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Threads is developing in-message games
Threads is developing an in-message basketball game, confirmed by Meta. The prototype, discovered by Alessandro Paluzzi, allows users to compete by shooting virtual hoops. This move aims to give Threads an edge over competitors like X and Bluesky, despite Threads' current user base lagging behind. Previous attempts at in-message games were made through Instagram's DMs. Official rollout details are yet unknown.
Key points
- Threads is designing an internal prototype for a basketball game in chats.
- Meta has confirmed the game is not publicly available yet.
- Alessandro Paluzzi highlighted the game through a screenshot.
- The game allows users to score points by virtually shooting hoops.
- This feature aims to enhance user interaction among friends.
- Introducing in-message games may position Threads advantageously against X and Bluesky, which lack this capability.
- Meta's history includes a hidden emoji game in Instagram DMs.
- Threads recently enhanced its Communities feature to attract users from Reddit and X.
- Despite having 400 million monthly users, Threads is less popular than X, which has a 21% usage rate among U.S. adults.
Why it matters
- In-message gaming is a growing trend in communication platforms.
- Meta's gaming features could align Threads more closely with user engagement strategies seen in competitive messaging apps.
- The introduction of games may help Platforms retain engagement in light of user migration trends observed from other platforms.
- Similar gaming features in competitive platforms reflect a broader shift towards integrating gaming into social interactions.
The development of in-message games in Threads marks a strategic move by Meta to enhance user engagement and compete more effectively with existing platforms, highlighting the importance of interactive features in current social media trends.