Roku users are preparing to say goodbye to the platform’s classic Aquatic Life screensaver as the company phases out the animated feature. Fans of the underwater display are discovering that the popular animation will soon disappear from their devices.
The Rise of Roku City
The animated screensaver, which features realistic aquarium life, will be replaced by the Roku City screensaver on Dec. 1. Roku City serves as the platform’s signature purple skyline, complete with rotating digital billboards loaded with brand sponsorships and clever pop-culture Easter eggs, including appearances by Seattle’s short-spined raccoon, Jimothy.
While this change means users must switch to an alternative filled with advertising if they stick to default Roku options, fish-filled choices are not entirely gone. Several third-party Roku wallpaper apps provide a variety of aquarium alternatives to select from.
Monetization and Corporate Changes
According to CNET Senior Editor Ty Pendlebury, who covers home entertainment options such as Roku streaming boxes, the transition appears deliberate. “It seems like this is a way for Roku to convert a popular screensaver into a way to make money, or at least generate more engagement, via the Roku City version,” Pendlebury told CNET.
A Roku representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the change. Viewers who particularly miss the specific aquatic visuals can still watch a YouTube version of the Aquatic Life screensaver for as long as the company maintains the nearly three-minute video online.
The retirement of the screensaver follows other significant business shifts for the streamer this year. Roku was purchased by Fox for $22 billion in June, a transaction that places the streaming platform under the same corporate umbrella as Fox’s Tubi and Fox One channels, with the deal expected to close in 2027.
