When April Fools’ Day comes around each year the internet explodes with jokes and tricks. Here are the best video game related jokes from April Fools’ Day 2016.
ThinkGeek Takes VR Too Far
The games industry is currently in the throes of a VR craze. With Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Playstation VR right on the doorstep the industry at large is talking, thinking and breathing VR.
ThinkGeek decided to take that last part a little too literally, creating a fake reveal for their VR Sensory Immersion Generator. Ever felt the need when playing a game to breathe the smoke of a campfire and feel the leaves of the trees brush your face and get tangled in your hair? No?
Well, at least if it did exist, it would be good fun for the friend operating the device and would give a whole new angle for face-cam reactions on YouTube.
Nyko Makes a Controller For Narcissists
Are you the kind of gamer who can’t take a loss? Do you feel the need to rage quit the second you get killed by a headshot? Don’t worry, Nyko have your back this April Fools’ Day with the Ego-Booster 1337.
Including such unique features as simulated cheering, toxicity filter and the all new instant rage quit WIN button!
Nyko are even generous enough to offer gullible consumers 15% off with a promo code. Go on, try it! 15% off and our laughs come free!
The Templars Try For Peace With The Assassins
It is cute that they thought this would work… pic.twitter.com/I8EwaUozgF
— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) April 1, 2016
One of gaming’s ultimate rivalries nearly came to an end this April Fools’ Day as the Templars sent the Assassins a letter asking for peace. Unfortunately the Assassins, being a sneaky lot, don’t believe the Templars are as good as their word. And really, who can blame them?
Either way, this signifies the first step in bridging the age-old gaps between these two groups and brings hope to all that, maybe one day, peace could flourish.
Vermintide Outdoes Dark Souls for Difficulty
Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is not a game renowned for being a walk in the park. April Fools’ Day saw the horde-mode FPS/Action Game head for new heights of difficulty with it’s Death Wish mode.
Fatshark’s amazing trailer showcased a fictional mode that would be a veritable salt-mine for players, with entire firing squads gunning the player character down in seconds. Despite this, I can see a hardcore fan-base clamouring for this difficulty to be made a reality. Some people are just plain masochistic.
Dark Souls III – The Straight to VHS Movie
For any readers who grew up in the 1980s and early ’90s, this fake commercial for a Dark Souls III film actually tugs at some nostalgic reaction buried in the back of the brain.
By mashing together the modern-day epic that is Dark Souls with the grainy flicker of a VHS tape, Sony have managed to deliver something nobody ever knew they needed.
This advert is jarring, endearing and worth a good laugh.
Hearthstone: The MMO
Blizzard have approached this April Fools’ Day with a classic form of humour, a self-deprecation born of self-awareness.
Whilst it is well known that their card game Hearthstone has seen massive waves of popularity over the two years since its release, their MMORPG World of Warcraft appears to be in decline.
What better way to reinvent their old Titan then by adopting the branding of it’s wildly successful child?
Thus is born Hearthstone: The MMO. It’s World of Warcraft…except it’s not… see? Genius!
SMITE: The Manticore Reveal
What begins as a fairly neat reveal of a cool looking character quickly descends into chaos as Smite’s announcers clash personally and professionally.
The two voices gradually become more and more extreme in their attempts to one-up each other, turning the announcement into a childish mud-slinging contest. Eventually things get out of hand as they completely derail the Manticore’s ability showcase with their wild exaggerations.
The Witcher 3: The Making of Roach
CD Projekt Red have shown throughout their games that they have a great sense of humour. However, this April Fools’ Day, the bar was raised with this wonderful piece of self-deprecating humour.
Addressing the well-known bugs that befall Geralt’s horse Roach in The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red have produced this behind-the-scenes video showcasing the lengths they went to make Roach as realistic as possible and how they addressed the problems this created (it’s not what you think).
Keep your eyes peeled for the appearance of the mysterious Matt Jablonsky, Head of Bug Creation Department!
Check out more
- 5 Games That Show 2016 Is the Year of the JRPG
- 10 of the Best Video Game Easter Eggs Out There
- Top 10 Hardest Dark Souls Bosses
This post was originally written by Oisin Kilkenny-Fletcher.
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