Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 Devs Won’t Say Whether They’ll Ban Elon Musk for Account Boosting

Elon Musk's admission to paying for account boosting in Diablo IV 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 revealed Musk's use of account boosting, a violation of both games' terms of service that involves paying others to level up accounts. This practice allows players to artificially inflate their rank, undermining fair play.

Following the revelation, both Blizzard and Grinding Gear Games declined to comment on whether they would ban Musk's accounts, fueling further outrage among players. Forum posts express disappointment and concern that a billionaire can circumvent the rules, questioning the fairness and consistency of enforcement. One Path of Exile player voiced concern that this incident severely damages the credibility of the game's real money trading (RMT) enforcement. Similar sentiments are echoed on Battle.net, with players questioning the application of the rules and demanding accountability.

Musk has previously boasted about his gaming skills, claiming to be among the top players in Diablo IV. However, his performance has been scrutinized, with some questioning whether his busy schedule allowed for the time commitment required to reach such high levels. A recent livestream further fueled these doubts, showcasing a lack of understanding of game mechanics.

A video released by Diablo player NikoWrex revealed a direct message conversation where Musk admitted to account boosting, justifying it as necessary to compete with Asian players. He clarified that while his streamed gameplay is genuine, his high-level characters were achieved through boosting. Musk also questioned the need for an apology.

In Musk's defense, musician Grimes, his former partner, tweeted about witnessing his gaming achievements in other games, claiming he was a top player in Diablo and Polytopia. Further allegations emerged suggesting Musk's Path of Exile 2 character was active while he attended the Trump inauguration in Washington, adding fuel to the ongoing debate. The situation remains unresolved, highlighting the ongoing tension between competitive gaming, high-profile players, and the enforcement of game rules.