Meta has quietly entered the AI-powered gaming space with a new app called Pocket, which allows everyday users to build small interactive apps and games simply by describing what they want to an AI system. There was no formal launch event or press release — the app simply appeared on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store without any fanfare, catching most people off guard, as atechvibe first noted while tracking the listing.
Pocket has users create AI generated experiences by typing a prompt describing the game or app they want. Pocket has users create a game by describing a game in a prompt with no coding necessary. Pocket has a built in discovery feed allowing users to scroll and select other users creations allowing them to play and try out other games with an experience more similar to a short video than a traditional app store.
Pocket comes from Meta’s acquisition of Gizmo, a coding platform and app that allowed users to create games by describing them with a short prompt. Gizmo’s original app is still available and the discovery feed, prompt to game creation, and the look and feel are all the same in Pocket as they were in Gizmo.
No statements have been made by Meta regarding the spotting of their application. Alessandro Paluzzi, known for revealing features and applications before official announcements, was the first to spot the app. He posted images of the app’s Play Store listing on X and was the initial source for the app’s announcement. His post attracted multiple tech media outlets, including atechvibe. These media outlets performed investigations into the app and its origins.
Information given by Appfigures, an app analytics and app tracking company, claims that Pocket was first published to the App Store and the Google Play Store before its public sighting on June 29. Since Pocket is a new application, Appfigures shared that they do not have estimations for download and install data. Regarding the app, its release, and its relation to Gizmo, Meta has not responded to the numerous outlets attempting to contact them.
For the last year, a trend has been developing in the Meta app lineup, and Pocket is a new addition to that trend. More and more generative AI tools for consumers have been pushed by Meta. Image generation using AI is offered in the Meta AI app. Earlier this year, apps for AI video generation were released by Meta, one of which was called Vibes. Edits, Meta’s video editing tool for creators, has AI-integrated features. According to atechvibe, Pocket showcases Meta’s explorations into a new field of AI, gaming.
Although Meta has not announced Pocket, it is safe to say that the app is still in the soft-launch or early testing stages. Some evidence shows the app has potential. Gizmo, the platform that hosts Pocket, was reportedly very popular, having gained over 600,000 installs combined across iOS and Android and having reported extremely high user satisfaction. Appfigures reported Gizmo user satisfaction was around 98% positive sentiment score. Gizmo also had very positive user satisfaction survey results.
