In a short span of time, Wordle, an online word game, has captured the attention of social media users worldwide. The game’s concept is simple – players get six attempts to guess a changing five-letter word each day. Its popularity has soared due to its easy-to-understand nature and the ability for players to share their daily results on platforms like Twitter, where it has sparked friendly competition and camaraderie among users.
Originally created as an independent project by Josh Wardle and Palak Shah, Wordle has now transitioned to new ownership. The New York Times revealed today that they have acquired the rights to the game for a sum in the “low seven figures.” This acquisition marks a significant milestone for a game that was initially developed for personal amusement by a creative duo.
In a Tweet, Wardle shared his enthusiasm for the game’s success but also expressed the challenges of managing its technical aspects and servers alone. As a fan of The New York Times and drawing inspiration from some of their own games, Wardle decided that transferring ownership to the newspaper would be beneficial.
The popular game Wordle has been acquired by The New York Times Company for a sum in the “low seven figures,” announced the company. https://t.co/XZhY6kW3mv
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 31, 2022
Assuring players that the game will remain free to play on The New York Times platform, Wardle is committed to preserving existing users’ win streaks during the transition.
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