I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this year has been tumultuous for Roku so far. Earlier this year, it rolled out its redesigned home screen experience in the US, which drew mixed reactions. Shortly after, it announced a $22 billion acquisition by Fox, which also drew significant criticism. And in July, the company raised prices across its entire lineup of streaming devices due to the ongoing global memory shortage.

Now, shortly after beginning to roll out its Roku OS 16 update, which introduces new features like Roku Labs and an improved search and voice experience, the streaming giant has started notifying users that it’s removing one of its best features: the fish tank screensaver.

Known as Aquatic Life, Roku’s fish tank screensaver has graced countless TV screens over the years and remains one of the platform’s best screensaver options, especially for those who aren’t fans of Roku City.

In its message to users with Aquatic Life as their screensaver, Roku didn’t explain why it’s being removed, only that it will no longer be available starting December 1, 2026, and that users’ screensavers will automatically switch to Roku City then.

While Roku isn’t saying it outright, the removal could be due to the Fox acquisition.

Roku may be losing the license to Aquatic Life

Roku City wishes it was as cool

According to Cord Cutter News, Roku might be removing the Aquatic Life screensaver because its creator has pulled the licensing in response to the company’s acquisition by Fox. The screensaver wasn’t actually developed by Roku itself but was licensed from SereneScreen, the company behind the Marine Aquarium screensaver, which is available to buy for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Users on Reddit were quick to express their disappointment over the removal. One user said, “I just sent the developer an email about how much this sucks. I can’t blame them for pulling it if it’s a protest move.” Another suggested that Roku might actually be fine with the decision, as it gives the company an opportunity to push Roku City to even more users. “It’s probably so they can show MORE ADS since Roku City has little billboards on it,” they said. You can check out the original post on Reddit below, which has garnered lots of attention.

Back in June, Roku and Fox announced that they had reached an agreement under which Fox would acquire Roku for approximately $22 billion. In a statement about the deal, Fox said the acquisition would bring “together the most valuable live content portfolio in video consumption with the preeminent streaming platform through which America watches it.”

The acquisition has yet to be completed, as it is still going through the regulatory approval process. However, the deal is expected to close sometime in early 2027. The deal has drawn a fair share of criticism over the past few months, largely because it represents yet another example of media consolidation, particularly coming so soon after Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros., which has since been renamed Skydance.

If you’re currently using the Aquatic Life screensaver on your Roku, you’ve still got a few more weeks to enjoy it, as it won’t be removed until December 1. Once that date arrives, however, your screensaver will automatically switch to Roku City. If you’d rather explore some of the other screensaver options available on your device, you can find them under Settings > Theme > Screensaver. Though unfortunately, none of them quite match the aura of Aquatic Life.