Rec Room Denies Shutdown Rumors After Viral April Fools' Prank

Rec Room Denies Shutdown Rumors After Viral April Fools Prank...

Social VR platform Rec Room scrambled to clarify its future today after an elaborate April Fools' joke sparked panic among its 75 million users. A fake "sunset notice" circulating on social media claimed the popular metaverse game would shut down permanently on June 1, 2026.

The Seattle-based company confirmed to TechCrunch this morning that the shutdown notice was fabricated. "Rec Room isn't going anywhere," said CEO Nick Fajt in a statement. "We're actually hiring more developers and planning major updates for 2026."

Trending searches for "is Rec Room shutting down" surged 1,200% overnight as players shared screenshots of the convincing-looking fake announcement. The prank appears to have originated from a fan Discord server before spreading to TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).

Parents and educators expressed particular concern, as Rec Room has become a popular social space for teens. The platform saw record engagement during pandemic lockdowns and maintains about 3 million daily active users. Many schools use its creative tools for STEM education.

Industry analysts note this isn't the first time an April Fools' tech rumor caused real-world panic. In 2024, a fake Netflix shutdown tweet briefly crashed the company's stock. Rec Room's community team is now posting clarification messages across all official channels.

The company reminded users to check verified sources for announcements. Meanwhile, some players are jokingly proposing new April 1 traditions for the platform, like temporary "server maintenance" pranks or fake feature removals.

Rec Room last raised $145 million in 2022 at a $3.5 billion valuation. The platform remains one of the top free VR experiences on Meta Quest, PlayStation, and Steam.