WORDLE has quickly become a gaming phenomenon and has been played by millions of people across the world.
But while some people have been enjoying the viral virtual brain teaser, sleuths are interested to know who the creator is and which company owns the game’s rights.
Who invented Wordle?
Wordle was created by software engineer and former Reddit employee, Josh Wardle, and was launched in October 2021.
The title of the internet word game is a pun on Wardle’s last name, hence Wordle.
The inventor initially devised the game during lockdown for himself and his wife, but it’s now been played by more than three million players worldwide.
Taking to Twitter, Wardle said he has been “overwhelmed” by the response he has received for his work.
He said: “It has been incredible to watch the 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.
“On the flip side, I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t been overwhelming.
“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.”
Who owns Wordle?
On January 31, 2022, the game creator sold his popular brain teaser to The New York Times for an undisclosed amount.
Both parties broke the news on the date of the transaction.
On Monday, January 31, Josh Wardle posted a statement regarding the acquisition from The New York Times to his Twitter page.
Wardle said: “I am incredibly pleased to announce that I’ve reached an agreement with The New York Times for them to take over running Wordle going forward.”
The Wordle inventor continued: “If you’ve followed along with the story of Wordle, you’ll know that NYT games play a big part in it’s origins and so this step feels very natural to me.”
What is Wordle?
Wordle challenges players to find a five-letter word in six guesses.
Due to all players solving the same puzzle, there’s a way to directly compare yourself to other users.
Trying to guess a five-letter word without help would be pretty difficult, Wordle helps its players with a color coded system.
Once you guess a word, the letters of your guess will either turn green, yellow, or gray.
If the letter is green, that letter is in the word and is in the correct spot.
If it’s yellow, that letter is in the word but it is not in the correct spot.
If the letter is gray, the letter does not appear at all within the day’s word.
It’s a creative way to help guide players to the right word while also not giving it away.
Users can also turn on hard mode, which forces players to use the hints they’re given, stopping them from guessing words at random.
The game is available to play online.
