April Fools’ Day 2025: Hilarious Reddit thread reveals prank announcements that became reality

April Fools’ Day, celebrated annually on April 1, is a day dedicated to humor, pranks, and lighthearted deception. People worldwide participate by playing practical jokes on friends, family, and even the public. Over the years, companies, media outlets, and organizations have also joined the tradition by making exaggerated or entirely false announcements—many of which are intended as jokes. However, history has shown that some of these seemingly absurd prank announcements later turned out to be real.
This year, a Reddit discussion gained significant attention as users shared various April Fools’ Day hoaxes that, against all odds, eventually came to fruition. From major tech advancements to unexpected product launches, several seemingly impossible ideas first introduced as pranks have since become reality. Below are some of the most fascinating cases where April Fools' Day jokes actually came true.

1. Gmail: The April Fools' joke that changed email forever
One of the most famous examples of an April Fools’ prank turning real is Gmail. When Google announced Gmail on April 1, 2004, many assumed it was a hoax. The idea of offering a free email service with 1GB of storage—an amount that was unprecedented at the time—seemed too good to be true. At the time, most email providers offered only a few megabytes of storage, forcing users to frequently delete old emails to make space.
However, Gmail was no joke. Google’s email service revolutionized the way people used email, introducing powerful search capabilities, an intuitive interface, and a much larger storage limit. Today, Gmail is one of the most widely used email services in the world, proving that what initially seemed like a prank was actually a groundbreaking innovation.
2. The Nintendo Switch: Inspired by a fake console?
A Reddit user pointed out that a 2005 article from Game Informer’s satirical "Game Infarcer" section once described a fictional console called the "WiiDS." The article claimed it was a hybrid device that could function as both a home console and a portable handheld. At the time, this was purely a joke—but years later, in 2017, Nintendo released the Switch, a console with almost identical functionality.
The Nintendo Switch became a massive success, demonstrating that what was initially thought to be an unrealistic gaming concept could, in fact, redefine the industry. This example highlights how even satirical ideas can sometimes predict the future of technology.
3. ThinkGeek’s April Fools' pranks that became real products
Before being acquired by GameStop, ThinkGeek had a tradition of unveiling humorous fake products every April Fools' Day. However, some of these novelty ideas proved so popular that they eventually became real.
A few notable examples include:

ThinkGeek’s history proves that sometimes, what starts as a joke can evolve into a highly successful product.
4. Saints Row: Enter the Dominatrix – A fake game that became real
Another interesting case mentioned in the Reddit discussion involves the Saints Row video game franchise. In 2012, developers announced Saints Row: Enter the Dominatrix as an April Fools' Day joke. The concept was a bizarre expansion featuring over-the-top sci-fi elements.
Surprisingly, just a few months later, the developers confirmed that the game was actually being developed. It was eventually integrated into Saints Row IV after THQ, the publisher, made changes to the series. What initially seemed like a far-fetched joke became an actual gaming experience.
5. Team Fortress 2’s Jarate weapon
Another gaming-related prank that became real involved Team Fortress 2 (TF2). When Valve introduced "Jarate"—a jar of mysterious yellow liquid—as an alternative weapon for the Sniper class, many players assumed it was an April Fools’ joke. However, to everyone's surprise, the weapon was actually added to the game.
While humorous in nature, this feature ended up becoming a fan-favorite addition, showing that even joke concepts can successfully integrate into mainstream gaming.
6. Warhammer’s Space Dwarfs return
Reddit users also recalled an April Fools’ Day joke from Warhammer 40,000. Games Workshop released a trailer on April 1, teasing the return of "Squats"—a faction of space dwarfs that had been absent from the game since the 1990s. Because of the date, most fans assumed it was a joke.
However, the announcement turned out to be legitimate. A revamped version of the Space Dwarfs was officially reintroduced, much to the delight of longtime Warhammer enthusiasts.
7. Crab Champions: From meme to real game
The popular meme Crab Rave, which originated as an April Fools’ joke in 2018, inspired the development of a real game. In 2019, the developers announced Crab Champions, a roguelike shooter starring weapon-wielding crabs. Many assumed it was just another prank. However, in 2023, the game was officially released, proving that even the most unexpected ideas can turn into real entertainment experiences.