Elon Musk's alleged cheating in Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 has sparked controversy, with fans questioning the integrity of the games and demanding action from developers Blizzard Entertainment and Grinding Gear Games.
Screenshots of a private conversation reveal Musk admitting to paying for account boosting, a violation of both games' terms of service. Account boosting involves paying another player to level up one's account, essentially cheating to achieve higher rankings. Blizzard's EULA explicitly prohibits this practice.
Following the revelation, both developers have been pressed to comment on whether they will ban Musk's accounts. Grinding Gear Games and Blizzard have both declined to comment, citing policies against discussing individual player accounts and enforcement actions.
This silence has fueled outrage among players. Forum posts express disappointment and concern that a billionaire can seemingly circumvent the rules, undermining fair play and the credibility of real money trading (RMT) enforcement. Questions are being raised about the consistency of rule enforcement and whether the TOS are applied equally to all players, regardless of wealth or status.
Musk previously boasted about his gaming skills, claiming a top 20 global ranking in Diablo 4 and possessing a high-level Path of Exile 2 character (since deceased). However, his gameplay has been scrutinized, with some questioning his ability to dedicate the necessary time given his numerous business commitments. A livestream further fueled suspicion, showcasing a lack of understanding of game mechanics.
A video released by YouTuber NikoWrex displays a direct message exchange where Musk admits to account boosting, justifying it as necessary to compete with Asian players. He clarified that while his streamed gameplay is genuine, his high-level character achievements were not solely his own.
Musk's ex-partner, Grimes, has defended him, claiming to have witnessed his gaming prowess firsthand. Further allegations surfaced, suggesting Musk's character was active in Path of Exile 2 while he was attending a political event in Washington. The situation continues to generate significant debate within the gaming community.
