Foxy first appeared in Five Nights at Freddy's, the 2014 indie horror game by Scott Cawthon set in Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Unlike the other animatronics, he hid behind a curtain in Pirate Cove and rushed the player, making his scare a fan favourite. Clips of the FNAF jumpscare scream spread through gameplay videos, reaction compilations and meme edits on YouTube and later TikTok. Foxy remained a recurring character across sequels and spin offs, and his sudden scream is still recognised instantly by horror game fans today.