Steam Controller Easter Egg Plays Wilhelm Scream on Drop

Valve's newly released Steam Controller has captured gamers' attention with a hidden Easter egg that triggers the iconic Wilhelm scream when the device is dropped while connected to a PC running Steam in Big Picture Mode.

The controller, priced at $99 and launched on May 4, sold out within minutes across major markets, prompting resale listings on platforms like eBay at up to three times the original price. Valve responded on May 8 by introducing a reservation queue limited to one unit per user. "Once a user reserves a controller, their place in line is saved," the company stated. "When we go back in stock, order emails will be sent in the same order that reservations were made," with buyers given 72 hours to complete their purchase.

Users first shared clips on platforms including Reddit and X, showing the controller emitting the scream after drops from about three feet onto surfaces like couches or cushions. Multiple reports and independent tests confirmed the feature activates inconsistently, with a cooldown period of roughly one minute or every five to six drops, preventing repeated triggers.

The sound effect, absent a built-in speaker, is recreated through the controller's...