The 'Future Gamer' meme, often featuring a 3D model named 'Michael,' originated from a 2020 health study that visualized how gamers might physically evolve over 20 years due to poor ergonomic habits. Featuring a hunched back, indented skull from headset pressure, and bloodshot eyes, the disturbing model quickly transitioned from a health warning to a viral sensation. Internet users reclaimed the image to mock extreme gaming culture, using it to represent 'peak performance' or the inevitable result of a 48-hour streaming marathon. It remains a popular way to poke fun at the physical tolls of a dedicated, if slightly unhealthy, digital lifestyle.