Surf the wave, a playful Easter egg tucked inside the Windows 11 installer, has surfaced as a way to pass the time while system files are opened during a lengthy update. This discovery comes from The Verge, which highlights the hidden game’s presence in the setup flow.
The find was made by Verge editor Tom Warren while he was configuring the new Surface Laptop Studio 2 for the first time. As the device completed its initial boot, Windows 11 began a substantial update and offered the chance to try Surf the wave, turning the waiting period into a little interactive diversion.
Surf the wave is a simple top-down, pixel-art arcade game. Players guide a surfer through a watery course, dodging obstacles and trying to survive as long as possible. The core mechanic is straightforward, but it rewards precise timing and quick reflexes, turning a typically tedious update moment into a mini-challenge.
Warren noted that Surf the wave bears a resemblance to SkiFree, the classic Microsoft Entertainment Pack 3 title from 1991 that graced Windows decades ago. He also pointed out that the same game concept first appeared in the Edge browser in 2020, suggesting a lineage of lighthearted easter eggs that persist across platforms and iterations. This connection helps readers understand the playful thread through Windows products across various eras.
According to Warren, the Windows 11 installer prompts users to engage with Surf the wave when they are opening files as part of a long-running major update. The prompt essentially transforms an expected wait into a moment of curiosity and light entertainment, offering a tiny break in the otherwise technical experience of a system upgrade. This approach mirrors broader trends in software design that incorporate playful touches to improve user perception during potentially frustrating wait times.
In the broader context, this kind of hidden feature adds to the ecosystem of easter eggs that Microsoft has cultivated over the years. While not essential to the installation or to the functioning of the operating system, Surf the wave demonstrates how software can blend utility with whimsy, creating a more human and memorable interaction. For users who stumble upon it, the game becomes a neat reminder that even routine maintenance tasks can carry a moment of playful discovery, a small window of relief amid the typically serious process of updating an operating system. The overall effect is a more engaging first impression for new hardware, and it showcases how software teams can weave character into otherwise utilitarian experiences.
As such discoveries accumulate, they contribute to a broader narrative about Windows updates and user experience. The presence of an Easter egg during a major upgrade can soften the cognitive load of waiting, offering a familiar touchstone for users who have navigated similar moments in previous Windows releases. It also sparks discussions about legacy game design and how older genres continue to influence contemporary interfaces, providing both nostalgia and context for those who remember SkiFree and other retro titles. The exact placement of Surf the wave in the update sequence and its accessibility across different devices remain points of curiosity for enthusiasts following the evolution of Windows 11 and its installation process.
Meanwhile, the mention of Google’s recent big update for wireless headphones serves as a reminder that major software updates—whether on a desktop platform or mobile devices—often bring new features, performance improvements, and occasionally playful touches that aim to soften the user experience. The juxtaposition of Microsoft’s Easter egg with Google’s broader update efforts illustrates how tech companies experiment with both function and delight to keep users engaged during substantial changes to their devices.