In StarCraft, the Protoss are one of the playable alien factions, and their upgrades are researched at specialized structures during a match. Hearing this cue tells a player that a unit, weapon or armour improvement is ready without needing to look away from the battle. As StarCraft clips, streams and strategy videos spread online, the sound became a compact shorthand for progress and improvement, which is why editors now borrow it far beyond the original game.