Scandalous Games

Scandalous Games is a video game history podcast that takes a closer look at video game related controversies. Every episode, historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story about a scandalous event from gaming's past to his friends who offer commentary on moral panics, ill-advised advertising campaigns, unusual figures, and any and all topics related to video game scandals and how they shaped the medium. New episodes drop on the first and third Tuesdays of every month! Check out more info, including show notes and sources, at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.

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Scandalous Games

2025: A Year in Controversies, Part 2: We need to talk about Elon

April 07, 2026 • Scandalous Games • Episode 82

0:00 | 1:24:08

Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch and Phil Thomas. We wrap up our look back at the year in controversies that was 2025 with a deep dive into the gaming exploits of everyone's favorite (?) 4chan-pilled, billionaire oligarch/1337 gamer: Elon Musk. We dissect Musk's claims that he is a high-level player in several competitive games, how he handles when people call those mad fly skillz into question, and where his alleged gaming prowess fits into the larger world we find ourselves in.

One production note: this will be our only episode this month. Check back for a fun new pair of episodes (complete with a special guest) next month!

Topics discussed include: the rich filmography of Elon Musk, his maidenless Elden Ring build, his feud with Asmongold, Kevin costs us the Raid: Shadow Legends sponsorship, the legend of Let Me Solo Her, Fred the Batboy: World Series MVPharassing robber barons, and what do throwing pies and shoes have to do with Elon's terrible video gameplay?

For more on Musk's alleged role in the Quake competitive scene in the 1990s, see: Karl Jobst, “The Elon Musk Cheating Scandal,” February 28, 2025, https://youtu.be/z1ykCc588Zw?si=RznsRpzpbfC7mxpO.

For a deep dive into Musk and his flawed bio by Walter Isaacson, see the If Books Could Kill's series: Part 1: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-if-books-could-kill-104279346/episode/elon-musk-311623273?app=listen
Part 2: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-if-books-could-kill-104279346/episode/elon-musk-part-2-313518298?app=listen

For more on that time Elon trained Grok to play video games for him, see: Grace Kay, “War rooms, group chats, and video games: Inside Elon Musk's AI startup,” Business Insider, February 20, 2026, https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-xai-leadership-style-big-year-grok-ipo-spacex-2026-2.

For information on Elon's Diablo build see: "Master the Elon Musk Build in Diablo IV: Unleashing the Power of the Artificer's Pit," MMOORPG, December 18, 2024, https://www.mmoorpg.com/2024/12/18/3700/

For more on Elden Ring softcaps, see: Maroles Valentina Stella, "What are Elden Ring's soft caps for all stats in 2025?" Polygon, January 1, 2025, https://www.polygon.com/elden-ring-guide-walkthrough/24185164/soft-caps-stats-strength-vigor-endurance-arcane/.

For a full guide to sorceries in Elden Ring, see their respective page on FextraLife: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Sorceries.

Also, be sure to check out the podcast I'm From the Internet for their series on Jack Thompson's "A Modest Video Game Proposal," complete with a shoutout to us.

Part One: https://shows.acast.com/im-from-the-internet-a-podcast-about-somethingawfulcom/episodes/a-modest-video-game-proposal-2005-part-one

Part Two: https://shows.acast.com/im-from-the-internet-a-podcast-about-somethingawfulcom/episodes/a-modest-video-game-proposal-2005-part-two

More info, including show notes and sources at http://scandalousgamespodcast.wordpress.com.