Late last week, attention turned to Elon Musk as players of Path of Exile 2 began to question his claims of possessing one of the top hardcore characters in the game. Following a live stream where he displayed perplexity over essential game mechanics, the gaming community was caught off guard by the news that his character—Percy_Verence—met its demise at level 97 on January 10, 2025, at roughly 8 am EST.

In the world of Path of Exile 2, hardcore characters can be played only until their first death; after that, they revert to standard characters. The death of high-ranking characters is announced globally within the game, contributing to the competitive nature of hardcore play.

Musk initially unveiled Percy_Verence on January 5 through his alternate account on social media, already boasting a level of 87 at that time. Players noted that during Musk’s gameplay livestream, he seemed unfamiliar with basic game functions, leading many to suspect that the character’s success might have been exaggerated.

After Percy_Verence succumbed to the dangers of hardcore gameplay, the character’s rank plummeted from seventh to thirteenth as peers quickly overtook in experience points. It has sparked a range of reactions on social media, including mockery regarding Musk’s assertions about his equipment. Comments like “Clearly it’s his level 52 gloves that held him back” circulated along with jokes about his loss.

Overall, Percy_Verence’s death reflects the fierce competition within the game, while Musk’s involvement has only fueled further conversation about authenticity and efforts in the Path of Exile 2 community.

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)