Topline
Tesla chief Elon Musk spatted with Twitch streamer Zach Hoyt on Thursday, criticizing him after the content creator questioned Musk’s purported position as a top ranked player in the action role-playing video game “Path of Exile 2,” marking the latest instance of public scrutiny around the tech billionaire’s gaming prowess.
Musk considers gaming as one of his main hobbies. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesKey Facts
The post at the heart of the beef between Musk and Hoyt, known as Asmongold on Twitch, featured the streamer reacting to a YouTube video showing streamed gameplay from Musk that did not appear consistent with gameplay styles of top players on “Path of Exile 2.”
The video Hoyt reacted to was published by fellow Twitch streamer Quintin Crawford, known as Quin69, showing Musk’s rank as No. 12 on the video game’s hardcore game mode and providing analysis of Musk’s gameplay.
In Hoyt’s video, titled “Elon Musk is not getting away with this..,” Hoyt suggests Musk may be paying someone to play and level up his account, saying Musk does not “need to pretend to be this elite, top, number one gamer in order to have people that like video games” respect him—though he did not provide direct evidence backing up his claim.
Musk defended his gaming record by mentioning streams he has participated in “with the world’s best players,” though he did not explain his disputed, high rank in “Path of Exile 2,” instead using his platform to say Hoyt “is NOT good at video games”—a community note was later added to Musk’s tweet defending himself to note some of Asmongold’s gaming achievements.
Musk also leaked private messages between him and Hoyt about the streamer’s content and editing process, saying Hoyt has to “ask his boss for permission before he can do anything” even though editors are typically employed by content creators.
Hoyt said Musk’s comment about him not being good at video games was unnecessary, saying “Leaking my DM’s is one thing but this is absolutely uncalled for.”
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
What Video Games Has Elon Musk Said He’s Good At?
Musk said in an appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” he was one of the top players in the world at “Diablo IV,” another action role-playing video game. He also posted a world record speedrun on one of the video game’s most difficult levels. Musk has also claimed he was one of the best players on Quake, a pioneering first-person shooter game developed in the 1990s.
Why Have People Criticized Musk’s Claims About His Skill Level?
Much of the scrutiny and disbelief surrounding Musk’s gaming prowess revolves around the time needed to become elite or high-leveled in the games he has played—time many people believe Musk does not have as the CEO of several successful companies. In the case of the high level supposedly reached by Musk in “Path of Exile 2,” YouTube commentators such as Crawford pointed out that to achieve it, a gamer would need to sink an extremely high number of hours for days on end. Gamers have also scrutinized Musk for his odd gameplay and game setting choices that can be indicative of an unskilled player. Musk once notoriously took criticism from the gaming community after posting his questionable character build (a combination of weapons, items and abilities) in the critically acclaimed video game “Elden Ring,” with users on X saying “Real gamers knew Elon was a fraud” after he posted the build.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Musk’s net worth at $426.8 billion, making him by far the wealthiest person in the world.
Key Background
Musk’s love of video games dates back to his childhood, when he wrote his own video game, “Blastar,” at the age of 12. Musk has said video games “calm” his mind, telling computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman that “killing the demons in a video game calms the demons in my mind.” The billionaire’s businesses have even been influenced by his love for video games. The Tesla Cybertruck, a futuristic and peculiarly shaped pickup truck, was influenced by vehicles in video games like “Halo” and “Cyberpunk 2077,” according to Walter Isaacson’s Musk biography. Claire Elise Boucher, the singer and songwriter known as Grimes who dated Musk for a time, told Isaacson that Musk had no hobbies or means of relaxing outside of video games, “but he takes those so seriously that it gets very intense.”
Further Reading
Gamers Suspect That Elon Musk Is Faking It (Forbes)
Elon Musk Says He’s A Global Top 20 ‘Diablo 4’ Player, And It’s Actually True (Forbes)
Read the full article here
