- Slither.io hijacked the Stranger Things finale backlash to blast Netflix for promoting “clone” games.
- The gaming account went viral by sharing cryptic “missing files” to support the #Byler fandom.
- What began as a trademark lawsuit has evolved into a massive social media crusade for transparency.
In the final days of 2025, the internet witnessed the crossover nobody saw coming: a legendary browser (and mobile) game, a streaming giant, and a legion of heartbroken Stranger Things fans. What started as a standard corporate feud over intellectual property has spiraled into a viral crusade, as the official Slither.io X account went scorched-earth on Netflix, effectively hijacking the cultural conversation.
The Slitherio vs Netflix chaos erupted on December 28, 2025, when @slitherio dramatically interrupted a popular Twitter Space hosted by fans of the “Byler” ship (Will Byers and Mike Wheeler) from Stranger Things.
Fans were already upset alleging that Netflix had gutted the final episodes to remove pivotal “Byler” (Will Byers and Mike Wheeler) moments in an attempt to play it safe with conservative audiences.
The account posted: “Good job abandoning your flagship series @Netflix! Also, #netflixreleasethevolume2files!”
Slither.io escalated by sharing two cryptic hex strings, purportedly hashes of the “missing” files.
A long-simmering venom
While the Stranger Things support might seem random, it was actually a calculated “enemy of my enemy” maneuver. The real venom was reserved for Netflix Games, which prominently features Snake.io, a game that Slither.io’s developers, Lowtech Studios, have been fighting in federal court since 2023.
Lowtech Studios alleges that Snake.io is a blatant clone, citing confusingly similar logos and names that have led to years of brand confusion.
For @slitherio, seeing their rival promoted as an “Official Netflix Game” was the final straw. When a fan pointed out the inclusion of Snake.io on the Netflix app, @slitherio fired back with a pointed: “Is there anything you’d like to say about this @Netflix?”
The account leaned into the “crashout,” posting collages of confused users and sarcastically threatening to adopt their rival’s neon aesthetic.
By tapping into the raw energy of the Stranger Things “Byler” shippers, Slither.io transformed a dry trademark dispute into a viral movement, racking up millions of views and turning “the snake game” into an unlikely hero of transparency.
Read more mobile games news articles
What are your thoughts on the Slitherio vs Netflix drama? Let us know in the comments!
For more Mobile Gaming news and updates, join our WhatsApp Channel, Telegram Group, or Discord server. Also, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Google News for quick updates.