Wordle is the latest phenomenon to sweep the nation during the pandemic. The popular word puzzle game sees players attempt to guess a five-letter word in no more than six guesses. Creator James Wardle created Wordle as a fun hobby with no expectations of anyone else playing. The game’s boom in success since the start of 2022 allowed Wardle to cash in on his creation by selling the rights to “The New York Times” in a seven-figure deal. Here is everything you need to know about the acquisition.
Why Were They Interested?
It may seem odd for a newspaper to buy a web-based puzzle game, but “The New York Times” has a rich history with puzzles. Their daily crossword puzzle is widely considered to be the best around. They have a large number of subscribers that are exclusively interested in the crossword and other puzzle games. Solving the daunting Saturday crossword delivers instant credibility in the puzzle community. While Wordle will never reach those heights, it is still a great way to drive more puzzle fans to the website.
Stats Will Carryover
One of the main reasons Wordle became an instant success is its ability to share scores with friends and family members. The game also keeps track of your career stats including winning percentage and longest winning streak. Losing these stats was a big concern for players when the sale was announced, but “The New York Times” made sure everyone’s stats transferred when the game switched websites. The transition has been so seamless that many players likely have not even noticed. The only obvious difference is the new URL at the top of the screen.
Future Possible Changes
One of the best things about Wordle is its basic ad-free design. “The New York Times” has stated that Wordle will remain free for the foreseeable future, but the game getting locked behind a paywall seems inevitable. They did not spend more than one million dollars to acquire a puzzle game without thinking it could help bring in more subscribers. Lets just hope this change does not come any time soon.