Apple News is currently trialing a new game named Quartiles for iOS 17.5. Participants are required to arrange a grid of 20 syllables into 5 four-syllable words. Identified by Gadget Hacks, the Quartiles interface bears a strong resemblance to the popular New York Times game, Connections. Could Apple News have drawn inspiration from the New York Times?
While Quartiles is not an exact replica of Connections, which involves categorizing 16 words into four groups of four, it shares similarities with games like Boggle, where players must form words from individual components. The appeal of identifying groups of four seems to be a trend in modern gaming – Connections has become the Times’ second most popular game, following Wordle.
Image Credits: Gadget Hacks (opens in a new window)
In the past year, Apple introduced crossword puzzles and mini crosswords for Apple News+ subscribers. Although it may seem unconventional for a news aggregator to focus on gaming, the strategy has proven successful for the New York Times. The acquisition of the game Wordle in 2022, for an undisclosed seven-figure amount, brought in “tens of millions” of new users in a single quarter. Recent data from the Times indicates that users are spending more time engaging with its games than consuming news content.
Apple is currently in the beta testing phase for Quartiles, and its inclusion in iOS 17.5 is not guaranteed. Considering the New York Times’ venture into gaming development, it could be a strategic move for Apple to introduce new games, preferably with a square-shaped format.
