The New York Times has acquired Wordle, a famous online game that rose to prominence almost overnight.

The move emphasizes the importance of the company’s games division, which includes crossword puzzles and the Spelling Bee, in attracting new customers.

“The Times is committed to becoming the necessary subscription for anybody who wants to understand and connect with the world in English.” The New York Times Games are an important component of that approach, according to the corporation. The firm had around 980,000 Games subscriptions at the end of the third quarter.

Every day, Wordle, which was founded by software programmer Josh Wardle in October 2021, provides participants six chances to identify a five-letter surprise word. People began sharing their rankings in the format of emojis early this month, and the game quickly became a cultural phenomenon. According to the New York Times, just 90 people participated in the game on November 1. As of mid-January, over 300,000 individuals were playing. The figure has now surpassed a million.

The New York Times revealed in a statement that it paid a low-seven sum for Wordle. Wordle will be 100 % free for both new and existing users, according to the business. It also said that there will be no modifications to the game’s gameplay.

Wardle stated that he was working with the firm to guarantee that consumers’ victories and streaks were saved in a message posted to social media.