The most memorable (and cringeworthy) April Fools’ Day pranks from the gaming world

April Fools’ Day has rolled around again, and that means you should take everything you see online with a grain of salt. Game developers are joining in on the fun, with some hilarious pranks and a few ideas that we wouldn’t mind seeing become a reality. For instance, the dating sim inspired by Palworld started as a joke but is now set to be an actual game.

Here’s a roundup of some of the best April Fools’ Day gags from the gaming world, starting with one that we really hope becomes a reality soon.

Thanks to time zone differences, April 1 kicked off in Japan while many in the U.S. were still in March. This led to some confusion when the Japanese account for Nier seemingly announced a new project titled Nier: Cosmic Horror. The buzz was fueled by the fact that a cosmic horror game in the Nier universe sounds incredible, especially since fans have been teased about more Nier content on the horizon. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a prank.

Another announcement we’d gladly welcome is CD Projekt Red’s Project ROACH (Ride On A Controller Horse), a controller crafted from a toy horse for a more immersive experience in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Roach controller, named after Geralt’s loyal steed, has certainly caught our attention.

Capcom had a laugh with the fan theory that the upcoming third-person shooter Pragmata is secretly a Mega Man game. A playful video on the game’s official account featured a child-like android named Diana running up to Mega Man, only for the next shot to swap his face with that of Pragmata’s astronaut Hugh. This should put an end to any lingering speculation about the game’s true identity.

While we await the launch of Bubsy 4D in May, there’s now an OnlyFans-style site called OnlyPaws, or BubsyPaws. It features a gallery of paw pictures for those with a paw fetish, along with a donation link to The Wildcat Sanctuary. Bubsy’s publisher, Atari, is aiming to raise funds for this Minnesota non-profit that provides a safe haven for wild cats.

Lords of the Fallen’s account teased a humorous update that would introduce a Helmet Vision mode, restricting your field of view to the openings in in-game helmets. Surprisingly, some players are actually expressing interest in this feature, suggesting that Soulslike games could use an extra challenge.

In the spirit of the day, the team behind Lies of P shared some fake patch notes on Reddit. If these changes were real, they would significantly ramp up the difficulty, such as preventing healing during the final boss fight. Another proposed change, dubbed Ergo Inflation, would tie leveling costs to real-world inflation. The game’s subreddit has also been humorously taken over by Disney’s Pinocchio.

The account for Satisfactory, a factory-building game, poked fun at the notion of male underrepresentation in gaming. Set to Linkin Park’s “Somewhere I Belong,” it features a flip-flop-wearing, beanie-sporting, gun-toting guy doing all sorts of “cool” things, like shooting, walking away from explosions, and choosing the ultimate manly vehicle: a Cybertruck.

Nvidia’s new DLSS 5 technology stirred up some buzz earlier this month, essentially applying a Snapchat beauty filter to game graphics. The social media for Crusader Kings 3 joined in with a video showcasing the so-called “all-new CKSS technology,” which would AI-enhance the game’s visuals. One YouTube commenter joked that the developers should fire their artists, to which the Crusader Kings 3 account humorously replied, “They are packing their belongings as we speak!”

And here’s another amusing idea: Warhammer jokingly announced a Warhammer 40,000 musical titled The Emperor Protects. The fake trailer features a variety of songs and performers in elaborate costumes, leading some YouTube commenters to speculate that they might actually be cosplayers from the Warhammer community.

Sega is also getting in on the fun by selling official Sanic and Shedew T-shirts for April Fools’. Sanic Hegehog is a playful misspelling of Sonic the Hedgehog that originated from a YouTube video where someone drew Sonic in MS Paint. This fan art has gained popularity, and now Sega is offering new merch inspired by the meme—available for today only.

Owlcat Games, known for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader and the upcoming The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, has introduced the Owlbrick, a Steam Machine designed with an owl face. Tailored for CRPGs, it promises to assist with in-game romances and even handle combat for you. Plus, it boasts up to 60 FPS in 8K resolution (upscaled from 360p). Count me in!