Elon Musk Sparks Gamer Fury in the Path of Exile 2 Streaming Controversy

Elon Musk is facing backlash from critics online, once again. This time, it originates from the gaming community.

The tech mogul has recently stepped away from his positions as CEO of SpaceX and advisor to President-elect Donald Trump to address some niche content creators within the gaming realm, responding to allegations questioning his authenticity as a gamer.

The accusations equate to a form of false valor regarding video games and focus on recent livestreams where Musk engaged in playing Path of Exile 2, a renowned online role-playing game in which players choose from various characters to eradicate the corruption affecting the fictional realm of Wraeclast. When playing in hardcore mode, as Musk does, the death of a character is irreversible. As players advance, their characters attain higher levels, enhancing their power and abilities.

However, numerous gamers have highlighted what they believe to be a significant inconsistency. Two of Musk’s characters were notably strong — ranking among the top 100 most powerful globally — when they were “alive” (those two characters associated with Musk have since “perished” and are now ranked in the 30s and 200s, respectively). The level of Musk’s now-deceased characters would necessitate dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of gameplay to reach, depending on the player’s skill. Nevertheless, many gamers argue that his skills seem to be lacking.

“I’m a massive supporter of Elon Musk — but this is cringeworthy and quite foolish,” Zack Hoyt, known as Asmongold to his 3.29 million YouTube subscribers, remarked in a video released on Sunday. “It portrays him poorly and serves absolutely no purpose. It’s inconsequential and accomplishes nothing.”

Criticism aimed at the X CEO — who has long described himself as an enthusiastic gamer — gained momentum online following his livestream of playing Path of Exile 2 on Jan. 7. A few days later, in the Reddit community for the game, some accused Musk of utilizing someone to “boost” his account or play on his behalf. Others suggested that he was gaming using the account of a more skilled player.

The suspicions surrounding Musk’s gaming abilities gained traction after Hoyt and several prominent creators in the gaming domain echoed their concerns, posting YouTube videos that have amassed millions of views and circulated across various platforms, including X. They referenced what they identified as instances where Musk demonstrated he is not the top-tier player he claims to be, including neglecting valuable in-game resources that players typically collect.

Musk spent the early hours of Thursday defending himself against the accusations while throwing insults at Hoyt, proclaiming that he excels at “caustic commentary” but not in video games.

Hoyt later revealed that Musk had unfollowed him and that his blue verification check on X had been revoked (his blue check has since been reinstated).

Musk did not reply to an emailed request for comment.

The online gaming community is extensive, buzzing with message boards and chat rooms alongside hundreds of individual creators who produce thousands of videos analyzing the intricate and time-demanding games that have surged in popularity, while also discussing community drama and developments.

The culture within this community also features a somewhat informal moral code: Players who dedicate the necessary time to refine their skills and enhance their character are held in greater esteem, but such accolades are earned, not purchased. Prominent gamers are accepted — but they are also closely observed, especially when they make grandiose claims.

Musk has been under scrutiny within the gaming community for an extended period. In 2022, some members of the online gaming community remarked on the way Musk, who frequently discussed how much he played and enjoyed Elden Ring, had crafted his character with mistakes that an experienced gamer would avoid, like equipping two hefty swords and two heavy shields, which would hinder his magic-casting abilities.

Several of Musk’s past gaming claims are also being revisited. YouTuber and gaming content creator Charlie Christopher White Jr. pointed out on Jan. 11 that Musk featured on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast in November of the previous year, where he asserted that he ranked among the top 20 players in the world for Diablo IV, another ARPG akin to Path of Exile 2.

“If you’re genuinely skilled at Diablo, you should, at the very least, be fairly proficient at Path of Exile. And he simply isn’t,” White stated in a video that has been viewed over 4.6 million times.

Others have questioned how Musk can effectively manage his responsibilities at SpaceX and X while also preparing for his role in the incoming Trump administration, where he will head the new Department of Government Efficiency, if he is also dedicating several hours a day to gaming.

In a recent post on X, Musk noted that video games serve as a method for him to relax outside of managing his businesses and raising his children.

“I engage in video games as my sole recreational pursuit to calm my mind. Some days are extremely challenging, so playing video games provides my peculiar form of solace,” he expressed in the post.  

Some have speculated that despite his dubious abilities while streaming, Musk might actually be the one gaming for extensive hours to enhance his character, neglecting other obligations. That notion aligns with a narrative Musk shared with Rogan during the podcast episode in November.

“In my last semester at university, I likely invested more time in Quake than in all my academic classes combined,” Musk revealed to Rogan, adding that at one point he was among the best Quake players globally. His exact rank in Quake remains unclear.