Buried within the myriad changes of the Path of Exile 2 0.2.0 patch notes is an intriguing reference that echoes recent events surrounding a well-known figure in the gaming community — Elon Musk. Players familiar with the game and its culture may quickly connect the dots, especially as the patch discusses updates related to Tablets and includes Musk’s notable yet humorous use of the term “things”to describe game mechanics.
Significant Enhancements to Precursor Tablets
As part of the update, the revamped Precursor Tablets will now yield an impressive increase in their effectiveness during Tower attempts when utilizing a T15 Waystone. The new mechanics are summarized in the patch notes:
“Using higher tier Waystones in Towers also now increases the number of mechanics applied by Tablets. By Tier 15 the bonus is double, allowing a single Tablet to now add four times as many things as before.”
In a revealing moment during his Path of Exile 2 streams, Elon Musk attempted to share insights about the game by stating, “…there are four things there.”This vague terminology drew immediate attention and led to his remarks becoming an instant meme within the community. The juxtaposition of his statements against his alleged expertise in the game made it a source of comedic relief and skepticism among viewers.
The Community’s Response to Elon Musk’s Gaming Claims
Elon Musk’s claims about his accomplishments in Path of Exile 2 raised eyebrows within the gaming community, particularly among streamers like Quinn69, who took it upon themselves to critique his gameplay authenticity. The disconnect between Musk’s self-proclaimed prowess and his actual knowledge of the game signaled that something was amiss. As a Level 95+ hardcore player, he would be expected to carry out numerous hours of gameplay, leading many to question how he achieved such a rank.
After significant pushback from fellow players, Musk eventually admitted to utilizing account piloting to reach his level, citing the competitive advantage of Asian players as justification for this action.
The Controversy of Account Piloting
Account piloting presents a controversial topic within competitive ARPGs, where maintaining fairness on leaderboards is crucial for community integrity. The practice is frowned upon by players, especially within hardcore-ladder environments, and it typically breaches standard game Terms of Service. Despite the community’s concerns and calls for action, GGG has yet to issue a public statement regarding the situation.
While the reference to Musk’s infamous “things”comment can be interpreted as a nod to the community’s humor around the situation, it doesn’t equate to the balanced response that many had hoped for. This update represents, potentially, the first recognition of the entire saga from the developers. Despite the controversy, Musk’s account, Random9#2886, continues to occupy a position near the top of the HC Leaderboard, illustrating the ongoing debate surrounding fairness and legitimacy in the game.