Ever since it shook the world some 20 years ago, Grand Theft Auto has been the source of frequent rumors and myths. Grand Theft Auto 5 is no exception. Being the largest game in the series as of now, Grand Theft Auto 5 houses dozens of urban legends regarding characters, locations, vehicles, creatures, and even weapons the player can encounter. A lot of these rumors tend to be disproven, but others become actual Easter eggs, and even cryptic science-fiction staples like aliens have been part of Grand Theft Auto.
With Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition having recently released, now is an appropriate time for Rockstar to address certain Grand Theft Auto 5 myths. The game is being re-released again for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and maybe certain rumors, especially the Mount Chiliad Mystery, will finally either become a reality or be disproven.
The Mount Chiliad Mystery
The Mount Chiliad Mystery is one of the most persistent myths in Grand Theft Auto 5. It involves the biggest mountain in the state of San Andreas, and at the summit the player can find what seems to be a map of Mount Chiliad. The map contains several cryptic symbols that allegedly lead to new discoveries in the mountain, as well as a drawing of the Eye of Providence. These aesthetical choices were never further developed, nor addressed by Rockstar. The Xbox Series X and PS5 versions of Grand Theft Auto 5 can start the dissection by providing more information on the origins of this oddity.
Despite its mysterious status, Mount Chiliad is home to proven myths. One notable rumor that was proven to be a reality if the presence of a UFO that is completely harmless and even appears to be holographic. Rockstar glancing at it when thinking of changes to add in the new versions of Grand Theft Auto 5 is unlikely, however the presence of actual UFOs in Grand Theft Auto Online shows the one on top of Mount Chiliad can become more than a hologram.
The Jetpack
The most prominent source of rumors and fan requests in the Mount Chiliad Mystery is the alleged presence of a jetpack. Despite being a recognizable “vehicle” in San Andreas, the jetpack is nowhere to be found in Grand Theft Auto 5's San Andreas, much to the dismay of fans. The jetpack’s otherwise complete absence is likely the reason why the Mount Chiliad Mystery is so prominent in a sea of myths, rumors, and urban legends. The jetpack was a popular form of transportation in San Andreas, and by excluding it from a game that has Easter eggs referencing other games like Bully, Rockstar wasted an opportunity to provide valuable fan service.
The jetpack’s prominence in Grand Theft Auto 5 discourse shows how much fans want it to come back. There is not just one rumor to follow, but a series of possible explanations for the jetpack’s existence in the game. For one, hackers have found evidence that Rockstar considered bringing the jetpack back in Grand Theft Auto 5, with source code for a jetpack found in two separate updates and the Doomsday Heist update in Grand Theft Auto Online finally introduced a jetpack called the “Thruster.” Despite its debut, the Thruster has never been available in single-player mode. This update shows that Rockstar is willing to put jetpacks, or at least a counterpart, back in Grand Theft Auto, but the studio seems averse to the idea of making jetpacks more accessible for unexplained reasons.
Some stubborn Grand Theft Auto fans have been searching for more clues regarding the jetpack’s existance. There have been several conspiracies about the jetpack’s existence being implied, such as a sticker of a jetpack in Lester’s home being interpreted as foreshadowing. The mere presence of a jetpack on the Mount Chiliad map convinced fans that there was one to be found, and theories about a jetpack being located in the military base Fort Zancudo have also propped up. The jetpack has been mentioned so many times by Grand Theft Auto fans that Rockstar would do its people a disservice by dismissing the idea in the next-generation versions of Grand Theft Auto 5. If not here, Grand Theft Auto 6 bringing back cut content would the next best opportunity.
The Alien Egg
Another big myth has do with the Mount Chiliad Mystery. Aliens are enough of a regular appearance that players have dressed up as aliens in Grand Theft Auto Online in the past. Actual aliens have also showed up in Easter eggs and in Michael De Santa’s hallucinations. The alien egg in particular is the most prominent myth related to Mount Chiliad aside from the infamous jetpack.
According to rumors, this particular egg is located underwater, near the Sonar Docks. According to supposed screenshots, it looks like xenomorph eggs from the Alien movies. Considering an actual green alien egg shows up in Grand Theft Auto Online, another one showing up in the main game would not be too farfetched. This is another instance where Rockstar can address a popular myth and finally provide some closure.
Strange events in Grand Theft Auto Online are practically the norm, and part of the fun of the franchise is attempting to decipher the eccentricities that surround the player. However, the Mount Chiliad Mystery is more than just a simple rumor, it is an event that players want to fully experience. Since the PC, PS4, and Xbox One versions of Grand Theft Auto 5 added some new features, such as a first-person mode, Rockstar shouldn't ignore something that has intrigued fans for years in the newest generation of gaming tech.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions in development.