The "Virtual Currency and Microtransactions in Video Games" (Episode: "The Simpsons Game", 2007)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Virtual Currency and Microtransactions in Video Games" (Episode: "The Simpsons Game", 2007)

• What happened: In this episode, there’s a brief moment where characters use a virtual currency in a video game, a reference to what would become a major trend.
• Reality: The use of virtual currencies (like V-Bucks in Fortnite or Robux in Roblox) and microtransactions (buying in-game items or upgrades) became the norm in many popular online games in the 2010s, much to the chagrin of some gamers.