Heardle, the music trivia game in which players try to identify songs based on increasing snippets, has joined Spotify. The acquisition means the game will be available only in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, a press release notes. The game will remain free to play, according to the press release.
After news broke of the acquisition, some players, including the BBC’s music correspondent, reported that their stats had disappeared. Pitchfork has emailed a Spotify representative for comment on the preservation of stats, as well as the game’s international availability.
Heardle became popular off the back of the viral guessing game Wordle, which The New York Times bought early this year. In a daily challenge, players first hear a second of a mystery song and try to name it, before increasing chunks are revealed as the game goes on. Quicker guesses grant higher scores.
Jeremy Erlich, Spotify’s global head of music, said in the press release, “We are always looking for innovative and playful ways to enhance music discovery and help artists reach new fans. Heardle has proven to be a really fun way to connect millions of fans with songs they know and love and with new songs… and a way to compete with their friends as to who has the best musical knowledge. Since its debut, the game has quickly built a loyal following, and it aligns with our plans to deepen interactivity across the Spotify ecosystem.”