The cue comes from Prey, the 2017 first-person game by Arkane Studios set aboard the Talos I space station. Players use the Psychoscope to scan Typhon aliens, learning their weaknesses and unlocking new abilities, so the beep became closely tied to identifying disguised Mimics. Clips of the scan later spread into gaming edits and memes as a generic detection sound, a role also played by Enemy Spotted in shooters. It remains popular because the short, clinical tone instantly signals analysis and hidden danger without needing any dialogue.