Zynga launches revamped 'Words With Friends'
Having completed a reboot of flagship franchise FarmVille, Zynga is overhauling its other big social gaming hit Words With Friends.
The company launched a new version of Words With Friends for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms, five years after the popular Zynga title made its debut.
Since first launching in 2009, Words With Friends — a Scrabble-like word puzzle game with a significant social component — is currently the all-time top free game on Apple's App Store, with players participating in 7.7 billion games.
For the franchise's revamp, Zynga took a "player-centric approach," says Jonathan Knight, Zynga's Vice President of Games.
"We want more ways to play," says Knight. "They want the game to match their lifestyle. Mobile habits are changing. People want to play on their own schedule at any time."
The most requested feature appearing in the new Words With Friends is Solo Play, giving players a computer-controlled opponent that adjusts its skill level based on the player's performance. The mode also won't require an Internet connection.
Players can jump into Community Matches, more personalized contests where they can search for the ideal opponent, a Dictionary and Word of the Day to bolster their vocabulary. Players will also have access to a personal profile and deep details on their game stats, from wins and losses to the number of unique words they've played.
Words With Friends also sports a fresh design that's "sleeker and smarter," says Vaibhav Sahgal, the game's general manager. "This is part of our design pillar, to get users to feel smart."
The overhaul of Words With Friends is part of a major shift at Zynga, which launched a series of new experiences under CEO Don Mattrick, who took over last year.
Following the April revival of FarmVille for mobile, Zynga launched NFL Showdown, a pro football manager game where players build a roster and guide it to a Super Bowl. The social games company also struck partnerships with Warner Bros. on a Looney Tunes themed running game and a golf game starring Tiger Woods.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.