There are product ideas that arrive in a neat, orderly way. A spreadsheet gets involved. Someone says “user demand.” A roadmap gets updated.
And then there are product ideas that show up like a golden retriever sprinting through a screen door.
This release has a little bit of both.
Starting today, StepSmash+ members get two new ways to make Smash Bingo part of everyday life: Daily Bingo, a fresh personalized board every day, and the ability to invite your very goodest dog to join you in Smash Bingo.
Yes, your actual dog. This isn’t some cute badge or metaphorical theme either. Your actual dog gets their own board and flips tiles through their real activity.
But first, let’s talk about the thing that might make your mornings a little more interesting.
Daily Bingo is here
Smash Bingo is better with friends. But sometimes you just want a board of your own. Daily Bingo is built for the much smaller, sneakier kind of motivation.
The “I was going to sit down, but there is one tile left, and I don’t want to lose my streak” kind.
Starting today, StepSmash+ members get a brand new Bingo board every day. It works a lot like Smash Bingo: your goals are personalized around your own activity level, so the board is meant to challenge you and meet you where you are, whether you’ve got a packed schedule, a cold winter, a cozy couch, or knees with opinions. Complete the pattern and that day counts toward your week, and if you complete 5 out of 7 days you keep your streak going.
We wanted Daily Bingo to feel like a small daily ritual, not another giant fitness obligation. Something you can check in on, chip away at, and maybe let gently nudge you into taking the longer route back to the car. Respectfully, of course.
It is still StepSmash, which means the point is not to become a different person overnight. The point is to make the person you already are a little more likely to go for a walk because a tiny circle on your phone has unfinished business.
And yes, your dog can play too
Now for the part where things get a little more fun.
Starting today, you can invite your very goodest dog to join you in Smash Bingo.
This is supported with a brand new integration we’ve built for FitBark accounts. You link your FitBark to StepSmash like any other activity tracker and, once connected, your dog’s activity powers their own Bingo board.
And look, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have your dog officially, legitimately tracked in a fitness game, wonder no more. We’ve got you covered with a real solution.
FitBark who?
FitBark is an activity tracker for pets that straps right to their collar.
When you connect your FitBark account to StepSmash, we add your dogs to your friends list and bring them into both Smash Bingo and Daily Bingo. And if we’re being honest, they might give you a run for your money.
Once they’re in, your dog gets a board of their own. Their tiles flip automatically as their activity syncs into StepSmash, and you can view their board any time by tapping on the avatar to switch between your board and theirs.
There are, however, a few ground rules, because even we have some limits:
- Dogs do not earn badges
- Dogs do not bump humans from the leaderboard
- Dogs are here to participate in the fun, not to permanently establish dominance over civilization
That last one is a product decision, but also probably a public safety measure.
And yes, we know not everyone wants pets showing up all over their fitness game. Totally fair. If dogs are not your thing, you can hide pets in the app and keep your StepSmash experience blissfully human.
Your dog is not a silent participant
One of the best parts of this feature is that your dog does not join quietly.
When your dog does something in the game, StepSmash treats them like a tiny furry participant with no indoor voice. Their activity messages and push notifications are written in doggo speak, because we were not about to make your corgi sound like a middle manager.
So yes, your dog might show up in the game feed with something like:
- “henlo frens i did a big zoom”
- “made the bingo happen snack pls i earned it”
- “many walk. much proud.”
And if that is not your thing, you can turn off doggo speak and keep the feature a little more understated.
Some dogs are going to bring the energy
We know.
There are dogs out there living with the cardio profile of a minor superhero. Farm dogs. Trail dogs. Huskies with unresolved emotional business. That one dog in your neighborhood that seems to be outside literally every time you look out the window.
Some of them are going to be an absolute inspiration.
Some of them are going to be chaos merchants who burn hot for twenty minutes and then spend the rest of the day asleep in a sunbeam.
That unpredictability is part of the charm. We’re not about turning dogs into optimized little athletes. It’s about making the game feel warmer, funnier, and more alive. And, conveniently, this is something dogs are already extremely good at.
Available today for StepSmash+ members
Daily Bingo and bringing your dog into StepSmash are both available today for StepSmash+ members.
Don’t have a FitBark yet but love the idea of your dog joining you in StepSmash? Pick up a FitBark from the FitBark shop to get started! Already using a different tracker you’d love to see supported? Drop a feature request on our forums and let us know!
We think these features make StepSmash more fun, a little more joyfully unhinged, and we can’t wait for you to try them!
Note: Both Daily Bingo and FitBark account linking require the latest version of StepSmash. Update the app if you do not see these options yet, or download StepSmash from the App Store or Google Play to get started.