TL;DR
Meta is internally prototyping an in-chat basketball game for Threads that was spotted by a reverse engineer. The feature is not public, and its release timeline or broader plans for games on Threads remain unclear.
What happened
Researchers and app sleuths recently revealed that Threads is experimenting with a small in-message game, starting with a basketball mechanic that appears to let users swipe to take shots. A Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch the feature is an internal prototype and not yet available to users. The discovery came via a screenshot shared by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who frequently surfaces unreleased app elements. The concept would let people in a conversation compete on score, similar to casual mobile basketball titles. Meta has previously trialed brief games inside messaging — for example, a hidden emoji paddle game in Instagram DMs last year — and continues to add features to Threads, such as expanded Communities and a 24-hour disappearing-posts option. Whether and when Meta will launch the basketball game broadly, or expand to other titles, has not been announced.
Why it matters
- In-message games could increase user engagement by giving people interactive reasons to spend time in chats rather than only broadcasting posts.
- Built-in games would differentiate Threads from rivals like X and Bluesky, which lack native chat games.
- Adding casual games could help Threads compete with messaging platforms that support games through apps or plugins, such as Apple’s Messages.
- Meta’s prior experiments with DM games suggest this is part of an ongoing strategy to layer more interactive features into its social products.
Key facts
- A screenshot of the basketball prototype was shared publicly by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi.
- Meta confirmed to TechCrunch that the basketball game is being prototyped internally and is not available to the public.
- The game appears to let users swipe to shoot hoops and likely supports competitive scoring between chat participants.
- Instagram previously included a hidden emoji paddle game in direct messages, demonstrating Meta’s past in-message experiments.
- Threads recently expanded its Communities feature and added a disappearing-posts option that archives content after 24 hours.
- Threads reports about 400 million monthly users, per information referenced in the reporting.
- A Pew Research Center report cited in the coverage found 21% of U.S. adults said they used X, while 8% said they used Threads and 4% used Bluesky.
What to watch next
- When or if Meta will make the basketball game available to Threads users — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Meta will introduce leaderboards, multiplayer matchmaking, or cross-user scoreboards for in-chat games — not confirmed in the source.
- If Threads expands beyond a single basketball prototype to a broader catalog of in-message games — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- In-message games: Small interactive games that people can play inside a chat or direct-message thread without leaving the messaging interface.
- Prototype: An early, internal version of a feature used to test concepts and gather feedback before any public release.
- Reverse engineer: A researcher or developer who inspects app files or behavior to uncover unreleased features and functionality.
- Disappearing posts: Content that is automatically archived or removed after a set period, such as 24 hours, reducing its long-term visibility.
Reader FAQ
Is the basketball game available to Threads users now?
No. Meta confirmed the game is an internal prototype and it is not publicly available.
Who first found evidence of the game?
Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi shared a screenshot showing the prototype.
Will Threads add more games beyond basketball?
Not confirmed in the source.
Could this give Threads an advantage over competitors?
Potentially — built-in chat games could differentiate Threads from platforms that lack native messaging games.
Threads is exploring games in chats, beginning with a basketball game. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed to TechCrunch that the company is internally prototyping the game and that it’s not…
Sources
- Threads is developing in-message games
- Threads is working on introducing games that can be …
- Your 'dear algo' Threads posts might actually do something …
- Meta tests live scores on Threads, starting with NBA games.
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