The Wordle Archive has been shut down at the request of The New York Times, following NYT’s recent acquisition of Wordle. Wordle went viral in 2022, climbing in popularity due to its ease of access and its social-friendly way to share results, and the Wordle Archive allowed fans to access the complete backlog of Wordle puzzles.
Wordle took the world by storm earlier this year, and its creator, Josh Wardle, worked to keep the game free for everyone, choosing not to monetize the release despite the potentially huge amount of profit that this could have led to. Following on from the game’s viral success, Wordle was purchased by The New York Times in late January 2022. While the title still remains free for its many players, the purchase sparked fears that Wordle may be paywalled in the future, with lots of fans unhappy about the NYT purchase.
As of March 8, those looking to access older puzzles through Metzger Media’s Wordle Archive will no longer have the option, as the site has been taken down at the request of The New York Times (via Game Rant). Those looking to access Wordle Archive will be greeted with a “Thanks for playing” message, stating that “the New York Times has requested that the Wordle Archive be taken down.” Players who may have wanted to access the extensive backlog of daily puzzles, which date back to the first Wordle published on 19 June 2021, are now unable to do so. The website now suggests players try out Metzger Media’s own game, Word Grid, instead.
The news has been met with backlash from Wordle fans, many of whom were already displeased with the NYT purchase. Along with paywall fears, there have been other concerns about the game’s new home. Following the buy-out, as Wordle moved over to The New York Times website, lots of players found their streak scores had been reset, leading many to abandon the game altogether. While a fix was quickly implemented, it seems plenty of fans are already turning their backs on Wordle.
Although the closure of Wordle Archive may come as a disappointment for fans who are new to Wordle and wanted to dive further into its archive, there’s no shortage of alternatives to the original Wordle. The game’s success has seen a number of clone releases, many of which offer new gameplay elements or themed content, including the infamously NSFW word puzzle Lewdle, for those Wordle fans who prefer their puzzles on the more explicit side.
Source: Wordle Archive (via Game Rant)