Meta’s messaging app Threads is exploring in-message games, starting with a basketball game prototype. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the internal development, which is not yet accessible to the public. The game, discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, allows users to virtually shoot hoops by swiping their finger, fostering friendly competition among friends. This move could position Threads ahead of rivals like X and Bluesky, which currently lack integrated games, and potentially strengthen its competitiveness against Apple’s Messages, which relies on third-party apps for gaming.
Meta’s exploration of in-message gaming is not new, with Instagram having introduced a hidden emoji game in direct messages last year. Threads’ strategic enhancements, including expanding its Communities feature and introducing disappearing posts, aim to attract users from platforms like Reddit and X. These initiatives align with Meta’s broader strategy to enhance Threads with engaging features and maintain competitiveness in the messaging space.
Source: TechCrunch