Everyone from Sony to Netflix is expanding their game offer these days, and The New York Times is ready to join in the fun. They recently acquired the popular word game Wordle for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Created by Brooklyn-based software engineer Josh Wardle, this game gives players six chances to guess a five-letter word and it’s played by millions every day. After striking the deal with the renewed publication, Wardle said he’s “a little overwhelmed” but “incredibly pleased” by the game’s success.
As for The New York Times, this deal is the latest step in their attempt to increase digital subscriptions to 10 million by 2025. The growing importance of games has proven to be crucial in their quest, and Wordle is just the latest piece of the puzzle.
“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,” reads the magazine’s official statement.
Josh Wardle originally created this game to amuse his girlfriend during the pandemic, who enjoyed The Times’ crosswords and Spelling Bee games. His epic story came full circle with this seven-figure deal, and the game will initially remain free of charge.
