasses, and name squatting
Character limits combat several abuse vectors.
Impersonation prevention: Without limits, bad actors could create names like “OfficialEpicGamesSupport_RealAccount_Verified_Admin_2024” to trick users. Short limits make impersonation harder.
Spam reduction: Extremely long names often contain spam or advertising. Limits discourage this behavior.
Profanity filtering: Longer names have more profanity bypass combinations. Shorter limits make moderation feasible.
Name squatting: Unlimited length would enable hoarding thousands of variations of popular names.
Special Characters in Gaming Names: Platform-by-Platform Guide
Special characters add style to gaming names but aren’t universally supported. Some platforms allow underscores and hyphens, others permit spaces and periods, and a few (like Steam) support almost anything including Unicode. Here’s exactly what each major platform allows:
For maximum cross-platform compatibility, use:
Letters (A-Z, a-z) – universally supported
Numbers (0-9) – universally supported
Underscore (_) – works on 12/17 platforms
Avoid: Spaces, periods, hyphens, symbols. These work on some platforms but fail on others, forcing you to use different names per platform.
Only Steam and Discord support Unicode characters (Chinese, Arabic, emoji-like symbols). All other platforms restrict to ASCII (English letters + numbers + limited symbols). If you need international character support, Steam is your best option.
How to Choose a Gaming Name That Works Across All Platforms
Creating one gaming name that works on ALL platforms is challenging due to conflicting limits. Xbox’s 12-character maximum clashes with Discord’s 32-character allowance. Epic Games allows underscores but Valorant doesn’t. Twitch permits 25 characters but Nintendo Switch caps at 10. The solution: plan strategically based on your primary platforms and accept compromises for secondary ones.
The Cross-Platform Sweet Spot: 8-12 Characters
Names between 8-12 characters work on 15 out of 17 major platforms:
- Works on: Epic Games, Steam, Discord, Valorant, PSN, Battle.net, EA Origin, Ubisoft, GOG, Roblox, PUBG, Mobile Legends, Twitch, YouTube
- Exceeds: Nintendo Switch (10 max) – trim to 10
- Within: Xbox (12 max) – perfect fit!
Character composition:
- Letters + Numbers only (no special characters)
- Start with letter (some platforms require this)
- Mix uppercase/lowercase for readability (ProGamer24)
Result: One name works almost everywhere with minimal modifications.
If one universal name doesn’t work, use this tiered approach:
- Primary Name (8-12 chars): Use on main platforms (PC gaming, streaming)
Example: “ProGamer24” - Short Version (6-8 chars): For restrictive platforms (Nintendo Switch)
Example: “ProGmr” or “ProGm24” - Long Version (13-16 chars): For flexible platforms if desired
Example: “ProGamer2024” (Steam, Discord only)
Maintain brand consistency: All versions should be recognizable as YOU. Use same root word + variations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gaming platform has the longest character limit?
Steam and Discord tie for longest: 32 characters maximum.
Both platforms allow 32-character usernames, making them the most flexible for creative, descriptive names. Steam also supports Unicode (international characters), making it THE most flexible overall. In contrast, most platforms limit to 12-16 characters (Xbox: 12, Epic/Valorant: 16, PSN: 16).
If you want a long, descriptive gaming name, Steam and Discord are your best options.
Which platform has the strictest character limit?
Nintendo Switch has the strictest limit: 1-10 characters maximum.
This is significantly shorter than most platforms (Epic: 16, Steam: 32, Discord: 32). The 10-character cap makes Nintendo Switch the most restrictive major gaming platform. Additionally, Nintendo doesn't allow special characters or spaces.
If you plan to game on Switch, keep names under 10 characters to maintain cross-platform consistency.
Can you use spaces in gaming usernames?
It depends on the platform:
Spaces allowed: Steam, Discord, Xbox Gamertag, YouTube Gaming
Spaces NOT allowed: Epic Games, Valorant, PSN, Nintendo Switch, Battle.net, Twitch, Roblox
Important: Even when spaces are allowed, they count toward the character limit. "Pro Gamer" uses 9 characters (space counts as 1).
For cross-platform compatibility, avoid spaces. Use underscores instead: "Pro_Gamer" works on more platforms than "Pro Gamer".
Cross-platform recommendation: Skip spaces, use _ or - or capitalize: "ProGamer"
What special characters are allowed in gaming names?
Varies drastically by platform:
Most flexible: Steam (allows _, -, ., @, #, many symbols + Unicode)
Moderate: Epic Games (_, - . only), Discord (most symbols)
Restrictive: Valorant, Battle.net, Nintendo (NO special characters - letters & numbers only)
Universally safe characters:
Letters (A-Z) - all platforms
Numbers (0-9) - all platforms
Underscore (_) - works on 12/17 platforms
Avoid these for cross-platform names:
Spaces (only 4/17 platforms)
Periods (only 5/17 platforms)
Hyphens (only 6/17 platforms)
Symbols (@, #, $, etc.) - rare support
Use our tool above to test specific characters for your platforms.
Can you use the same gaming name across all platforms?
Yes, IF your name meets all platforms' requirements:
Requirements for universal name:
- 3-12 characters (works on 16/17 platforms)
- Letters + numbers only (no special chars)
- Starts with a letter (some platforms require)
- No spaces
Example universal names:
"ProGamer24" (10 chars) - works everywhere except Nintendo Switch (needs 10 or less)
"GamerPro" (8 chars) - works on ALL 17 platforms ✅
"xXProXx" (7 chars) - works on ALL 17 platforms ✅
Limitation: Your desired name might be taken on some platforms even if it meets length requirements. Always check availability per platform.
Use our tool above to test your name across all platforms instantly!
Conclusion: Choose the Right Gaming Name Length for Your Platforms
Gaming platform character limits range from Nintendo Switch’s restrictive 10 characters to Steam and Discord’s generous 32 characters. The universal sweet spot is 8-12 characters using only letters and numbers – this length works on 15 out of 17 major platforms with minimal modifications. Use our interactive tool above to test your desired name across all platforms simultaneously and identify which accept it.
Quick Reference:
Most flexible: Steam (2-32 chars, Unicode, special chars)
Most restrictive: Nintendo Switch (1-10 chars, no special chars)
Cross-platform safe zone: 8-12 characters, letters + numbers only
Special chars to avoid: Spaces, periods, hyphens (limited support)
Test before committing: Use our tool to validate across platforms!
Ready to find your perfect gaming name? Use our interactive tool above to test character limits across 17+ platforms instantly!
✅ New platform limit updates (when limits change)
✅ Gaming name ideas across 12+ platforms
✅ Character optimization strategies
✅ Tool feature updates & new platforms added
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