Wordle is set to have a TV show on NBC, and it already seems like a betrayal.

      Every morning, millions of individuals engage with Wordle, gazing at a blank grid, and immersing themselves in a personal challenge with five letters for a few reflective moments.

      There’s no host narrating your moves, no studio audience gasping at a poor guess, and absolutely nobody cheering for you. It’s just you, the word, and the gratifying feeling of solving it in three tries or fewer.

      However, The New York Times aims to transform this experience by introducing it to NBC's primetime lineup. Wordle will be turned into a game show, hosted by Today anchor Savannah Guthrie and produced by Jimmy Fallon, with filming set to begin this summer and a planned air date in 2027 (via BBC).

      But what can we expect from the Wordle TV show?

      Getty Images

      Information remains scarce, but it is known that the show will be described as “fast-paced” and a “great family game.” Filming will take place in Manchester, England, and it will feature Wordle’s distinctive typeface and color scheme.

      For The New York Times, this represents a first. The organization has never collaborated with a broadcasting network for a primetime entertainment show before. This decision also signals the company’s direction moving forward.

      The Games division, which includes Wordle, the Crossword, and Spelling Bee, has emerged as one of its most popular offerings, with users solving over 11 billion puzzles across all NYT games last year alone. Transforming Wordle into a television franchise makes financial sense, though the creative implications remain uncertain.

      As a long-time Wordle player, this announcement feels like a setback.

      Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

      The charm of Wordle lies in its routine. You play it once daily, the same word as everyone else, and then you share your little green and yellow squares with your group chat. That’s the entire essence, and this simplicity is precisely what makes it appealing.

      A neuroscientist once noted that people have an impressive ability to detect when something online is crafted to keep them engaged, push sales, or subtly monetize their attention. Wordle’s calm demeanor, devoid of ads, push notifications, and featuring a straightforward website, is a significant factor in its success.

      Josh Wardle, the software engineer who created the original game, stated that Wordle illustrated that the internet could focus on more than just profit. A primetime NBC game show with an audience, a celebrity host, and cash rewards strays far from that original ethos.

      The show might prove entertaining for many, as Guthrie is an avid Wordle fan, and Fallon knows how to engage an audience. However, the version of Wordle set to appear on your television next year may differ significantly from the one you cherished during your morning coffee routine. That version was always meant solely for you.