Threads Experiments With In-Message Games as Meta Expands Feature Set

Meta is testing the idea of adding games directly into private conversations on Threads, marking a potential new direction for the relatively young social platform as it looks to differentiate itself from rivals like X and Bluesky.

According to confirmation provided to TechCrunch, Threads is internally prototyping in-message games, starting with a simple basketball game. The feature is not currently available to users and remains in an early development phase. The experiment was first uncovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who shared screenshots showing a game that allows users to shoot virtual basketballs by swiping on the screen, likely competing with others in the same chat.

If launched publicly, in-message games could give Threads a unique advantage in the text-based social networking space. Neither X nor Bluesky currently offer built-in gaming features within direct messages. The move could also position Threads as a closer competitor to Apple’s Messages app, which has long supported casual multiplayer games through third-party integrations such as GamePigeon.

Meta has previously experimented with lightweight games in its messaging ecosystem. Instagram introduced a hidden emoji-based game in direct messages last year, where users control a paddle to keep an emoji bouncing on the screen. That feature, designed as a playful interaction between chat participants, hints at Meta’s broader interest in using games to increase engagement in private conversations.

The Threads prototype comes as Meta continues to rapidly expand the platform’s functionality. Despite Threads’ reported 400 million monthly users, the platform still trails behind X in the U.S. market – and while features like this might seem like small additions, every new gimmick or tool could help to push the platform closer to the top spot, especially given that these in-app games aren’t currently seen in most larger online social platforms.