#NYTBuysWordle
New York Times acquired viral game for undisclosed “seven figures.”
Origin & Impact
On January 31, 2022, NYT bought Wordle from creator Josh Wardle for over $1 million. The hashtag mixed celebration for Wardle’s success with anxiety that NYT would ruin it with paywalls or ads. Users screenshot their streaks fearing loss of progress.
The acquisition proved mostly benign - Wordle remained free (for now) and integrated into NYT Games. It showed how viral hits could still cash out and newspapers could buy cultural relevance. Wardle’s story of creating game for his partner resonated.
Related Hashtags
#Wordle #NYTimes #Acquisitions