Valve Corporation’s new Steam Controller plays the Wilhelm scream sound if it is dropped with Steam running in Big Picture Mode.
Reddit member RF3D19 has discovered a hidden Easter Egg for the new Steam Controller that results in it playing the Wilhelm scream sound. It turns out that if you drop the controller while running Steam Big Picture Mode, it will occasionally play the sound effect using its haptic motors. According to them, there seems to be a timeout period that is around a minute long, which prevents the controller from looping the sound again immediately.
Video Showing The Steam Controller Scream Sound
The aforementioned Wilhelm scream sound can be heard playing from the Steam Controller in the video below.
We advise caution when attempting to recreate the scenario in the above video by making sure the controller is gently dropped from a height of around 3 feet on a bed or cushion.
For those who have yet to get their hands on a Steam Controller, Valve recently announced a new reservation system following heavy demand and purchasing issues surrounding the device’s launch last week. Reservations officially opened on May 8, 2026, at 10 AM Pacific Time, allowing customers to secure a place in line for future stock availability. The Steam Controller launched on May 4, 2026, but the rollout was met with frustration from users who struggled to complete purchases due to overwhelming demand. In response, Valve says it is continuing to replenish inventory while introducing measures intended to improve the buying process and reduce reseller activity.
Under the new system, reservations are be limited to one Steam Controller per user. Once inventory becomes available, customers will receive an email invitation to complete their order, with purchases processed in the same sequence that reservations were made. Buyers will then have 72 hours to finalize the transaction through Steam.
