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Now’s here a sentence I never thought I’d write: your new Steam Controller screams if you drop it.
Rumors first began to swirl when a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it two-second video showed that an unexpected drop will trigger a Wilhelm scream, even if the fall is cushioned by… well, cushions. Quite rightly, some weren’t convinced initially — not least because anyone could’ve added the sound with a little video editing trickery — but PC Gamer has put the controller to the test and yup: it really does scream.
The Wilhelm scream is one of the most recognizable sounds in cinema (and beyond), and was originally used in the 1951 movie, Distant Drums. Since then, it’s been used in hundreds of films, shows, and games, and usually depicts someone getting shot or thrown from a great height, which is fabulously on-brand here.
The Steam Controller screams when you drop it. pic.twitter.com/rzTJWT7ld7
— Deck Ready (Jimmy Champane) (@Deck_Ready) May 13, 2026
Importantly, it doesn’t seem that the scream is jump-scaringly loud, and seems to have a built-in cooldown to prevent a chain of screams if, say, it was tumbling down some stairs.
Not sure what to make of Valve’s new controller? IGN’s review states: “The Steam Controller offers both an excellent out-of-the-box experience as well as a playground for enthusiasts to tinker to their hearts content. If you’re just looking for a fantastic controller for playing PC games and navigating the desktop in between them, the Steam Controller handles those duties with aplomb.
“And if you’re a diehard customizer who wants to build out (or just borrow from the community) bespoke button bindings and advanced touchpad controls, it does that too. Most importantly, it does both of these things without sacrificing one experience for the other.”
Steam Controller went on sale on May 4 priced $99, and it didn’t take long for Valve’s website to show the dreaded “out of stock” message — and for scalpers to sell the controller at inflated prices, with some listings sold for in excess of $200.
Valve subsequently issued an update, saying it’s working on getting more stock in, but didn’t say when. “Steam Controller ran out faster than we anticipated, and we hate that not everyone who wanted one was able to get it,” Valve said. “We’re working on getting more in stock and will have an update on expected timeline soon.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
