The Balloon Solid Snake meme stems from the 'Fulton Recovery System' mechanic featured prominently in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. In the game, players use inflatable balloons to whisk soldiers, animals, and even vehicles into the sky for 'extraction' to Mother Base. The meme template typically depicts an object or person being suddenly hoisted away, serving as a perfect metaphor for things being snatched, stolen, or abruptly removed from a situation. It gained widespread popularity among the gaming community for its absurd visual of a serious soldier being carried off by a giant balloon, often used to joke about life's unexpected interruptions or things being 'claimed' by others.