Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X/Twitter, has sparked controversy after admitting to using account boosting services in the popular action RPGs, Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Screenshots from a private conversation with a YouTuber revealed Musk's confession, raising concerns among the gaming community about the integrity of these games.
Account boosting, where a player pays for someone else to play their account to elevate their rank, is considered cheating and is explicitly prohibited by the terms of service of most live service video games. Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Diablo 4, specifically states in its end user license agreement that such practices are forbidden.
Following Musk's admission, both Blizzard Entertainment and Grinding Gear Games, the developer of Path of Exile 2, have been questioned about their stance on potential account bans for Musk. However, both companies have declined to comment on whether they will take action against Musk's accounts, maintaining their policy of not discussing individual player account behaviors or enforcements.
The gaming community has expressed significant disappointment and frustration over this issue. On the Path of Exile forums, one player voiced their concerns, questioning the enforcement of the game's terms of service and the impact on the game's credibility. Similarly, on Battle.net, players have asked if Musk's account should be banned given his public admission of cheating.
Musk has previously boasted about his gaming skills, claiming to be among the top players in Diablo 4 and having achieved a high level in Path of Exile 2. However, his gaming achievements have come under scrutiny, particularly after a January livestream where he struggled with basic game mechanics in Path of Exile 2. The revelation of his use of account boosting services has led many to question the legitimacy of his accomplishments.
In a direct message conversation shared by the Diablo player NikoWrex, Musk admitted to using boosting services, citing the competitive advantage of Asian players as his justification. Despite this, Musk insists that when he streams or posts gameplay videos, it is genuinely him playing.
The controversy has extended beyond the gaming community, with Musk's former partner, musician Grimes, defending his gaming achievements. She claimed to have witnessed Musk's accomplishments firsthand, including being the first American druid to clear a challenging level in Diablo and ranking high in other games.
Further allegations of cheating surfaced when Musk's Path of Exile 2 character was seen active in the game while he was attending Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington. This has only intensified the debate over the fairness and integrity of competitive gaming, particularly when high-profile figures like Musk are involved.
