Associates with IFNGR1 to form a receptor for the cytokine interferon gamma (IFNG) (PubMed:7615558, PubMed:7673114, PubMed:8124716). Ligand binding stimulates activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway (PubMed:15356148, PubMed:7673114, PubMed:8124716). Required for signal transduction in contrast to other receptor subunit responsible for ligand binding (PubMed:7673114). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15356148, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7615558, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7673114, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8124716}. This is the function of IFNGR2 (interferon gamma receptor 2, ENSG00000159128).