Infinite Heroes and Quests of Skyrim: Investigating the Role of Norse Mythology in the Longevity of Bethesda Game Studios’ Video Game 'The Elder Scrolls V'

This study examines the connections between narratives in video game genres, particularly action RPGs, and the processes of appropriation and circulation among communities, analyzing in deept. the interaction dynamics between the lore narratives of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and information shared inside Reddit forums. The study suggests that the Norse mythology in the video game Skyrim does not directly correlate with contemporary social conflicts. Instead, it suggests that socially relevant themes and ideologies may be attracted to different channels, such as less specific spaces. This aligns with the echo chamber model, where different themes correspond to different communicative and performative spaces. The Norse mythology serves as an open narrative infrastructure for the game's designers and players, supporting the construction of the possible world of the lore. However, the study does not show direct contamination effects on communities, suggesting that the lore may indirectly produce ideology on socially relevant issues.