Another popular online guessing game has been purchased by a major media company.

Spotify has bought Heardle, the game where users guess the name of a song after hearing a brief moment of the song’s intro, the music streaming service announced Tuesday.

“We are always looking for innovative and playful ways to enhance music discovery and help artists reach new fans,” Spotify’s Global Head of Music Jeremy Erlich said in a statement. “Heardle has proven to be a really fun way to connect millions of fans with songs they know and love and with new songs ... Since its debut, the game has quickly built a loyal following, and it aligns with our plans to deepen interactivity across the Spotify ecosystem.”

The news comes months after The New York Times announced its own deal to acquire Wordle.

Here’s what to know about Spotify’s purchase of Heardle and what it means for players:

Will Heardle stay free?

Heardle will “remain free to play for everyone,” Spotify said in its Tuesday statement.

Spotify as a whole offers both free and subscription-based plans.

Changes to Heardle

Spotify has pledged that “the look and feel of (Heardle) will stay the same,” but the company will be adding some new features to the game.

Players will have the option now to listen to the full song of the day on Spotify after finishing the game, and Spotify plans to expand the number of languages and countries the game is available in.

“Further down the road, we are also planning to integrate Heardle and other interactive experiences more fully into Spotify to allow music lovers to connect more deeply with artists and challenge friends - and have some fun in the process,” the company’s statement said.

How much did Spotify pay for Heardle?

Spotify has not disclosed how much it paid for Heardle, but precedent indicates the price tag may have been hefty.

In February, The New York Times paid “in the low-seven figures” to buy Wordle.

Heardle alternatives

Although Spotify has said it will limit changes to Heardle, some users still expressed disappointment with the deal on social media.

For those looking for a similar game to try instead, there are plenty of spin-offs available.

Many of the most popular options are focused on music from a particular genre, band or artist, ranging from video game soundtracks to BTS, Taylor Swift and more.

 - TNS