Meta quietly soft launches Pocket, its take on an AI-powered ‘TikTok for games’
Meta has quietly launched Pocket, a mobile app that enables users to create and share short-form interactive games and experiences using generative AI. Available on the Google Play Store, the platform represents Meta’s expansion into AI-powered creative tools and follows the company’s acquisition of Gizmo earlier this year.
The app, which soft-launched in Brazil, functions similarly to TikTok but focused on gaming. Users can generate interactive “gizmos”—small, tap-enabled programs and games—simply by describing them in text prompts. The AI then creates the playable experience, which users can share with others in a feed-based interface. The concept builds heavily on the acquired Gizmo app, which operated on identical principles.
Pocket’s emergence came to light through developer Alessandro Paluzzi, who discovered the app’s Google Play Store presence and shared screenshots. The soft launch proceeded without formal announcement from Meta, suggesting a testing phase before potential broader rollout.
Early reception has been positive, with Pocket boasting a 4.9-star rating based on over 13,000 user reviews on the Play Store. The Gizmo app remains available for download, indicating Meta may be running both platforms in parallel during this phase.
The launch reflects Meta’s broader push into artificial intelligence and user-generated content platforms. By combining generative AI with social features similar to its TikTok competitor, Meta is attempting to capture users interested in game creation without requiring technical coding knowledge. The move demonstrates the company’s strategy of acquiring promising AI startups—in this case Atma Science Inc., founded by former Snapchat employees—and productizing their technology for mainstream audiences.