343 Industries revealed Halo Infinite's first gameplay trailer in 2020 during the Xbox Games Showcase event, and fans were disappointed to see the game's visuals as they looked underwhelming. Many believe this is one of the reasons the game was delayed, and while there may be some truth to that, the Halo Infinite gameplay trailer introduced fans to a then-budding meme, Craig the Brute.

Craig instantly became popular and an example of Halo Infinite's state at the time, capturing that general feeling while giving them something to genuinely take in stride. Many gamers quickly took to the internet to create funny Craig memes in to make light of the game's graphics, and Craig grew out to become a symbol. It's one that Microsoft should, in turn, take in stride.

RELATED: Halo Infinite Having Multiple Betas is a Good Sign

The gameplay reveal of Halo Infinite was quickly followed by detailed inspections of what caused the game to look such. There were reports that the showcased build was old and that it would look better at launch (though the delay did come afterward), and it seems the gameplay itself was really chosen with visuals in mind.

With this in mind, the latest set of Halo Infinite screenshots also seemingly show a ton of improvement, and it's likely the delay is ultimately a good thing. If this gameplay reveal means that the game is better, even when it presented the game in a lackluster light, that's only a good thing, and Craig serves a focal point for that.

As much as the team is focusing on polishing the game to make it in time for Halo Infinite's 2021 release, many fans would definitely want to see the legend of Craig live on in some way or another. An in-game reference of some sort or even a small side quest states "Craig" would be a good way to celebrate this iconic brute and his rise to meme-ness. It would further go to show how much of these events can be taken in stride.

The famous Craig meme may have left a sour taste in many fans' mouths, but using this as a way to say "hey, we're laughing too" would reflect well on Microsoft and 343 industries. After all, many would agree that the memes are hilarious. Ultimately, it seems Craig is valuable for 343 Industries right now and not capitalizing on his popularity would be a major missed opportunity.

Halo Infinite is set to release in 2021 for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Halo Infinite: 5 Rumors We Hope Are True (& 5 We Hope Aren't)