Social network Facebook announced the rollout of a new update to its Messenger app for the iOS platform on Thursday, bringing an arcade-style basketball mini-game to the messaging app. The update was released to the Messenger app for Android on Wednesday.

The little basketball mini-game which Facebook has introduced in the updated version of its Messenger app is not first mini-game to be built into the messaging app. In February, Facebook had rolled out a little chess mini-game to the Messenger app.

Announcing the availability of the little basketball mini-game to Messenger users, Facebook said in the change log: "Shoot Some Hoops: Want to see what's hiding behind the basketball emoji in Messenger? Just send one and tap to find out!"

The arcade-style basketball mini-game launched in Messenger can be played by the users of the messaging app by flick a basketball towards a hoop. Whenever users score a basket or miss it, they are cheered on by fun emojis and Facebook stickers.

Messenger users can start the basketball mini-game by opening a chat and sending a basketball emoji. Once the message is sent, users need to tap on the emoji, to prompt Messenger to launch the mini-game.