What do you mean Elon Musk is a “fake gamer”? He bragged about his video game skills, but it was all a set-up

Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV are two highly popular video games within the gaming community and beyond. Both offer a mix of action, strategy, and customization, all set in a fantasy universe, making them particularly appreciated by genre enthusiasts. Among them is Elon Musk, who has long claimed to be an expert player in both titles. He even emphasized this when he was a guest on Joe Rogan's podcast, which, with over 14 million subscribers on Spotify, is the most-watched program in the United States. Too bad Musk's gaming talent wasn’t entirely legitimate. Enthusiastic players of these video games recently noticed this when Musk live-streamed his gameplay of Path of Exile 2 on X. The American entrepreneur was indeed controlling a well-equipped character with many skills—a sign that numerous hours of gameplay had been invested to reach that level. However, something didn’t add up.

Watching him play, Musk seemed far from an expert: for instance, he didn’t pick up some of the most important artifacts left on the ground by defeated enemies, nor did he use appropriate terminology when discussing Path of Exile 2. Because of this, many users began to suspect that Musk had resorted to so-called "boosting", which involves rapidly leveling up one’s character by relying on more skilled players, usually in exchange for monetary compensation. This practice, in addition to being strongly condemned by the gaming community, is often banned in many video games. Soon, Musk was labeled as a "fake gamer"—someone who pretends to be a gaming enthusiast just to impress others—one of the most serious accusations in the gaming world. Moreover, the American entrepreneur did not publicly acknowledge his misstep, further disappointing Path of Exile 2 players. «What should I apologize for?», Musk said, defending himself by claiming that many other players also take advantage of "boosting."

Why Musk Pretended to Be So Good at Video Games

Becoming an expert in action video games like Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV almost always requires many hours of practice, and it is understandable that Musk—due to the high-profile roles he holds—does not have time to train. However, many users and enthusiasts suspect that over the years, the American entrepreneur has made such claims only to win over the gaming community—which is increasingly large, united, and influential. Musk «has always paid a lot of attention to his credibility in the nerdiest circles», noted Il Foglio, recalling his cameos in the Iron Man film or the series The Big Bang Theory and Rick & Morty. «Today [...] it seems that being good at video games earns you so much respect that the richest man in the world believes it is worth pretending to be», wrote The Guardian.

Among gamers, Musk has long been seen as a role model, given his "nerd" persona combined with his great entrepreneurial success. However, after this incident, something changed. For example, a passionate video game player—who claims to have «almost always defended him»—called Musk's behavior «incredibly cringe» and wrote on X that «he lost the trust of all gamers overnight.» These «are small but interesting cracks,» Il Foglio commented on the matter, «because they concern aspects that the alt-right has leveraged to establish cultural hegemony, especially among young people, and present themselves as the alternative to democratic dullness.» Even in 2022, many gaming enthusiasts suspected that Musk was a “fake gamer”: at that time, he had posted some in-game details of his Elden Ring character, which, when analyzed, revealed that he was actually a beginner—despite having long boasted about his skills. However, Canadian singer Grimes defended her ex-partner, stating that he was indeed an exceptional gamer in the past and had achieved impressive results in certain video games—including Diablo and Polytopia: «I saw it with my own eyes, and there are other witnesses who can confirm it.»