Big Companies and Their Best April Fool’s Pranks

April Fool’s Day isn’t just the perfect time to prank a coworker—it’s a golden opportunity for many major companies to launch viral campaigns, engage audiences, and sometimes even test new product ideas.

Over the years, brands like McDonald’s, Duolingo, Coca-Cola, and many others have launched pranks so well-thought-out they seemed real, sparking chain reactions on social media and capturing consumer attention.

Here are some of the most brilliant April Fool’s pranks, perfectly blending humor and marketing.

Google Maps and the Snake Game (2019)

Google is known for its creative April Fool’s pranks, but in 2019 it outdid itself with an idea that mixed nostalgia and interactivity: it turned Google Maps into a video game by adding the classic Snake within the app.

Users could choose from various cities around the world—like Tokyo, London, or Cairo—and control a bus or train that picked up passengers, just like in the ’90s game. All it took was a click on a button inside the app to start playing.

This prank worked because it wasn’t just an announcement—it was a real game inside an app that’s usually not playful, successfully engaging users of all ages, especially those nostalgic for the Nokia era.

BMW and the “Lunar Paint” (2019)

Also in 2019, BMW came up with an idea truly out of this world: it announced Lunar Paint, a special paint capable of recharging electric cars with moonlight.

The press release, written in a serious and technical tone, described advanced photovoltaic technology able to absorb and store lunar energy to be later transferred to the car’s battery. A clearly absurd idea, but presented so convincingly it made even the skeptics doubt.

The prank was a huge success, sparking curiosity and reinforcing the brand’s image as innovative and sustainability-focused.

McDonald’s and the French Fries-Flavored Milkshake (2021)

In 2021, McDonald’s decided to “listen” to a curious American habit: dipping French fries into a milkshake. So, for April Fool’s, it announced the launch of the Fries-Flavored Milkshake.

The news immediately spread across the web, triggering mixed reactions between those eager to try it and those who found it disgusting. Some even asked if it was actually coming to market.

The prank’s success showed how a playful idea can generate engagement and spark conversation around the brand. Even today, some people hope the product becomes real.

McDonald’s managed to make people talk with a simple yet brilliant idea, boosting brand awareness and creating an emotional connection with the audience—all without major investments.

Big companies’ April Fool’s pranks show that marketing can go far beyond simple promotion: it can become a memorable experience.

In an era where grabbing attention is increasingly difficult, a creative idea—and maybe a smile—can make the difference between a forgettable brand and an unforgettable one.

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