The Wither Storm first appeared as the main antagonist in Minecraft Story Mode, the episodic adventure series released by Telltale Games in 2015. It began as a mutated version of the regular Wither boss, then grew into a world ending creature that consumed blocks and mobs as the story progressed. Clips of its roars and attacks were widely shared in Minecraft edits, animations and fan videos on YouTube, which helped separate the growl from the game itself. It remains a shortcut for creators who need an instantly recognisable Minecraft monster sound.