Meta Tests Threads Basketball Game Prototype to Boost Engagement

Tired of just typing? Meta's bringing hoops to your DMs. The company is currently exploring in-chat gaming for Threads, starting with a basketball game. A spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that they're internally prototyping the feature, though it's not yet available to the public. It's a clear signal that the platform wants to be more than just a place for microblogging.

Inside the Threads Basketball Game Prototype

The feature was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who shared screenshots of the unreleased game. The gameplay appears straightforward: users swipe their fingers to shoot virtual hoops within a chat window. It's designed for friends to compete for the highest score, mirroring the addictive simplicity of Instagram's previous hidden emoji games. This move aims to foster deeper social connections through lighthearted competition.

Gamification: A Weapon Against X and Bluesky

By launching built-in games, Threads gains a functional edge over rivals like X and Bluesky, which currently lack native gaming features. According to Pew Research Center, while X is used by 21% of U.S. adults, Threads sits at just 8%. Despite boasting 400 million monthly global users, Meta needs these "sticky" features to close the gap in the U.S. market and increase the time spent on the app.