Elon Musk’s Love for Deux Ex Reveals His Augmented Delusions of Grandeur

The game’s particular story intensely focused on the mechanisms of power and the tools—both technological and mystical—that elites use to manipulate and control populations. Moreover, the worlds of Deus Ex and Dishonored, another title Grossman contributed to, share similar plot elements. Beyond storylines, these games serve as critical explorations of transhumanism and the ethical decay that accompanies absolute power.

Additionally, industries and ventures Musk himself is heavily invested in find these themes directly relevant. Notably, Grossman observes that these works have a common thread centered around political influences and sharp social satire. He also finds Musk’s attraction to these elements creepy because he believes they fit within his own worldview. So, does the billionaire not comprehend the inherent critique within these stories? According to the writer, this ironic appreciation may be the game’s longest and worst legacy.

Writer Confirms Musk is Not JC Denton

Musk easily identifying the clear villains within Deus Ex isn’t a big issue, as many players have these ideals as well. The central problem, however, is that he genuinely seems to believe he is opposed to them. In real life, his public persona and actions suggest otherwise, as he’s seen as a less competent, more publicly erratic, real-world counterpart to the game’s AI-obsessed billionaire antagonist, Bob Page. Glossman also noted that it’s obvious Musk doesn’t occupy the role of the protagonist, JC Denton, within the game’s allegorical framework to highlight the bizarre nature of Musk’s disconnect.

Given Musk’s command of a bafflingly devoted online following, public criticism of Musk carries its own unique set of risks. Not only that, but his own personal propensity for targeting detractors with a level of gleeful pettiness is also a problem. For a man in his 50s overseeing multiple corporations, this behavior can lead to even bigger issues, especially if he’s challenged.

The Real Deus Ex Villain Has Logged On

Additionally, Grossman acknowledges this potential for backlash, joking about the consequences of his candid remarks. He also stated that he doesn’t want Musk to Google him, as his fans would probably murder him, in a darkly humorous nod to the intensity of the online harassment that can originate from his supporters. Grossman elaborated on this mismatch between Musk’s self-perception and his actual position of immense influence in a previous interview.

He argued that Musk pathologically imagines himself as a plainspoken everyman standing up to the elite instead of recognizing that he is the elite. The writer also delivered an even more scathing assessment by stating that Musk could resemble a Deus Ex villain. However, Grossman clarified that the franchise never actually created an antagonist quite as whiny, self-serving, and delusional as Musk has proven himself to be. With this final point, Grossman reveals the core irony that the real world has produced a figure who surpasses the fictional dystopia’s own imagination for unself-aware tyranny.