The New York Times Games launches multiplayer word game Crossplay

The New York Times Games has released Crossplay, a multiplayer word game available now on iOS and Android. While the game is not a Scrabble clone exactly, it is basically Scrabble. The publisher notes that differences in the game board and rules may have been done for legal reasons. The launch represents an expansion of the publisher’s digital gaming portfolio, offering crossplay functionality that allows users to play with friends and family.

This launch follows a broader strategy to pivot user attention toward gaming. According to ValueAct Capital, a hedge fund that invests in The New York Times, users spent more time in the Games app than the actual News app by the end of 2023. The publisher has supported this shift by focusing on quick, highly shareable games. Jonathan Knight, head of Games at The New York Times, noted that games like Spelling Bee and Wordle succeeded by turning the puzzle-solving experience into a quick, shareable, and mainstream format that respects the user’s time. Knight added that the company wanted players to easily jump into games with friends and family before continuing with their day.

The publisher is leveraging the massive engagement of its existing portfolio to drive adoption for Crossplay. The New York Times began publishing its Crossword puzzle in 1942, but its digital gaming business kicked into high gear in 2022 when it acquired Wordle. According to the publisher, Wordle was played 4.2 billion times in 2025, while Connections was played 1.6 billion times. Wordle creator Josh Wardle previously observed that “people have an appetite for things that transparently don’t want anything from you.” Knight noted that the daily share rate on Wordle has not changed since the acquisition.

To support the new game, the publisher is introducing CrossBot, a feature that analyzes gameplay to evaluate luck and strategy, similar to the existing WordleBot. Crossplay will offer an ad-free experience for subscribers, contrasting with competing word games like Zynga’s Words With Friends, which charges a monthly cost of $10 to remove ads.

Why it matters

The New York Times is successfully diversifying its revenue and user attention away from traditional news, proving that high-engagement, “snackable” digital games can become a core pillar of a legacy media business.