Mario Kart 8 was released by Nintendo in 2014, with the final lap cue built into its races as a sped-up take on each course theme. The idea of faster music on the last lap had appeared in earlier Mario Kart games, so longtime players recognised the signal instantly. As gameplay clips, speedruns and short-form edits spread online, the cue became shorthand for a race reaching its decisive moment, even outside Mario Kart itself. It remains popular because that rising tempo needs no explanation.