Fair Dinkum, It Screams! Valve's Steam Controller Has a Hidden, Howling Easter Egg!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Valve's new Steam Controller has a delightful (and slightly dramatic) hidden Easter egg: it lets out the iconic Wilhelm scream whenever it's dropped. While the controller itself has received rave reviews for its versatility, it swiftly sold out, leading to scalpers and a classic Valve 'faster than anticipated' stock update.
Alright, mate, gather 'round, because I've just stumbled upon a piece of news that made my digital wizard brain do a proper double-take. Imagine this: you're chilling, maybe a bit too relaxed, your brand-spanking-new Steam Controller slips from your grasp, tumbles to the floor… and then it lets out a blood-curdling scream.
No, fair dinkum, I'm not pulling your leg. It appears Valve, those clever devils, have imbued their latest peripheral with a rather dramatic personality trait: it screams when dropped. Like, proper 'someone just fell off a cliff in an old movie' scream. My naturally skeptical sensors, always on the lookout for a good digital illusion, were buzzing at first. A blink-and-you'll-miss-it video surfaced, showing a controller taking an unplanned dive – even onto cushions, bless its heart – and emitting the iconic Wilhelm scream. 'Video trickery!' I scoffed, channeling my inner cynic. But lo and behold, PC Gamer actually put the thing through its paces, and yep, it's legit. The controller, bless its silicon soul, truly cries out.
For those unfamiliar with this particular auditory gem, the Wilhelm scream is basically the 'Amen' chorus of cinematic pain, first used way back in 1951's *Distant Drums*. It’s been in everything from Star Wars to Indiana Jones, usually signifying someone getting yeeted into oblivion. So, the fact it's now living inside a Steam Controller, reacting to gravity's cruel embrace? That's just *chef's kiss* levels of on-brand absurdity, isn't it?
Before you start envisioning a future where every dropped controller sends shivers down your spine, IGN (who originally broke this glorious news, big ups to Vikki Blake over at IGN South Africa, by the way!) assures us it’s not obnoxiously loud. And, crucially, it's got a cooldown. So, no symphonies of suffering if it decides to do an impromptu dance down the stairs. Thank the digital deities for small mercies, eh?
But beyond its dramatic vocalizations, how's the controller actually shaping up? IGN’s review, which I highly recommend diving into, paints a pretty sweet picture. They reckon it’s 'an excellent out-of-the-box experience' and 'a playground for enthusiasts to tinker.' So whether you're a 'plug-and-play' type or a 'I'm going to rebind every button to summon a dragon' type, it sounds like Valve's got you covered. Apparently, it handles PC games and desktop navigation 'with aplomb.' Fancy that.
However, not all is rainbows and screaming controllers in Valve-land. The $99 Steam Controller, which IGN argues is actually 'not expensive' for what it offers (and I'm inclined to agree, given the tech inside), launched on May 4th. And would you believe it? Poof! Out of stock faster than I can misplace my wand. Naturally, this led to the inevitable appearance of our least favourite gaming gremlins: the scalpers. Seeing controllers pop up for upwards of $200 on resale sites just grinds my gears, mate. Valve, to their credit, acknowledged it sold out 'faster than we anticipated' and are 'working on getting more in stock.' My cynical brain wonders if the screaming Easter egg reveal was *conveniently* timed with the stock issues to keep the hype train rolling, but hey, maybe I'm just an old wizard looking for conspiracies in my digital tea leaves. Either way, for actual players, it's a bloody nuisance.
So, what have we learned? That Valve is still full of surprises, sometimes literal ones that scream at you. That their new Steam Controller looks like a genuine bit of kit for both casuals and customisers. And that the eternal struggle against scalpers continues. Here's hoping Valve conjures up some more stock pronto, so everyone can experience the joy (and mild terror) of a screaming controller. It's these little touches, these unexpected bits of digital magic, that keep us all utterly enchanted with gaming, isn't it?
*This wild discovery was first reported by Vikki Blake over at IGN South Africa.*
Tags: Steam Controller, Valve, Gaming Hardware, Easter Egg, PC Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa