Home / Gaming

Photo of smartphone, tablet, television
Image: via helios-i.mashable.com
Gaming

Wordle's Creator Takes Down Archive Amidst Growing Popularity

WireByte Staff · June 19, 2026

Wordle's creator Josh Wardle has taken down the entire archive of past Wordle puzzles, citing a request from the New York Times, which acquired the game. The decision has sparked debate among fans, who had grown accustomed to replaying and analyzing past puzzles.

Key points

  • Josh Wardle, the creator of Wordle, has removed the archive of past puzzles from the website.
  • The decision was made at the request of the New York Times, which acquired Wordle in 2022.
  • Fans had grown accustomed to replaying and analyzing past puzzles, but the archive is now inaccessible.
  • The move has sparked debate among fans, with some expressing disappointment and others understanding the decision.
  • Wordle has become a global phenomenon, with thousands of players worldwide, and its popularity continues to grow.

Wordle, the popular online word-guessing game, has been a staple of many people's daily routines. Created by Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, the game has since become a global phenomenon, with thousands of players worldwide. However, in a move that has sparked debate among fans, Wardle has taken down the entire archive of past Wordle puzzles.

The decision was made at the request of the New York Times, which acquired Wordle in 2022. While some fans have expressed disappointment at the loss of the archive, others understand the decision, citing concerns about the potential for cheating and the impact on the game's integrity.

Wordle's popularity continues to grow, with fans creating their own variations of the game, such as Squabble and Heardle. The game has also become a staple of social media, with many players sharing their results and strategies online. Despite the controversy surrounding the archive, Wordle remains a beloved game, and its creator's decision to remove the archive has sparked a wider conversation about the game's future and its impact on the gaming community.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.