The Halo Infinite meme phenomenon took off primarily following the game's initial gameplay reveal in 2020, which birthed the legendary 'Craig the Brute'—a low-fidelity NPC whose blank stare became an overnight symbol for the game's early graphical hurdles. Beyond Craig, the franchise's return to its roots inspired a wave of nostalgic content, featuring Master Chief in various 'finish the fight' scenarios or humorous interactions with the new AI, 'The Weapon.' These memes typically bridge the gap between hardcore Xbox fans and the broader gaming community, often poking fun at the long development cycle, the grappling hook mechanics, and the shift toward an open-world Zeta Halo.