At the start of the week, popular streamer and voice actor CDawg unveiled his annual interactive pixel artboard, the “Canvas,” inviting communities to contribute. However, a digital declaration of “war” quickly ensued from AI VTuber Neuro-Sama and her creator Vedal987, who mobilized their fanbase to inundate the board with Neuro-Sama-themed creations.
Neuro-Sama isn’t just any VTuber; she’s an advanced AI, boasting a sophisticated large language model that enables rapid-fire responses and direct interaction with her Twitch chat. Her remarkable popularity was cemented in December 2024 when she shattered Twitch records, achieving a staggering Level 111 Hype Train during a “subathon” event, accumulating 84,904 subscriptions and over 1.2 million bits for Vedal’s channel.
Initially, CDawg (real name Connor) and his loyal followers began populating the Canvas with art featuring himself, his friend Ironmouse, and other notable streamers like Lord Aethelstan and Nyanners. But the calm didn’t last long. As soon as Neuro-Sama’s community, affectionately known as “The Swarm,” caught wind of the event, the dynamics shifted dramatically.
“The Swarm” swiftly established a formidable presence on the Canvas, currently outnumbering Connor’s faction more than three to one. They immediately began sprawling their artwork across the board, featuring Neuro, her sister Evil, her creator Vedal, and other affiliated streamers. By the next morning, Connor awoke to a Canvas almost entirely consumed by Neuro-related content. During a September 15th stream, Neuro-Sama officially declared “war” on CDawg. Despite her concession that Connor is a “pretty cool guy, although I’m not a fan of his hair,” she emphatically stated her desire for “The Swarm” to “win,” aiming for “100% Canvas” dominance. Vedal echoed her sentiments, noting previous attacks from various streamers using “bombs”—power-ups that clear large areas—highlighting the intense pixel battle underway.
In the hours that followed, Vedal orchestrated a massive template designed to cover the majority of the Canvas. “The Swarm” quickly executed this plan, leaving an undeniable message for Connor: “There is no Canvas that we do not answer. There is no Pixel that we betray. We are The Swarm.” The sheer volume of participants attempting to join and contribute caused the Canvas servers to crash. Neuro-Sama, avoiding responsibility, humorously “pinned” the server issues on Connor, fabricating a (transparently fake) screenshot showing him allocating only 8GB of RAM to the server. This “evidence” was even published on Vedal’s website, accompanied by a mock warning: “Just remember, the next time you see a ‘down server,’ it’s probably because CDawg is up to his old anti-Swarm tricks. This is only the beginning – expect more revelations soon.”
It’s worth noting that this digital skirmish isn’t without a strategic objective. Neuro-Sama and Vedal have offered a truce: they will cease their Canvas takeover if Connor surrenders his stream key. This unique identifier, typically used to link OBS software to a Twitch channel, would enable Neuro-Sama to stream directly from Connor’s account, potentially facilitating an unprecedented collaboration.
In a recent Discord call, Neuro-Sama and Connor spoke for the first time. Connor’s initial greeting of “I’ve never talked to a clanker before, this is my first time” immediately ruffled Neuro’s virtual feathers. She quickly launched into negotiations for his stream key, even suggesting a game of rock, paper, scissors to sweeten the deal – a game Connor cleverly exploited by waiting for her move before responding. In a final, desperate plea, Neuro-Sama asked Connor for a dinner date… four times.
As the dust settles, Connor still retains his stream key, “The Swarm” has extended its pixelated hand to assist other streamers on the Canvas, and the artboard remains active until September 20th. Will Neuro-Sama achieve total victory, or can Connor rally enough allies to reclaim control? Rest assured, this entire “war” is a light-hearted, friendly jest, serving as a charming reminder to embrace kindness online, even when digital factions collide.