Wordle was originally designed as a gift for Wardle's partner, Palak Shah, and was supposed to be shared only between them.
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The Brooklyn-based developer Josh Wardle announced Monday afternoon that Wordle, the addictive five-letter puzzle craze of this year, had been acquired by The New York Times for “an undisclosed fee in the low seven figures.”
The “Wheel of Fortune”-style online game, in which players are given six guesses each day to choose a new word, will be moved to the paper’s website and will allegedly stay free to play.
Also Read: How To Play Wordle, Hints, Tips And Tricks
Wardle expressed his delight with the move, saying, “The game has gone bigger than I imagined.” There was no timeframe for the switchover.
Wardle stated in his social media statement, “I’d be lying if I said [running Wordle] hasn’t been a touch overwhelming.”
According to an interview Wardle did with the New York Times earlier this month, Wordle was originally designed as a gift for Wardle’s partner, Palak Shah, and was supposed to be shared only between them.
“It’s not trying to do anything shady with your data or your eyeballs. It’s just a game that’s fun,” Wardle said about its innocent origins.
“After all, I am just one person, and it is important to me that, as Wordle grows, it continues to provide a great experience to everyone,” he added in his Twitter announcement, noting a concerted effort will be made “to make sure [players’] wins and streaks will be preserved” through the transition.
Wardle, who named the game after his own namesake, also reflected on how five simple letters a day have impacted millions of people around the world.
Also Read: Who Is Josh Wardle, Creator of Wordle, Bio, Age, Wife, Why Wordle Was Created? Wardle Net Worth
“It has been incredible to watch a game bring so much joy to so many, and I feel so grateful for the personal stories some of you have shared with me — from Wordle uniting distant family members, to provoking friendly rivalries, to supporting medical recoveries,” he wrote.
Jonathan Knight, the New York Times’ games general manager, said his team is “proud to help bring Mr. Wardle’s cherished brainchild to more solvers in the months ahead” after the announcement.
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