Spotify buys musical guessing game Heardle

The online game is inspired by Wordle and challenges users to guess a song after only hearing a second of it

When Wordle was purchased by The New York Times for seven figures earlier this year, many users were concerned for the future of the free online game. A similar discussion has been ignited this week, after it was announced that Spotify would be buying Wordle’s musical spin-off, Heardle, for an undisclosed sum.

Heardle invites players to guess what song they’re listening to after only being played a second of it. There are six rounds, with players being fed a little more of the song after each one. Similar to Wordle, the earlier you beat the game, the more bragging rights you have. Where players were then linked to the correct track, they will now be redirected to Spotify to listen to it on the streaming giant.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spotify (@spotify)

The New York Times takeover of Wordle doesn’t seem to have affected the functioning of the game or its free-to-play status, but concerns have still been raised on social media over Spotify’s latest acquisition. The company have, however, assured players that “the look and feel of the game will stay the same and it’ll remain free to play for everyone.”

“We are always looking for innovative and playful ways to enhance music discovery and help artists reach new fans,” said Jeremy Erlich, Spotify’s global head of music. “Since its debut, the game has quickly built a loyal following, and it aligns with our plans to deepen interactivity across the Spotify ecosystem.”