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Meta has a new app that turns text prompts into playable games.
The tech giant quietly launched Pocket for iOS and Android in late June 2026 without a press release, keynote, or official announcement. The app was first spotted by app analytics firm Appfigures, which found it launched on June 29. It gained wider attention after reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots from the Google Play Store on X.
#Meta is working on a new app called Pocket 👀
ℹ️ A new creative platform to make and share gizmos. pic.twitter.com/zFjMU5jj1U
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) July 2, 2026
Meta has not responded to media requests for comment, and its usual channels have stayed silent. Despite the low-key rollout, Pocket signals a shift in how the company wants to compete in AI-driven content creation.
What Is Pocket and What Does It Do?
Pocket lets people create simple games using simple text commands. Instead of writing code, users describe what they want, and the app generates a playable version in seconds.
Meta calls these AI-generated creations “Gizmos.” For example, a user could type, “Make a drawing game where a flower is the paintbrush,” and Pocket will turn that idea into a playable, editable, and sharable game.
Pocket’s Gizmos are more than static animations. They can respond to taps, swipes, and the phone’s movement, while also including sound effects and music. Some Gizmos can even use the device’s camera or photo library, allowing users to create camera-based filters and other interactive experiences in addition to games.
The app also has a built-in social feed where users can discover and play gizmos created by others. Similar to scrolling through short videos, users can browse an endless stream of interactive games instead. If a creator allows it, others can remix a Gizmo by making their own version and sharing it. Pocket also organizes content into playlists, with categories such as games, drawing, photos, and 3D worlds.
Where the Technology Came From
Pocket did not start from scratch inside Meta. It builds directly on technology and talent from Gizmo, a vibe-coding app built by a startup called Atma Sciences Inc. Atma Sciences was founded in 2024 by a group of former Snapchat employees, including CEO Josh Siegel and CTO Daniel Amitay, and had raised roughly $5.48 million from investors such as First Round Capital and Uncommon Projects.
Meta hired the Atma Sciences team earlier in 2026, bringing them into its Superintelligence Labs division. As part of the deal, Meta secured a non-exclusive license to use the startup’s underlying technology, though neither company disclosed financial terms.
Notably, the original Gizmo app is still live on app stores and has reportedly reached about 635,000 lifetime installs with a 98% positive rating, according to Appfigures. Meta appears to be running Pocket alongside Gizmo rather than shutting down the original app, at least for now.
Where Pocket Fits in the Wider AI Gaming Trend
Pocket is entering a rapidly growing market where AI is making game creation easier. Instead of requiring coding skills, these new tools let people build apps, games, and interactive experiences simply by describing what they want in plain language.
Pocket’s closest comparison is Roblox, where users can create and share their own games. The main difference is that Roblox still requires some scripting and game development knowledge, while Pocket removes coding from the process almost entirely by using AI.
However, creating a game with AI is much more challenging than generating text or images. A game needs working mechanics, balanced gameplay, graphics, and smooth interactions. While Pocket can quickly turn ideas into playable experiences, it remains to be seen whether the AI can consistently create games enjoyable enough to keep people playing.
What Will Happen Next
Pocket is still in its early stages, and several questions remain about how it will develop.
Meta says that interactions with Gizmos may be used to improve its AI models, meaning users help train the system as they use the app.
Another key challenge is content moderation. Since Pocket lets users generate AI-powered games, Meta will need to ensure that those creations comply with its existing Community Standards. It remains to be seen how effectively the company can moderate a large volume of AI-generated content.
For now, Pocket appears to be a limited rollout rather than a major product launch. Meta has taken a similar approach with other apps in the past, releasing them quietly, gathering user feedback, and deciding later whether to expand or discontinue them. Pocket’s future will likely depend on whether people find the AI-generated games engaging enough to keep coming back.
