After flexing his gaming skills on the Diablo 4 leaderboards, Elon Musk has turned his sights to the highly acclaimed action RPG Path of Exile 2. However, recent scrutiny of his gameplay has raised doubts about the billionaire’s self-proclaimed position as one of the world’s best players.
Musk’s Hardcore Ambitions in PoE 2
Musk showcased a level 95 hardcore character in Path of Exile 2 during a stream on Jan. 7, an achievement that typically requires extraordinary skill. Hardcore mode in PoE 2 is notoriously unforgiving, as characters are permanently lost upon death. Achieving such a high level is a testament to a player’s mastery of the game—or so it would seem.
Reports suggest Musk also has another hardcore character ranked 21 on the game’s top 60 leaderboard. However, his streaming performance has sparked intense debate within the PoE 2 community about how much of this success is truly his own.
Questionable Gameplay Moments
Critics have pointed out several instances in Musk’s gameplay that cast doubt on his expertise:
- Mana Mismanagement:
During the stream, Musk allowed his mana flask to remain empty for over 10 seconds, drastically reducing his damage output. This oversight is baffling for a player at such a high level. - Map Navigation Issues:
Musk struggled with the basic mechanics of running maps, including failing to connect map nodes. This is surprising, given that mastering maps is essential for progression in PoE 2. - Inefficient Looting:
Instead of quickly looting items, Musk dragged them manually into his inventory, a highly inefficient method. At one point, he failed to realize his inventory was full and continued clicking on items unsuccessfully. - Suspicious Stash Tabs:
A stash tab labeled “Elon’s map” appeared on his account, raising questions about whether the character was managed by others. Rumors also suggest that some stash tabs contained Chinese names, implying third-party involvement, though evidence remains inconclusive.
Community Reactions
The PoE 2 community has been vocal about the inconsistencies in Musk’s gameplay. Unlike his relatively unchallenged performance in Diablo 4, the hardcore nature of PoE 2 players has made them less forgiving. Many speculate that Musk’s high-ranking characters were prepared by others, potentially to enhance his reputation in the gaming world.
While the allegations of account boosting and third-party assistance remain unproven, Musk’s gameplay has done little to reinforce his claim of being among the best in Path of Exile 2.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s foray into Path of Exile 2 has drawn widespread attention but also intense scrutiny. Whether he can truly back up his claims of gaming prowess remains to be seen, as the ARPG community holds its top players to an exceptionally high standard.
Make Games Great Again: Elon Musk to Launch His Own Gaming Company