The Spike is the bomb-style objective device in Riot Games' tactical shooter Valorant, released in 2020. Sounds tied to planting and defusing quickly became recognizable to players because rounds often hinge on split-second audio information. The defuse cue spread through highlight edits, streamer clips and short-form gaming memes as a shorthand for high pressure and clutch timing. It is still widely used because even non-players can understand the feeling of a countdown, especially alongside bomb has been planted or Enemy Spotted references.