Apple News Tests New Word Game Called Quartiles
Apple is expanding its gaming footprint within the Apple News+ ecosystem. A new word-based puzzle game, currently titled Quartiles, has been discovered by Gadget Hacks hidden inside the beta code for iOS 17.5.
The mechanics of Quartiles task players with organizing a grid of 20 distinct syllables to form five separate four-syllable words. While its visual presentation draws immediate comparisons to the popular New York Times game Connections, the gameplay itself functions more similarly to Boggle, focusing on the assembly of linguistic components rather than categorical sorting.
The Strategy Behind News Gaming
The inclusion of Quartiles follows Apple’s introduction of crossword puzzles to its subscription service last year. This move mirrors the successful strategy employed by the New York Times, which has effectively transformed its news app into a destination for daily gaming.
The impact of this shift is evident in the Times’ own metrics:
- The acquisition of Wordle in 2022 for an undisclosed seven-figure sum resulted in “tens of millions” of new users within a single quarter.
- Recent data indicates that subscribers are now spending more time interacting with the Times’ games than reading news articles.
While the presence of Quartiles in the iOS 17.5 beta does not guarantee a public release, the move highlights Apple’s intent to increase time-spent metrics within the News app. By adopting the “square-shaped” puzzle format that has proven addictive for audiences elsewhere, Apple aims to secure a more consistent daily habit among its News+ subscribers.