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 response from developers Blizzard Entertainment and Grinding Gear Games. Screenshots of a private conversation revealed Musk's admission to paying for account boosting, a violation of both games' terms of service.

Account boosting, where players pay for others to level up their characters, is a form of cheating widely prohibited in online games. Blizzard's EULA explicitly forbids this practice. Following Musk's confession, both developers have been pressed to comment on potential account bans.

Players have expressed outrage on official forums, questioning the fairness of the game and the lack of action against Musk, a high-profile individual. Concerns center on the perceived double standard of enforcing rules against ordinary players while seemingly overlooking violations by a billionaire. Both Grinding Gear Games and Blizzard have declined to comment on individual player actions or enforcement.

Musk, who previously boasted about his gaming skills and high rankings, has since clarified that his high-level characters were achieved with the help of account boosters, citing the competitive landscape of Asian players. He further stated that while his streamed gameplay was genuine, his high rankings were not solely his own achievement. This explanation, however, has done little to quell the ongoing debate.

The musician Grimes, Musk's former partner, has publicly defended Musk's gaming abilities, claiming to have witnessed his high rankings in other games. Further accusations emerged suggesting Musk's character was active in Path of Exile 2 while he was attending an event in Washington, adding fuel to the controversy. The situation highlights the ongoing conflict between maintaining game integrity and dealing with high-profile individuals who violate established rules.