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

In a shocking revelation, both Blizzard Entertainment and Grinding Gear Games have remained tight-lipped on whether they will ban the accounts of Elon Musk, following his admission of engaging in account boosting in the action RPGs Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Screenshots of a private conversation between Musk and a YouTuber surfaced, showing the billionaire admitting to paying for account boosting, a practice that violates the terms of service of most live service video games. Blizzard’s end user license agreement explicitly prohibits account boosting or power-leveling in exchange for payment.

Following Musk's admission, fans and players have expressed outrage and disappointment over the developers' silence. A Path of Exile player voiced their concerns on the game’s official forum, questioning whether the game's integrity is being undermined by not enforcing the terms of service against even high-profile cheaters like Musk. Similarly, on Battle.net, players have called for equal enforcement of the rules, arguing that no one, not even billionaires, should be above the game's policies.

When contacted by IGN, both Grinding Gear Games and Blizzard Entertainment declined to comment on the matter, stating they do not discuss individual player account behaviors or enforcements.

Musk, who has boasted about his gaming skills in various interviews, including one with Joe Rogan where he claimed to be among the top 20 players in Diablo 4, has also admitted to using account boosting as a means to compete with Asian players. In a direct message conversation revealed by the Diablo player NikoWrex, Musk confessed to account boosting, stating it was the only way to keep up with players in Asia.

Despite Musk's claims of personal involvement when streaming or posting game videos, his credibility has come under scrutiny, particularly after a January livestream where he appeared to lack a basic understanding of Path of Exile 2's mechanics. Further allegations of cheating emerged when Musk's character was seen active in Path of Exile 2 while he was attending Trump's inauguration in Washington.

In defense of Musk, musician Grimes, who shares three children with him, vouched for his gaming achievements, stating she witnessed his accomplishments firsthand. However, the controversy surrounding Musk's actions continues to raise questions about fairness and integrity in competitive gaming.