The Jockey debuted as one of the new Special Infected in Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, released in 2009 as the sequel to the co-op zombie shooter. Unlike larger infected, it was designed to separate survivors by jumping on them and steering them into danger while laughing maniacally. Clips of its voice lines circulated through gaming forums, YouTube edits and soundboards, where players gave it nicknames in different regions. Its distinctive cackle remains instantly recognisable to shooter fans and continues to be reused as shorthand for being hijacked by chaos.