The sound comes from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a first-person shooter in which the smoke grenade is used as tactical equipment to block sightlines and cover movement. Its brief pop and hiss became familiar to millions of players through multiplayer matches, and clips of the effect were later shared on soundboards and in edited gameplay videos. Because the sound is short, clean and immediately readable, creators still reach for it when they need a quick cue for cover, escape or a sudden change of plan.