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

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 the developers' response. Screenshots of a private conversation reveal Musk admitted to paying for account boosting, a violation of both games' terms of service.

Account boosting, where a player pays another to level up their account, is explicitly prohibited by Blizzard (Diablo 4) and Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile 2). Despite this, and Musk's public admission, both companies have refused to comment on whether they will ban his accounts.

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 effectiveness of real money trading (RMT) enforcement. Questions regarding the consistency of rule enforcement and the potential for preferential treatment are prevalent.

Musk previously boasted about his high rankings in both games, claiming to be among the world's top Diablo 4 players and possessing a high-level Path of Exile 2 character (since deceased). He attributed gaming to stress relief. However, his gaming skills have been questioned, with some suggesting his high rankings were improbable given his numerous business commitments. A livestream further fueled suspicion by showcasing a lack of apparent game knowledge.

The controversy escalated when a video surfaced showing Musk's admission to account boosting on X (formerly Twitter), justifying it as necessary to compete with Asian players. He clarified that while his livestreams are genuine, his high-level character achievements were not solely his own. Musk's ex-partner, Grimes, offered a defense, claiming to have witnessed his gaming prowess firsthand.

Further allegations emerged when Musk's Path of Exile 2 character showed activity while he was in Washington D.C. for Trump's inauguration, adding another layer to the ongoing debate. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between competitive gaming, the prevalence of account boosting, and the challenges faced by game developers in maintaining fair play.