Earlier today it was revealed that popular online game Wordle had sold to the New York Times for more than £1 million, sparking concerns it could soon be hidden behind a paywall.
The game offers users six chances to guess a different five letter word every single day, before giving players the chance to show off their daily score on Twitter.
Wordle has become increasingly popular over the last few weeks, but it started with humble beginnings. Software engineer Josh Wardle created the game to keep he and his partner entertained during lockdown, but he confessed in recent months it has been "overwhelming" to run.
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Earlier today, he announced he'd decided to sell the game to New York Times, and while most players are happy he's receiving the compensation he deserves, others are now threatening to boycott the game if it is hidden beneath the publication's paywall.
The NYT has said "the game would initially remain free to new and existing players," however the publication currently provides games including Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Tiles and Vertex, which are behind a paywall.
"If you thought Spotify was bad... Time to cancel the the New York Times… buying a free game and monetising it?… That's capitalism at its most violent. Time to boycott Wordle, #wordless," one furious player tweeted.
Another added: "I presume the NY Times knows we will all have to boycott it if Wordle should not continue to be free for everyone to play and without adverts or commerce sullying it…"
"Everyone better boycott Wordle if it stops being free," a third wrote. "It's only popular because it's accessible to literally everyone."
Taking to Twitter following news of the takeover, Wardle said: "Since launching Wordle, I have been in awe of the response of everyone that has played. The game has gotten bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn't that much of a feat given I made the game for an audience of one).
"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.
"Given this, 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."
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