Readers of this thread may also enjoy "Texture archeology", specifically this video about a stock image of cobblestones that was reused in loads of PS1 / N64 era games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsCN0Yx2Vbsa
It was posted to HN twice with 0 comments so I figured I'd mention it here.
For a similarly fun and unexpectedly twisty deep dive, youtuber Hbomberguy has a documentary on the history and origins of the now iconic Roblox "oof" sound. A rabbit hole that's way deeper than it has any right to be.
There was a design on some pillars in Elden Ring that the community had heavily speculated on in terms of how it tied into the lore. Many believed it showcased the story of one of the game's central figures.
Then someone found it in another game, turns out it was just a stock texture.
It was posted to HN twice with 0 comments so I figured I'd mention it here.