The New York Times Company has purchased Wordle, a renowned puzzle game that has enthralled users around the world. An undisclosed sum in the “seven-figure range” has been paid for the game. For the time being, Wordle will remain free to use for both new and existing users, according to the New York Times Company. Additionally, the transfer to The New York Times won’t result in any modifications to the game’s gameplay, according to the business.
We are delighted to announce that Wordle, the stimulating and massively popular daily word game that has become a cultural phenomenon, is now a part of the New York Times Company,” The Times Company said in a news release. Puzzle game Wordle will join New York Times Games’s collection of innovative, intriguing puzzle games that thrill and challenge solvers every day.”
In October 2021, Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn-based software engineer, launched the game. The game’s popularity has skyrocketed since then. The game was played by 90 persons on November 1st. This game has grown to millions of daily users in just two months after its initial release.
A word puzzle fan himself, Wardle designed Wordle for his partner’s amusement last year and revealed this to TechCrunch in an exclusive interview. Powerlanguage.co.uk has been Wardle’s creative home throughout his time in England and he casually shared the game with his family from there. A few well-placed acquaintances saw it, and it quickly grew in popularity.
This morning, I am delighted to share the news that I’ve negotiated an arrangement with The New York Times for them to take over running Wordle moving ahead. This stage feels extremely natural to me because the NYT games play an important role in the beginnings of Wordle. New York Times’ website will host a free version of the game, and I’m working with the NYT to ensure that your wins and streaks will be maintained.”
As Wardle noted, the game has grown beyond his wildest expectations, but its popularity has also exceeded his expectations. According to him, The New York Times’ approach to its games has always impressed him, as has the company’s principles.
To give millions of people a new reason to visit the New York Times, Wordle has been added to the newspaper’s daily games. Games memberships hit one million in December, according to the company’s projections for 2021.
