Threads Experiments with Games Inside Chats
Meta’s messaging platform, Threads, is testing in-message games, starting with a basketball-themed prototype. A Meta spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature is currently internal and not publicly available.
First Look at the Basketball Game
Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, known for uncovering unreleased features, spotted the game and shared a screenshot. The basketball game appears to let users virtually shoot hoops by swiping their fingers. The goal seems to be friendly competition, letting users see who can score the most baskets—similar to other mobile basketball games.
Competitive Edge for Threads
Introducing games directly in messages could give Threads a unique advantage over rivals like X and Bluesky, which do not currently offer built-in games. It could also help Threads compete with Apple’s Messages, which allows gaming via third-party apps like GamePigeon.
As with any internal experiment, it remains unclear when—or if—Meta plans to officially launch games in Threads.
Meta’s Previous Forays into In-Message Gaming
This isn’t Meta’s first attempt at in-message gaming. Last year, Instagram introduced a hidden emoji game in DMs. In that game, users move a paddle with their finger to keep an emoji afloat, competing to achieve the highest score without letting it fall.
Expanding Threads Features
The basketball prototype comes as Meta continues adding new features to Threads. The platform recently expanded its Communities feature to include more topics, a move likely designed to attract users from platforms like Reddit and X. Additionally, a “disappearing posts” feature allows users to share thoughts and conversations that automatically archive after 24 hours.
User Growth and Market Position
Threads currently has 400 million monthly users, but it still trails behind X in the U.S. According to a Pew Research Center report released recently, 21% of U.S. adults said they use X, compared with only 8% who use Threads, and 4% who use Bluesky.
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