Origin of the phrase Press F to pay tribute
Where does the phrase come from? The internet is full of popular memes based on iconic moments from TV, movies, and live shows, and video games are no exception.
The Call of Duty franchise has generated many memes throughout its long history. The phrase "Remember, No Russian" from Modern Warfare has been altered and twisted to create many popular memes, including "Remember, no pre-orders." But it doesn't compare to the insanely popular "Press F to show respect" meme from Advanced Warfare.
The meme has been used in various ways in recent years. Some use it as sarcasm when a speedrunner or streamer commits an epic fail. Others, however, use it in legitimate moments of grief, such as during the recent Jacksonville shooting tribute stream.
But where exactly does this phrase come from in the game? And how to find it? That's where we come to the rescue.
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Activision released Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare in 2014. The game offered fans the usual set of features associated with Call of Duty games, including a single player campaign, multiplayer, and zombies.
In the campaign (beginning in 2054), you play as US Marine Private First Class Jack Mitchell, fighting North Korean invaders and terrorist organizations intent on destroying everything in sight.
Near the end of the first mission, Mitchell's best friend, Private Will Irons, is killed in action. His arm gets caught in an exploding vehicle, but Irons pushes Mitchell before it explodes; Mitchell loses his left arm in the process.
After completing the first mission of the campaign, you attend Irons' funeral. During this cutscene, the game asks you to press a button to pay tribute to your fallen teammate.
In the PC version of the game, the F key is the selected button, so the notification “Press F to pay respects” appears on the screen.
The scene has been heavily criticized, but content creators have found a way to create parody videos, draw hilarious comics, and of course make memes. Whether serious or in jest, expect the phrase to flood the Twitch chat room for years to come.