Meta is internally prototyping a swipe-to-shoot basketball mini-game inside Threads direct messages to increase user retention and competitive engagement, a Meta spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch after code findings surfaced early this month.
How the Unreleased Threads Mini-Game Works
The experimental feature was first identified by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who frequently uncovers unreleased features embedded within social media apps. Screenshots of the prototype indicate a casual arcade-style format where users swipe their screens to shoot hoops, allowing friends to compete for high scores directly inside chat threads.
#Threads is working on a basketball game 🏀 for chats 👀 pic.twitter.com/LGp22SLwRI
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 4, 2026
Gaining a Strategic Advantage Over X and Bluesky
Integrating native interactive mini-games gives Threads a distinct functional differentiator against primary microblogging competitors X and Bluesky, neither of which feature built-in chat games. The move also positions Threads as a direct alternative to messaging platforms like Apple Messages, which relies on third-party integrations such as GamePigeon for in-chat entertainment. Because the basketball game remains an internal prototype, Meta has not confirmed a public release timeline.
Meta’s In-App Gaming Ecosystem Expansion
This prototype reflects Meta’s broader strategy of turning direct messaging into interactive spaces. Last year, Instagram introduced a hidden emoji game within direct messages, where users manipulate a paddle to keep bouncing emojis afloat. The Threads basketball test leverages similar low-friction, high-engagement mechanics designed to prolong conversational interactions.
Rapid Feature Deployments to Boost US Market Share
The game experiment arrives amid a fast-paced feature rollout intended to capture market share from established social networks. Threads recently updated its Communities feature with expanded topic hubs to draw activity from Reddit and X, while also launching 24-hour disappearing posts to encourage casual status sharing.
Although Threads has amassed 400 million monthly active users globally, adoption in the United States continues to lag behind X. According to a Pew Research Center report released a few weeks ago, 21% of U.S. adults report using X, compared to 8% for Threads and 4% for Bluesky.
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