One of 2022's biggest gaming crazes has taken the unexpected form of a word puzzle. Titled Wordle, the game has players around the world trying to guess a daily five-letter word in six tries or fewer. Wordle does tell players when the word they have guessed has the correct letters and whether the letters are in the right place, but it can still be a mind-bending exercise and a good way to get the brain cells firing in the morning. Despite the frustration it can evoke, Wordle has quickly managed to amass millions of daily players, and it has become an internet phenomenon.
Wordle is currently a free game, but things may change in the future since The New York Times has announced that it has acquired the game from its creator, Josh Wardle. The New York Times is an American daily newspaper, and although the site has a high readership, it is paywalled behind a subscription fee. While the purchase may seem odd to some, it falls into 2022's pattern of companies buying up games and studios in hopes of cashing in on their skyrocketing popularity.
The New York Times Buys Wordle
Wardle is a Brooklyn-based software engineer who once worked for Reddit. He first made Wordle public in October 2021, and it did not take long before it spread like wildfire. The popularity of the game is catalyzed by the fact that players can share their daily results online without spoiling the answers, allowing players to brag about how well they did while encouraging their friends to try and do better.
According to The New York Times, the acquisition was made for a price in the low seven figures, and it is part of the newspaper's plan to increase its subscriber count to 10 million by 2025 through focusing on games such as crosswords. Although the game will initially remain free to new and existing players, there has been no confirmation whether it will remain free or whether it will become exclusive to The New York Times subscribers.
The New York Times Follows a Common Strategy in 2022
It seems as though The New York Times recognizes the ability of games to draw customers to its platform. It has been reported that in 2021 alone, its games - which include crosswords and Spelling Bee - were played more than 500 million times by its subscribers. Sony and Microsoft understand this very well, too, which is why they have been on a prolific buying spree in 2022.
In January, there have been announcements of historic acquisitions within gaming. Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring Activision Blizzard for close to $69 billion, and should the acquisition go through, Microsoft will be the third-biggest gaming company by revenue, placing it behind only Tencent and Sony. The acquisition will also mean that several iconic gaming franchises will now fall under Microsoft's umbrella, including Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.
Sony has also been busy, which has led to the recent announcement of the company's planned acquisition of Bungie for $3.6 billion. The acquisition is a noteworthy one, as Bungie is responsible for the online first-person shooters Destiny and Destiny 2. Sony has stated that Bungie will remain "an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher," which suggests that gamers should not have to worry about Destiny becoming an exclusive franchise.
A Consolidation of Power
For some, this paints a bleak picture where the gaming studios of the world are all owned by a few powerhouses, and there is evidence that this may be the future awaiting gamers. Jim Ryan, who is president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has stated that the Bungie acquisition is not the last, and gamers "should absolutely expect more." This consolidation of power may not be a good thing for gamers, as it could reduce the innovation that comes with competition and increase the rift between platforms if exclusives become more plentiful.
Gamers enjoying Wordle should do so now while it is still guaranteed to be free. With The New York Times' acquisition of the game, it has the opportunity to improve drastically. However, there is also the possibility that it becomes an exclusive product available to subscribers only.
Wordle is available now on the web.