The pointing an laughing at one or a few people is always assholish. A good prank involves everyone laughing together, and if it is targetted at anyone in particular they have to be comfortable with being the target.

Jokes that are aimed at a widespread audience get a pass because there will always be someone who doesn’t like something or feels foolish when they feel tricked no matter how lighthearted the joke is. So a game company announcing something ridiculous for their game needs some leeway when someone takes it personally when they fall for an announcement that Fortnite is removing dances or there would be no room for humor.

Widespread ones can still be mean spirited of course, but tricking people isn’t what makes it so.