April Fools’ Day has a weird feel this year, being on a weekend, but it’s here all the same. It’s tradition for MMO devs to prank their players and worlds, and by Bristlebane, we’re going to chronicle the chaos, even on a Saturday. Here are some of the best ones we’ve found in our searching today… so far!
Oh no, EverQuest II and PlanetSide 2 are merging! Actually… we’d play this.
The dragon proves it! #EverQuestII is merging with #Planetside2 starting today. New weapons, new characters . . . a whole new era. Details here: https://t.co/lsERgOZELq#EQII #DarkpawGames pic.twitter.com/JTKuK1dX8Y
— EverQuest II (@everquestii) April 1, 2023
Blizzard announced that the next Diablo is actually Diablo XII:
The people ask so we give.
We’re skipping Diablo V-XI. Prepare for Diablo XII.
We’ll bring the fires of Hell right to you! In real life. Right now. At your door. pic.twitter.com/2uaTK1gwA1
— Diablo (@Diablo) April 1, 2023
Guild Wars 2 offers up its requisite fake patch notes:
Here are your very serious and definitely real #GuildWars2 game update notes for April 1, 2023: https://t.co/bD9dQGBxyY
— Guild Wars 2 (@GuildWars2) April 1, 2023
So does Riot Games’ Valorant:
We've made some major changes to VALORANT. Check out a special edition of our patch notes here:
➡️ https://t.co/R1nD13ot6u pic.twitter.com/KZ8VTjTaiL
— VALORANT (@PlayVALORANT) April 1, 2023
EVE Online warns players about “huffing” “Fullerite C0-P1UM.”
Effective immediately – exploit notification regarding the use of gas harvesters on ship wrecks#Tweetfleet #EVEOnline https://t.co/nJ1jUuWddS
— EVE Online (@EveOnline) April 1, 2023
Elder Scrolls Online is teasing a new companion: everyone’s favorite Orc quest-giver, Stuga! (The lawyer note at the end kinda spoils it, guys!)
Do you know how long she's been looking for you?
Read more: 👉 https://t.co/Gbcp4pZUDl pic.twitter.com/lAwDSvj6Wf— The Elder Scrolls Online (@TESOnline) April 1, 2023
Lord of the Rings Online – Two words: Chicken run!
Now through April 1st (3:00am Eastern on the 2nd) take part in a very special Chicken Run inside of the game! Become an April Observer and earn the title "Fool"! Check your in-game mail before the event ends. #LOTRO pic.twitter.com/ZIj9MeHMX5
— LOTRO (@lotro) March 31, 2023
Overwatch 2 brought back googly eyes and an experimental mode:
Say hello to flying tanks and spring-loaded kicks 🦶
Check out the VERY serious patch notes to see the updates to all our Heroes’ ability kits in Arcade Mode only (for now) ✨
👀 https://t.co/i04TAxw51R pic.twitter.com/h5897MJQWg
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) March 31, 2023
Nightingale posted an AMA with its newest developer, a Normal Human, who does Normal Human Things:
Happy Saturday Realmwalkers!
Our latest Developer Spotlight is up! #Playnightingalehttps://t.co/dKW72GwraQ pic.twitter.com/0YuTuz9qyf
— Nightingale (@PlayNightingale) April 1, 2023
Final Fantasy XI – There are new events, delivery tasks, a new Archduke of Jeuno, new “mounts,” and more! Get your “nice skillchain bro” macros ready!
Pantheon is porting to the N64!
Due to overwhelming requests, we’ve decided to port #PantheonMMO to the platform our community references the most, the N64! 🕹️
Marvel at our upcoming physical copies, soon in stores near you! 🎉#MMORPG | #IndieGame | #Gaming pic.twitter.com/ivBo0SkeS5
— Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen (@PantheonMMO) April 1, 2023
Among Us – There’s a new horse wrangling mode, and you’re a horse.
Conan Exiles’s Funcom introduces its new Conan game, “We are happy to announce a new project: Oh My Gods: I Was Banished to the Exiled Lands and Now I Have to Date One of the Gods – A Conan Love Story!”
You've survived, built, and dominated your way through the Exiled Lands. But have you…loved?
Conquer the hearts of the Gods in our new title: Oh, My Gods! ❤️
😍 👉 https://t.co/8CCdDN6oDR pic.twitter.com/9R0IM5q2Jt
— Conan Exiles (@ConanExiles) April 1, 2023
Raph Koster’s Playable Worlds is trolling us with cake.
Playable Worlds reveals our first crafting recipe.https://t.co/93grUvujYY pic.twitter.com/yID7xahRaL
— Playable Worlds (@PlayableWorlds) April 1, 2023
Lost Ark – looks like a Spongebob reference! Also, ark’s found, everyone go home.
SWG’s Empire in Flames rogue server added a new world boss… ahem.
New world boss dropped today on EiF! Players have already been fighting him at Theed… pic.twitter.com/9ehwYi9jiy
— Empire in Flames (@EmpireInFlames) April 1, 2023
War Thunder is here to PUMP you UP.
🏋 Time to hit the gym! We're starting a new crew customization system. You'll soon be able to send your favorite crew members to workout, and will get titles, decals and decorations dedicated to sports & wrestling in the process.
👉 https://t.co/u2tHbKKTmt pic.twitter.com/C3r3UwFZ88— War Thunder (@WarThunder) April 1, 2023
This one’s novel: PSO2 is doing a prank live!
An Emergency Headline Broadcast is about to go live on our YouTube channel! Join us in chat to learn the fate of NGS as we know it.https://t.co/vXV6rbG4hs
— Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis – Global (@play_pso2) April 1, 2023
Something tells me this is not a real tank in World of Tanks!
The agility of the ELC EVEN 90 meets the toughness of the Maus 💪
What do you think about the new Premium French Heavy Tank ELC OVER 9000, Commanders? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CP1ESYhksD
— World of Tanks (@worldoftanks) April 1, 2023
Zenith released new “concept art”:
I might get fired for this but here's the concept art for the class coming after Cyber Ninja. 🧙♂️ pic.twitter.com/wEkNG3jtya
— Zenith MMO 🇺🇦 (@ZenithMMO) April 1, 2023
Patch notes comin’ in from Hearthstone:
The newest patch is here with critical updates to Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds, and more!
🎸 Card & Keyword Updates
🎸 Hero Changes
🎸 Bug Fixes & Improvementshttps://t.co/lrAQ8OWuxz pic.twitter.com/EfErAoVMUD— Hearthstone (@PlayHearthstone) April 1, 2023
Valheim teased its next update:
It’s time to reveal that, aside from the Ashlands and the Hildir’s Quest updates, we’re also working on one more addition to #Valheim right now. Are you excited? ✨ pic.twitter.com/gVaCiqOGoT
— Valheim (@Valheimgame) April 1, 2023
PUBG has introduced Bizarre Battle Royale, “a wild mode where players battle amidst giant monstrous chickens and zombies using special abilities.”
Dual Universe introduced “Boxels,” the “voxel revolution you’ve been waiting for!”
Introducing Boxels: The voxel revolution you've been waiting for! 📦 Experience Boxel-perfect detail and limitless creativity like never before in #DualUniverse. Prepare for new, mind-blowing 3D worlds.🚀 Stay tuned, Noveans! #Boxels #NextGenVoxelshttps://t.co/3fE05XpCgY pic.twitter.com/ajvM3mdshD
— Dual Universe (@dualuniverse) April 1, 2023
Wurm Online turned everyone’s horses into rugs. Hope you didn’t need those!
Yesterday not only did #WurmOnline change the flavour text for skillups – but I logged in and .. my horses are all flying rugs! Hilarious! I'm so here for these types of pranks :) pic.twitter.com/lP5K9NlO7N
— Stargrace (@Stargrace) April 1, 2023
Profane launched a new invisibility skill – so invisible, you can’t see it!
Introducing our latest development: the ultimate, game-changing, mind-blowing, revolutionary…invisibility skill!
Our dedicated team of developers has been working tirelessly to bring you this groundbreaking new feature that will take your gameplay to the next level… pic.twitter.com/FerIz3ZICA
— Profane MMORPG (@ProfaneMMO) April 1, 2023
Wakfu adds a ridiculous outfit.
🍔 Show your crunchy and juicy side to the world with the Burger, Lettuce, and Tomato Costume!
🔗 https://t.co/zj2N1uMeui pic.twitter.com/1z6lgya49z— WAKFU EN (@WAKFU_EN) April 1, 2023
League of Legends has multiple pranks running, including poro stampedes, stabby crabbies, and minions with wacky hats – skill the minions to stack their hats!
A few more events we’ve already covered…
And a quick run-down of past years’ shenanigans if you’re feeling nostalgic:
We’ll be updating with more as we spy them today! If you notice anything we didn’t catch – totally possible since it’s the weekend – post them in the comments!