In a piece of recent news, The New York Times (NYT) has purchased the popular word game Wordle for an undisclosed seven-figure amount. The purchase deal was announced by the creator of the game over a Twitter statement.

 

The Strategized Deal

 

The free and simple game was created by a software engineer, Josh Wardle. The free and simple game was launched in October 2021. Ever since its release, Wordle has taken the internet by storm. According to Mr. Wardle, the game’s success had been ‘a little overwhelming’. He further stated that he was incredibly pleased with the deal that was announced in a statement on Twitter.

 

He also quoted his admiration for the NYT’s approach to their games and the way they treat their players. According to a statement by the NYT, “The Times remains focused on becoming the essential subscription for every English-speaking person seeking to understand and engage with the world. New York Times Games are a key part of that strategy.”

 

“Our games already provide original, high-quality content and experiences every single day. Wordle will now play a part in that daily experience, giving millions more people around the world another reason to turn to The Times to meet their daily news and life needs.”

 

The Lucid Game

 

According to the NYT, the game will initially remain free to play. Wordle challenges players to find a five-letter word in six guesses. Every day, a new puzzle is published. Players can post how quickly they solved the colorful grid on their respective social media platforms, without spoiling the answer for other players. This is the main reason, as per Mr. Wardle, that Wordle managed to capture the imagination of so many users.

 

Users can play the game within a few minutes and begin by guessing any five-letter word. Users can remember the following points while playing the game:

 

• If any of the letters are in that day's word but in the wrong place, they turn gold
• If they are in the word in the right place, they turn green
• If they are not in the word, they turn grey

 

According to Mr. Wardle, the NYT crossword and spelling games helped him get through the pandemic. He also stated that the NYT Games played a ‘big part’ in Wordle’s origins. “Hence, the deal feels very natural.”