The New York Times has just bought Wordle — what that means for you

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Today'south Wordle discussion is… MONEY, afterward the viral sensation was sold to The New York Times for a reported seven-figure sum.

The purchase completes an incredible story that saw the game spring seemingly from nowhere at the turn of the twelvemonth to the bespeak where information technology at present has more than than one million daily players. It also represents a huge success for its sole programmer, Josh Wardle, who created it for his partner but to meet it become ubiquitous on Twitter and elsewhere over the past month.

Wordle screenshots — (Image credit: Wordle)

Wardle, who works at Reddit as an engineer, shared the news on Twitter and said that he was "thrilled" that The New York Times "will exist the stewards of the game moving forrad" and that "this step feels very natural to me."

"I've long admired the NYT'southward approach to their games and the respect with which they treat their players," he added, before confirming that "When the game moves to the NYT site it volition be free to play for everyone and I am working with them to make sure your wins and streaks will be preserved."

In a statement, Jonathan Knight, full general manager for The New York Times Games, said that Wordle had "captured our collective imagination, and brought u.s.a. all a little closer together."

"We could not be more thrilled to get the new home and proud stewards of this magical game, and are honored to help bring Josh Wardle's cherished creation to more than solvers in the months ahead," he said.

What does this hateful for Wordle players?

One of the reasons for Wordle's success has been the fact that information technology is free to play via a website and has no advertisements. In that location'southward no app, no in-app purchases and no endeavor to monetize its players — information technology's but an enjoyable way to pass the time each 24-hour interval. Although y'all can play Wordle multiple times per solar day if you know how.

It'south hardly surprising, and so, that news of the buy was instantly greeted with a flurry of negativity on Twitter, with many people seemingly upset at the prospect of the game somewhen moving behind a paywall or being besieged by ads.

"Does anyone here really think the NYT paid millions for this to proceed it costless?" read one tweet, with another claiming that this was the "beginning of the end for Wordle." And there are many more than like those.

Merely is that really likely? For starters, both Wardle and The New York Times take stated that information technology will stay gratis. "When the game moves to The New York Times, Wordle will exist free to play for new and existing players, and no changes will exist fabricated to its gameplay," the paper promised.

That doesn't leave much room for movement — although it's possible the NYT could put it backside a paywall at a later engagement, as the statement could exist interpreted as proverb that it volition be gratuitous when information technology moves, but not explicitly that information technology will be free for ever.

However, it seems more likely to me that the NYT will apply Wordle every bit an opportunity to go more subscribers for other games which are being a paywall. As the NYT's statement puts it: "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 primal part of that strategy."

If more than than ane meg people per mean solar day are visiting NYT Games, in that location'due south a decent risk that some of them will also fancy playing Spelling Bee, completing the crossword or trying Tiles. And it would simply need a pocket-size per centum to sign upwardly at $40/yr for the Times to make its money back from the Wordle purchase.

More probable is that it could get ads. In that location'due south no mention of them in the Times' statement, and other games on the site do have adverts, albeit not particularly intrusive ones.

There's too the question of what would have happened if Wordle hadn't been bought; Wardle had already told The Guardian that "I feel a sense of responsibility for the players. I feel I really owe it to them to continue things running and make sure everything's working correctly."

Without the purchase, and so, it might have been closed down anyway — whereas this way we can keep playing, and that's got to exist a practiced thing. On that front, we've put together some tips to help you become started with Wordle and a list of the best Wordle offset words. And if yous want to attempt something different we also have a list of the all-time Wordle alternatives.

As U.Thou. Editor in Principal on Tom'south Guide, Marc is responsible for the site's U.G.-focused output every bit well as overseeing all gaming, streaming, audio, TV, entertainment, how-to and cameras coverage. He previously edited the tech website Stuff and has tested and written about phones, tablets, wearables, streaming boxes, smart home devices, Bluetooth speakers, games and much more than. He as well spent years on a music magazine, where his duties mainly involved spoiling other people's fun, and on a car mag. An avid photographer, Marc likes nothing improve than taking pictures of very small things (bugs, his daughters) or very large things (distant galaxies). When he gets time, he as well enjoys gaming (console and mobile), cycling and attempting to watch as much sport every bit any human tin (specially cricket).