10:33 am Wed May 13, 2026

Valve's second-generation Steam Controller was released last week, and it sold out immediately at $99. The lucky gamers who got their hands on one have noticed an Easter Egg. If dropped from the right height, it screams . And not just any scream, but the ultimate cinematic Easter Egg, the Wilhelm Scream.

Although the scream itself dates back to a 1951 western, the Wilhelm Scream was an inside joke known mostly to Star Wars fans, thanks to legendary sound designer Ben Burtt . These days, the sound effect of some poor guy getting eaten by an alligator is everywhere , from movies to games. While this once-niche gag is a little less fun now that it is overused, Valve deserves some credit for coming up with a fresh take on it.…