Virtual Cities, Bigfoot and Eggs: Myth-Hunting as Hypermodern Folklore in the Grand Theft Auto Series
This article examines myth-hunting in the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) videogame series as an expression of hypermodern folklore. GTA games, known for their open-world design and controversial themes, mimic major American cities. They are filled with 'Easter eggs', many coded as supernatural, such as ghosts, aliens, and haunted sites. Myth-hunters are players who seek these mysteries, documenting their discoveries online. This activity transforms gameplay into legend-tripping and tourism of mysterious sites. The ontological status of these Easter eggs—whether they're real, urban legends, or additions by developers—creates a unique form of digital folklore. Myth-hunting once a fringe ludic form, has recently been co-opted by the games’ developer who made it a key element of newer entries in the series. Accordingly, myth-hunting, once an autonomous player practice, is now regularly part of the publisher’s player-retention strategy, allowing for further extraction of value out of hypermodern folklore of a ludic variant.