Scrabble Now Has to Make a Version for Low Vocabulary Gen Z Kids Who Don't Like Word Games or Competition

We’re doomed.

From the New York Post:

For the first time in 75 years, Mattel is making a major change to the iconic board game Scrabble — and touting a “No More Scoring” gameplay option.

The new launch is a double-sided version of the famous board game — one side with the original game for those who want to stick to the long-time traditional version, and one side with a “less competitive” version to appeal to Gen Z gamers.

The flip side of the classic game, called Scrabble Together, will include helper cards, use a simpler scoring system, be quicker to play and allow people to play in teams.

“The makers of Scrabble found that younger people, Gen Z people, don’t quite like the competitive nature of Scrabble,” Gyles Brandreth, who co-hosts the language podcast Something Rhymes With Purple, told BBC Radio 4 Today. “They want a game where you can simply enjoy language, words, being together and having fun creating words.”

…“Scrabble has truly stood the test of time as one of the most popular board games in history, and we want to ensure the game continues to be inclusive for all players,” Ray Adler, vice president, global head of games for Mattel, said in a statement to The Post. “For anyone who’s ever thought ‘word games aren’t for me’, or felt a little intimidated by the classic game, Scrabble Together mode is an ideal option.” “Scrabble Together Mode continues to celebrate the wonder of words just as the Classic version does, but thanks to its exciting new co-operative and dynamic gameplay, it’s more accessible and brings people together.”

I understand that young adults that got participation trophies for aimlessly running around soccer fields as children might want a “no more scoring” option, but creating words in Scrabble? That’s like saying pigs are kosher or that you can score a run by reaching 3rd base*. I’m not an active Scrabble player but that strikes me as heresy.

I wonder if this has anything to do with ESG and DEI. After all, Mattel managed to include the buzzword of all buzzwords “inclusive”.

All is not lost, though. This is Mattel’s version of the classic game that they will be rolling out in Europe. Hasbro owns the rights to the game in North America and that company has said they have “no plans” to alter the original version of the game.

By the way, if you think Scrabble For Stupid and Lazy People is a bad idea, wait till you see what our self-anointed betters have done to high school debate.

*Don’t get me started on that stupid MLB rule that puts a runner on 2nd base at the start of each team’s at bat in extra innings - not only does that sound like Tee-Ball to me, it undoubtedly takes away home field advantage by almost assuring that the runner will score at the top of the 10th, putting the home team in the position of having to score not to win, but to just not to lose.