Either your batteries were old[1], or you're overlooking something else that might have caused increased self-discharge, such as high humidity. Some will say it was a myth, but it was true at one time.
What is a myth is that storing cylindrical cells in your freezer will slow self-discharge, and while it is proven cold storage will reduce self-discharge, the problem with a consumer freezer or refrigerator is that they are humid, so any gains the cold would provide are more than defeated by the humidity, which not only will increase self-discharge, it can damage and short a cell. The humidity in a consumer-grade freezer drastically increases to 80%-95%RH twice a day and slowly drops over several hours. The best place to store cells is in a cool, dry location. And cells are cheap and readily available, and storing cells for years in a freezer, even if it worked, would be wasting a ton of energy just to save a tiny amount of energy, which, again, wouldn't happen anyway.
Episode 3. Awesome, and I'm not even a fan of the game. I don't game, but I actually enjoy watching others play games. I tried to watch a play through on YouTube. Amazing, incredible graphics. But booooriiing. Reminded me a lot of Myst, but far less primitive.
FWIW, there's no battery in that screen grab, for a car or otherwise. I'm not sure what is in that refrigerator (freezers rarely have grated shelves, at least, I've only seen them in floor freezers), but it isn't a car battery. Maybe it's components for a battery, though. I wondered at why they chose to show that shot.
Where's the case?[0] I also don't see the point of lowering the temperature of a plastic battery lid. It's an insulator. I guess it would keep dust off it, though.
(spoilers, and partly replying to your earlier comment above):
It's shown here because part of the storyline requires getting a car. The story specifically has him with a car available, but no battery which he has trouble getting. Just before this scene, he is told there is a car he can use, but of course he opens the bonnet and there is no battery installed (or, it's just the case, I can't remember).
As to why the lid should be in the fridge? My real-world guess is so all the bits are in one place, but the real reason is likely because the audience will more easily recognize the top of a battery over just seeing the chemicals.
Speaking of TLoU, I've tried watching it but it's so overwrought and sentimental. I feel nothing for the characters at all, it's like they're cardboard or the creators set out to create something but had nothing to say. Can't say I liked EP3, started out great but jesus they might as well have had cue cards for feelings.
As long as it is vacuum sealed from moisture, with all the air evacuated, and not just a ZipLoc bag out of which you "pressed all the air." Otherwise, the air inside the bag is the same air as where it was sealed, maybe the 50%RH of the air in a climate controlled home and kitchen, and temperature changes will cause the vapor in the air to precipitate out into moisture, and back to vapor, and this repeats every time the temperature fluctuates, which usually is twice a day as part of a freezer's frost cycle.
But then you are still using far more energy, and money, to save a minuscule amount lost from self-discharge. Li-ion cells have low self-discharge and only lose about 15% capacity per year. LSD NiMH cells like Eneloop lose about 30% capacity after 5 years. Alkaline cells, surprisingly, lose only 2-3% per year in self-discharge. LiFeS2 cells, like Energizer Ultimate Lithium, have an extremely low self-discharge rate, well under 1% per year, and have more than a 10 year shelf life, though they'll probably hold charge for at least 20 years of dry storage.
I wonder what it would amount to in mAh to lower the temperature of cells to below freezing and maintain that temperature for a year. You'd probably lose in a contest with someone panning gold out of a bottle of Goldschläger.
What is a myth is that storing cylindrical cells in your freezer will slow self-discharge, and while it is proven cold storage will reduce self-discharge, the problem with a consumer freezer or refrigerator is that they are humid, so any gains the cold would provide are more than defeated by the humidity, which not only will increase self-discharge, it can damage and short a cell. The humidity in a consumer-grade freezer drastically increases to 80%-95%RH twice a day and slowly drops over several hours. The best place to store cells is in a cool, dry location. And cells are cheap and readily available, and storing cells for years in a freezer, even if it worked, would be wasting a ton of energy just to save a tiny amount of energy, which, again, wouldn't happen anyway.
[1] https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science-you-asked/...