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5h ago

NYT Puts Mini Crossword Behind Paywall After a Decade of Free Play

The move reflects the Times’ push to monetize its expanding Games portfolio through a mix of free and paid titles.

The New York Times building is seen in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 3, 2020.
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Overview

  • The Mini became subscriber-only on Aug. 27, with the paywall live on the web and inconsistently appearing in the app, after years of free access.
  • The New York Times says it now offers about 10 distinct puzzles and will keep testing which games remain free versus subscriber-only as it refines its strategy.
  • Wordle, Connections, Strands and Sudoku remain free to play for all users, according to an NYT spokesperson.
  • NYT Games access is priced at $6 per month or $50 per year, with coverage noting a limited-time $18 annual promotion.
  • The unannounced shift prompted swift backlash on social media, while reports highlighted workarounds such as library-provided NYT access and rival outlets’ mini crosswords.