Elon Musk has found himself at the center of a new controversy involving the passionate and often-critical gaming community. The billionaire entrepreneur, known for being CEO of SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has sparked debates among gamers over his skills and authenticity as a self-proclaimed avid player.
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Musk’s Gaming Livestreams Spark Doubts
The controversy began after Musk live-streamed himself playing Path of Exile 2, a popular online action role-playing game (ARPG), on January 7. Path of Exile 2 is a challenging game set in the fictional world of Wraeclast, where players build powerful characters and combat spreading corruption. Musk’s preferred mode, Hardcore, adds extra stakes—when a character dies, it’s permanent.
While Musk’s livestream showcased his enthusiasm for the game, many in the gaming community quickly noticed discrepancies. Two of Musk’s in-game characters ranked among the top 100 globally during their lifetimes, were reportedly so advanced that their levels would require hundreds of hours of gameplay. Yet, critics pointed out that Musk’s gameplay appeared inconsistent with an elite player’s, with some suggesting his performance lacked the skill expected for such high-ranking characters.
Accusations of Boosting and Borrowed Accounts
Speculation among gamers quickly took off on platforms like Reddit and YouTube. Some alleged that Musk might have had his account “boosted” by another player or borrowed an experienced gamer’s account for his live streams. Prominent YouTubers, such as Zack Hoyt—known as Asmongold to his 3.29 million subscribers—criticized Musk’s gameplay, describing his apparent mistakes, such as ignoring valuable in-game materials. Hoyt remarked, “It’s embarrassing and silly. It makes him look bad and achieves no goal.”
The criticism snowballed as other content creators weighed in, amassing millions of views across platforms like X and YouTube. The debate highlighted the gaming community’s strong code of ethics, which values dedication, skill, and authenticity over fame or wealth. High-profile individuals like Musk are often held to a higher standard, particularly when making bold claims about their gaming prowess.
Musk’s Response to Critics
Musk, who has often described video games as his primary recreational activity, took X to defend himself against the accusations. He targeted Hoyt directly, calling him skilled at “caustic commentary” but lacking talent in video games. Shortly afterward, Hoyt shared that Musk had unfollowed him on X and temporarily revoked his verified status, though it was later restored.
In his response to critics, Musk also addressed his love for video games as a source of mental solace. He tweeted, “I play video games as a recreational activity to quiet my mind. Some days are tough, so playing video games is my strange solace.”
A History of Scrutiny in the Gaming World
This isn’t the first time Musk’s gaming credentials have been scrutinized. In 2022, some gamers questioned Musk’s skill while playing Elden Ring, another popular RPG. Observers noted that Musk’s character build included redundant equipment, such as two heavy swords and two heavy shields, which slowed down his character unnecessarily. For many gaming communities, such choices signaled a lack of expertise despite Musk’s claims to be an experienced player.
Further skepticism arose when YouTuber Charlie Christopher White Jr. revisited Musk’s previous claims about ranking among the top 20 players in the world for Diablo IV, another ARPG similar to Path of Exile 2. White remarked, “If you’re good at Diablo, you should, at least, be pretty good at Path of Exile. And he’s just not.”
The Broader Implications of Musk’s Gaming Habits
Some critics have questioned how Musk juggles his roles as CEO of SpaceX, owner of X, and now head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency while dedicating significant time to gaming. Theories range from Musk delegating his gaming responsibilities to others to him prioritizing gaming over his professional obligations. On the other hand, Musk has previously shared anecdotes about his gaming history, such as becoming one of the best Quake players during his college years, though his exact rank remains unknown.
The Culture of Gaming and Respect for Authenticity
With millions of active participants and creators, the gaming community values hard work, skill, and time investment. Respect is earned through dedication and authenticity rather than status or wealth. High-profile individuals entering this space often face intense scrutiny, especially when their claims of expertise don’t align with their performance.
Musk’s situation underscores the challenges of navigating the gaming world’s unique culture. While his passion for video games is evident, his ability to meet the community’s expectations has been questioned. Whether this controversy will tarnish his reputation among gamers or serve as a reminder of the community’s strict values remains to be seen.
