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 4 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, explicitly prohibited in Blizzard’s end-user license agreement, allows players to artificially inflate their rank. Following Musk’s admission, online forums erupted with discussions about the fairness of the games and the apparent lack of consequences for a high-profile player. Players expressed disappointment and concern that such blatant rule-breaking, especially by someone of Musk's stature, undermines the competitive spirit and the credibility of the developers' enforcement of real money trading (RMT) policies.

Both Blizzard and Grinding Gear Games declined to comment on individual player accounts or enforcement actions when contacted by IGN. Musk, who has previously boasted about his gaming prowess and claimed a top 20 global ranking in Diablo 4, now faces scrutiny over his achievements. His high-level Path of Exile 2 character, which has since died, and his performance in livestreams, have been criticized as lacking fundamental game knowledge.

The controversy intensified when a video surfaced showing a direct message exchange where Musk admitted to account boosting, claiming it was necessary to compete with Asian players. He clarified that while his streamed gameplay was genuine, his high-level character progression was not solely his own effort. Musk’s ex-partner, Grimes, defended him, claiming to have witnessed his gaming achievements in other titles.

Further allegations emerged when Musk’s Path of Exile 2 character was reportedly active while he was in Washington D.C. for Trump's inauguration, adding fuel to the fire. The situation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding account boosting, RMT, and the challenges faced by game developers in maintaining fair play in competitive online environments.