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New Steam Controller hides Wilhelm scream Easter egg when dropped

gamingMay 13, 2026383,353

Valve's new Steam Controller emits the classic Wilhelm scream sound effect when the device is physically dropped while running Big Picture Mode. Owners first heard the clip during accidental drops and identified the noise as the familiar Hollywood stock scream. The hidden gag can startle noise-sensitive pets and players and highlights Valve's playful approach to small hardware Easter eggs.

Tom Warren
@tomwarren.co.uk

I love that Valve’s Steam controller does the Wilhelm scream if you drop it 😂 what a fun little Easter egg

160144d ago
Mark ☕️86

Broooo why the floor??? It works on a sofa or bed too 😂 😭

MeeMaTThi31

my controller is broken now...

Alex Miles30

Imagine being the person who first discovered this

Pepe23

Dang bro you couldn’t find a pillow?

Orcun Adsoy19

Even with the video I'm not confident this isn't an 'iPhone in the microwave'-style joke :'D

𐌉ᏵᏵ𐌙 𐌂𐌙Ᏽ𐌍𐌵𐌔12

Cool. Please don’t do that again.🙂

Fgeitas6

Does it have an internal speaker?

atomicloner.bsky.social3

Right on the FLOOR yikes! 🫨

Baldly Rudy
@baldlyrudy.com

The Steam Controller has been the easiest controller to open up. The repairability is absolutely insane. Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox don't want you to have this much access and ease of repair.

125744d ago
Baldly Rudy 38

I'm sure all the techies out there are like me and are the families "repair" guy when something tech breaks. I've opened up my fair share of joy cons, DualSense, and Xbox Series Controllers. The Steam Controller is a breath of fresh air by comparison when opening it up.

comradebushwic.bsky.social12

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have never been consumer friendly. It's nice to see Valve make their products easier for consumers to repair at home.

Jabroni Supreme9

This kind of thing is what drives me absolutely insane when Valve haters try to say that they are "literally doing nothing." They are constantly going beyond the bare minimum (I see it more personally as a game dev), while the competition does nothing but race to the bottom.

The Outerhaven8

So, when people start dropping their controllers to hear a specific sound, we can easily repair it then.

linuxnerd8

Has Valve released 3d print files for the shell like they did the Steam Deck? I so want one in atomic purple.

Stardust3

now if only if the controller itself wasnt so horribly designed. glad its easy to fix though which already makes it better than anything nintendo has ever put out.

Gamesource.it2

At a hundred dollars, I expect this.

VGC
@videogameschronicle.com

The Steam Controller has a hidden easter egg: It lets out a Wilhelm Scream if you drop it. www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-ste...

5344d ago
wolf.mom
@wolf.mom

Steam Controller Easter Egg: The controller Wilhelm screams when dropped by about 3 feet (1m) once every 5-6 times. (Be gentle!) www.reddit.com/r/SteamContr...

4145d ago
Eurogamer
@eurogamer.bsky.social

Yes, Valve's new Steam Controller screams if you drop it from a great enough height www.eurogamer.net/valve-steam-...

Composite image showing an inverted Steam Controller falling downward as its wide mouth screams, "Aaaah".
4344d ago
IGN
@ign.com

The new Steam Controller has a hidden easter egg that screams when dropped. https://bit.ly/4eIRsL5

3044d ago
Hyper
@hyperbx.bsky.social

guys did you know Steam Controller wilhelm scream *shatters the controller into a bazillion pieces on a concrete floor*

2644d ago
Nick C
@laschoni.bsky.social

It was basically a guy on the Steam Controller subreddit early yesterday. By last night all the sites had picked it up. But yeah, I ran to mine yesterday morning after seeing the post and immediately was able to do it.

3544d ago
Dangerously Fine and Unforgiven
@rockthekoopa.bsky.social

i'm very sorry to say but adding the wilhelm scream to your controller is as reddit and soy as adding an easter egg for inputting the konami code lol

3145d ago
jenny tightpants77

yeah kinda but so is buying the steam controller on launch day and i already did that so

Panic! At the DDOS3

True but I still like it

Capo 🏳️‍⚧️3

I think we need to accept, embrace, and even celebrate that sometimes we all are a little bit soy and reddit, even Jesus.

Laura Cress
@cressup.bsky.social

It's true - if you drop the new Steam controller in Big Picture Mode sometimes it lets out a Wilhelm scream. #steam #valve

1944d ago
cat!✨(kreepykulture)
@kreepykulture.pink

how come valve made the steam controller do the wilhelm scream (overdone, overrated) instead of having GlaDOS yell at you for dropping your controller (she’s Mother, would be less annoying and more iconic)

2244d ago
cat!✨(kreepykulture)10

I’m sure you can turn this off but this is genuinely so irritating to me I irrationally hate this thing (millennial coded btw)(derogatory)

Raptor2

Or like one of the iconic screams from the turrets would’ve worked too they had their own screams to use

treacherous deathcat
@diablerie.gay

i don't care if the wilhelm scream is lame the steam controller haptics doing that is really cool

2144d ago
treacherous deathcat6

incidentally i have completely given up on having any idea on how any of that shit works

Tommo ⭐️
@tommothecabbit.bsky.social

The Steam Controller can feel pain You drop from about 3 feet multiple times and it will do the Wilhelm scream

1645d ago
Wes! 🌈
@wessasaurusrex.gay

Me to me: I don’t need a steam controller, I don’t care about customization that much *the controller screams when you drop it* FUCK

1745d ago
Bluntangle
@bluntangle.bsky.social

Steam Controller Wilhelm Screams if dropped while in Big Picture Mode. www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comm...

745d ago
1 source
pcgamer.comValve snuck a Wilhelm scream Easter egg into the new Steam Controller

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