The 'But Can It Run Crysis?' meme originated following the 2007 release of Crysis, a first-person shooter known for its revolutionary but incredibly demanding graphics that pushed even the most powerful PCs of the era to their breaking point. Over time, the phrase evolved from a genuine hardware concern into a ubiquitous internet joke used to humble any piece of technology, from the latest RTX graphics cards to household appliances like smart fridges. It serves as a humorous benchmark for power, implying that no matter how advanced a system is, the ultimate test of its performance remains its ability to handle Crytek's infamous title on maximum settings.