Threads, Meta’s fast-growing social platform, is experimenting with a new feature that could add a playful twist to private conversations: in-message games.
The company is internally prototyping games within Threads chats, starting with a simple basketball game. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the development to TechCrunch, noting that the feature remains an internal test and is not yet available to the public.
The prototype was first uncovered by well-known reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who frequently spots unreleased features during development. Screenshots shared by Paluzzi show a basketball-style game that allows users to swipe their finger to shoot virtual hoops. The concept appears designed to let people in a chat compete against one another, tracking who can score the most baskets, much like casual mobile basketball games already popular on smartphones.
If launched, in-message games could give Threads a meaningful edge over rival platforms such as X and Bluesky, neither of which currently offers built-in gaming features within chats. It could also position Threads more competitively against Apple’s Messages app, which supports multiplayer games through third-party integrations like GamePigeon.
For Meta, the idea of games inside messaging experiences is not entirely new. In 2025, Instagram quietly introduced a hidden emoji-based game in direct messages. In that game, users move a paddle at the bottom of the screen to keep an emoji bouncing in the air for as long as possible, competing with the other person in the chat for a higher score. The experiment suggested Meta’s interest in using lightweight games to increase engagement and time spent within its apps.
The Threads gaming prototype appears to follow the same philosophy: low-friction, casual entertainment designed to deepen social interaction rather than turn the platform into a full-fledged gaming hub. Such features can encourage users to return to conversations more frequently, transforming chats from purely communicative spaces into interactive ones.
However, as with many internal prototypes, there is no guarantee the feature will ever reach users. Meta has not shared a timeline for a potential rollout, and the company has a long history of testing features internally that never make it into production. Still, the emergence of the prototype highlights Meta’s broader strategy to rapidly evolve Threads as it seeks to challenge more established social platforms.
Since its launch, Threads has steadily added new features aimed at closing functional gaps with competitors. The platform recently expanded its Communities feature by introducing more discussion topics, a move widely seen as an attempt to attract users who currently rely on Reddit or X for topical conversations. Threads has also rolled out “disappearing posts,” which automatically archive after 24 hours, catering to users who prefer more ephemeral interactions.
These updates come as Threads continues to grow its global user base. The platform now boasts around 400 million monthly active users, underscoring strong adoption less than two years after launch. Despite this growth, Threads still lags behind X in key markets such as the United States. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, 21% of U.S. adults say they have used X, compared to just 8% for Threads and 4% for Bluesky.
By experimenting with features like in-message games, Meta appears to be searching for new ways to differentiate Threads and strengthen user engagement, particularly among younger audiences accustomed to interactive and gamified digital experiences. Whether the basketball game — or any future chat-based games — will become a permanent feature remains uncertain, but the prototype signals that Meta is willing to push beyond traditional social networking mechanics in its bid to make Threads more compelling.
As competition intensifies across social platforms, small features that enhance everyday interactions could play an outsized role in determining where users choose to spend their time. For Threads, in-message games may be one such bet.
