Half-Life 2, developed by Valve and released in 2004, is one of the most influential first-person shooters ever made, and its weapon sounds became instantly recognisable to PC gamers. The shotgun, a staple weapon for close-quarters combat in the game, appears throughout Gordon Freeman's journey through City 17 and beyond. As gameplay clips, mods and soundboards spread online, this short blast was ripped and shared on its own. It remains popular because it is short, loud and instantly evokes classic shooter action without needing any dialogue.