Ahead Of Tudum Event, 'Stranger Things 5' Drops Cryptic Audio Clip, Fans Guess, 'Code Red Or Vecna?'

The highly awaited paranormal series, Stranger Things Season 5, just got even more interesting, and not to mention, intense. Just a day before Netflix’s global fan event, Tudum, the Stranger Things franchise dropped a mysterious 31-second audio-visual clip that has since taken social media by storm. The teaser, featuring distorted sounds, cryptic static, and an unsettling atmosphere, has left fans both thrilled and bewildered.

Ahead of Tudum, Stranger Things 5 teases a mysterious audio

On May 30, 2025, a Stranger Things broadcast channel released a cryptic audio snippet, teasing the upcoming Season 5, on its Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) handles. The short teaser is anything but ordinary. The audio snippet features strange radio-like static, heavy stomping or banging noises, and an eerie voice that is hard to decipher. A text notification pops up in the clip, where a messaging app attempts to transcribe the audio, only to fail with the message, “Can’t transcribe message.” The teaser was accompanied by a bizarre caption that read:

“THIS IS A CODE RED #TUDUM #StrangerThings5.”

Netizens are divided: A massive rift or ‘Vecna’?

Ever since the 31-second clip dropped, Stranger Things fans have donned their own detective hats. The phrase 'code red' immediately sparked speculation, with some fans wondering if the audio could be linked to a massive rift opening in Hawkins or a military base being overrun. Others believe it’s a message from the Upside Down itself.

However, the theory that topped it all was whether the voice that can be heard in the clip belongs to ‘Vecna’, the terrifying villain from the Upside Down who was introduced in Season 4. While the voice isn’t entirely clear, it has left netizens with more questions than answers. The theory that it could be ‘Vecna’s’ voice rose from the popular belief that the menacing tone aligns perfectly with the character’s eerie presence. Comments and tweets are flooded with fans sharing different theories. One user wrote, “It has to be Vecna.” Another commented, “Guys, what time should he come out?” 

Some fans also noted the fact that the clip is exactly 31 seconds long, theorising that it might be hinting at something more. According to popular speculations, the duration could hint at something happening on October 31 (Halloween), a date that has always held significance in the Stranger Things universe.

Stranger Things Season 5 teaser trailer released at Tudum 2025

The timing of the audio release couldn't be more strategic. Netflix’s annual fan event, Tudum, took place on May 31, 2025, less than 24 hours after the cryptic audio was dropped. The event was especially exciting for fans of the series as the Stranger Things Season 5 teaser trailer was dropped. This season is supposed to be the final instalment of this high-stakes paranormal series, and has been one of the most anticipated releases of the year, with fans eager to see how the beloved show will conclude after nearly a decade.

What we know so far about Stranger Things Season 5

Previously, the series’ creators, The Duffer Brothers, revealed that Season 5 will offer answers to long-running mysteries. During Netflix’s Geeked Week in 2022, Ross Duffer shared that they had written a 25-page mythology document to guide the final season. He was heard saying:

“The last remaining questions that are answered in that document, we’ve punted a couple of those to have some big reveals in Season 5, and that’s really going to affect what Season 5 is about.”

Stranger Things Season 5 will see returning cast members, including Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Check out the audio post here.

Whatever the cryptic audio might be, one thing’s for sure — Hawkins is far from quiet! What do you think about this mysterious sound?

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