Meta tests Threads update that brings games into chats
Threads tests in-chat games, starting with a basketball prototype (photo: Getty Images)
Threads is exploring the possibility of launching games directly within chats, starting with a basketball game. A Meta spokesperson said the company is developing an internal game prototype, which is not yet available to users, according to TechCrunch.
In-chat games may appear on Threads
The game was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who is known for uncovering unannounced features at early stages of development.
Paluzzi shared a screenshot of a basketball game. Based on the image, users will likely be able to virtually shoot balls into a hoop by swiping on the screen. The main idea of the game is to let friends compete to score the most points, similar to other mobile basketball games.
Launching games directly inside messages could give Threads an advantage over competitors such as X (Twitter) and Bluesky, which do not offer built-in games. It could also help the platform compete with Apple Messages, where games are available through third-party apps like GamePigeon.
As with any internal prototype, it remains unclear when or whether in-chat games will be officially released on Threads.
#Threads is working on a basketball game for chats pic.twitter.com/LGp22SLwRI
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 4, 2026
Prototypes amid Threads feature expansion
It is worth noting that this is not Meta’s first experiment with in-message games. Last year, Instagram launched a hidden emoji game in Direct. The concept involved moving a paddle at the bottom of the screen to keep a chosen emoji in the air. If the emoji fell, the player lost. The main goal was to beat the score of another chat participant.
The prototype appears amid ongoing expansions of Threads’ functionality, aimed at competing with other platforms. For example, the service recently expanded its Communities feature by adding more topics to attract users from Reddit and X.
Additionally, a disappearing posts feature was introduced, allowing users to share thoughts and engage in conversations that are automatically archived after 24 hours.
