An epic gamer found themselves in an unexpected time warp after mistakenly installing updates in what they described as “1997 mode,” and promptly submitted a helpdesk ticket that has since gone viral for its sheer confusion and humor.
The user, known online as “PixelWarriorX,” reported that during what was supposed to be a routine game update, their computer inexplicably reverted to a state reminiscent of the late 1990s. According to the ticket, almost immediately after hitting ‘Install,’ their screen transformed into fluorescent greens and blues, the mouse cursor turned into a pixelated hourglass, and a Windows 98-style alert box popped up with the message: “Please wait while your updates install… in 56k modem speed.”
Within the ticket, PixelWarriorX described how the update progress bar seemed to move at precisely one pixel per minute, accompanied by synthetic dial-up sounds that filled the room. They claimed keyboard commands suddenly became limited to basic DOS commands, and the monitor began displaying an aesthetic so “gritty and retro,” it felt less like a glitch and more like a “digital séance inviting the ghosts of MS Paint.”
“I just wanted to upgrade my FPS game with some new skins,” the player wrote desperately, “now I’m stuck in a horrifying timeline where floppy disks are still a thing, and Solitaire insists on reminding me I have too many discs in the drive.”
The helpdesk team attempted to respond with the usual recovery steps but were soon stumped by follow-up messages complaining about how “this 1997 mode” also caused the user’s internet to slow down to what felt like “a sun dial’s pace” and that trying to “Alt+Tab feels like performing ancient sorcery.”
After several hours of back-and-forth and a ticket escalation to Level 99 Tech Support, the computer was eventually restored to 2024 functions, though PixelWarriorX reported a lingering issue: their desktop background remains permanently set to the iconic pixelated “Happy Tree Friends” wallpaper, and they now suspiciously eye all software updates for “hidden time travel features.”
The helpdesk ticket has since been shared across gaming forums, sparking memes and jokes about “the dangers of retro mode” and inspiring others to check if their updates come with a similar “blast from the past” setting.
Experts are yet to determine if this was a user error or an early attempt by developers to create a nostalgia update — but one thing is clear: in this case, going back in time was definitely not the upgrade anyone wanted.