From Polygon · Ford James · · 2m
GTA 5's Mount Chiliad Mystery Still Unsolved After 13 Years
GTA 5's Mount Chiliad mystery remains unsolved 13 years after its creation, sparking endless theories.
In brief
GTA 5's Mount Chiliad mystery remains unsolved 13 years after its creation, sparking endless theories. GTA 5's Mount Chiliad mystery has been unsolved for 13 years, generating continuous theories and community engagement. Originally reported by Polygon.
Mount Chiliad's History
Mount Chiliad was claimed by the Spanish in 1769, taken under Mexican control in 1821, and remains in American hands since 1847.
“Claimed by the Spanish in 1769, Mount Chiliad is the highest peak in San Andreas, sitting at a height of 2,744 meters”
The UFO Revelation
After 100% story completion, standing atop Mount Chiliad at 3 a.m. during cloudy weather reveals a UFO with an F.I.B. logo.
“It's marked with an F.I.B. logo, aka the Federal Investigation Bureau, implying that it was created by the government”
UFO Behavior
The UFO doesn't react to bullets and raindrops nearby become pixelated, suggesting it's not a physical object.
“it doesn't react to bullets, and raindrops nearby become pixelated”
Hologram Theory
The UFO is likely a hologram, unlike the two functional UFOs in the game that emit electromagnetic pulses.
“The running theory is that it's a hologram, as opposed to the two other functional ufos in the game”
Mural Clues
A mural at the summit shows an eye at the top, lightning bolts on the exterior, and a maze of lines connecting to eight squares.
“Inside the mountain is a maze of perpendicular connecting lines. Each one connects to one of eight squares”
The X's and Petroglyphs
Five X's on the mural correspond to petroglyphs hidden around the mountain, each depicting a weather status for the UFO to appear.
“The community worked out that the X's correspond to petroglyphs hidden around the mountain, each of which depicts a weather status required for the Mt. Chiliad UFO to appear”
Jetpack Theory
The jetpack drawing on the mural may refer to the UFO above Fort Zancudo or a jetpack vehicle in GTA 5's single-player mode.
“In the gta online mission involving the nuclear facility, the player escapes by using a jetpack”
Cracked Egg Mystery
The cracked egg on the mural has theories linking it to the Epsilon cult, the Maze Bank Tower fountain, or an underwater UFO in Paleto Bay.
“It could refer to the Epsilon cult, as they believe the world hatched from an egg”
Subreddit Creation
One week after GTA 5's release on Sept. 24, 2013, fans created the Chiliad Mystery subreddit to solve the mystery.
“One week after GTA 5 was released, on Sept. 24, 2013, fans created the Chiliad Mystery subreddit”
Theories Beyond GTA 5
Some theories suggest the mystery extends to Red Dead Redemption 2 and other cancelled DLCs, but no definitive answers exist.
“Cancelled DLCs and datamined files have revealed a vast array of potential clues, but since those projects were never officially released”
Gator Keys' Video
YouTuber Gator Keys claimed the mystery is a satirical take on real life, with the government being all-seeing and all-powerful.
“The answer is essentially that the government is all-seeing and all-powerful, as represented by the F.I.B. logos on the UFOs and the eye on top of the mural”
Longevity of Mystery
GTA 5's unsolved mystery has engaged players for 13 years, with new theories emerging even in the last year.
“GTA 5, on the other hand, whether intentionally or not, gave players something to talk about for 13 years”
The takeaway
GTA 5's Mount Chiliad mystery has been unsolved for 13 years, generating continuous theories and community engagement.
