Online games can build social bonds. After all, you spend a lot of time in virtual worlds, especially in MMORPGs. A new documentary on Netflix now shows the emotional story of a player who, despite a serious illness, was able to find a community in WoW.
What documentary is it about? Mats Steen was a boy from Norway who was physically limited by his illness, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His muscles gradually deteriorated due to the disease. Mats Steen passed away at the age of 25 due to the consequences of his illness.
Throughout the course of his illness, Mats Steen had a hard time participating in social life without help. But in one place, he needed no help and was able to live a life where he even made many friends: World of Warcraft. The new documentary, The Fantastic Life of Ibelin on Netflix, provides insight into Mats Steen’s life and how WoW helped him.
The documentary has now been released, and many WoW players seem to be so touched by it that they are now paying tribute to him in the game.
You can find a trailer for the documentary here:
Many players now also commemorate Ibelin in WoW
What is happening in WoW? As journalist Matt Neglia posted on x.com, countless players are currently gathering at the gravesite of Matt’s character Ibelin in World of Warcraft. There, they lay flowers and light candles for the deceased player.
The special thing about it is that the lit candles only last for 15 minutes, and the players, according to Neglia, are trying to maintain the tribute permanently. To get the candles, players must travel to a specific location, as candles cannot be shared between players.
Neglia also quotes Mats’s parents, who fittingly said in an interview that Mats often spoke about wanting to be remembered. Community members are also reacting to the X post with emotion:
One thing I have learned in the many years I have been playing this game is that you always remember those who have left us, both in and out of the game. RIP Ibelin
User @Eldenrune on x.com
If you want to visit Ibelin’s gravestone yourself, you’ll need to travel to the Elwynn Forest.
A documentary that is also interesting for people outside of WoW
What is the documentary about? The story of Mats Steen was already mentioned in an article by BBC in 2019. Despite his illness, Mats Steen was able to lead a life in WoW. Hence the title of the documentary, as his in-game character was named Ibelin. In WoW, he was able to find many friends who reached out to his family after his death.
The documentary is told through several styles. On the one hand, there are interviews with the family that tell the story from their perspective. Additionally, there are excerpts from a blog by Mats Steen, who narrates his life both as Mats and as Ibelin. Emails from Mats’s WoW friends sent to the family after the news of his death are also shown.
His WoW community also has an archive with most stories about Ibelin, allowing one to reconstruct his WoW life.
Alongside old footage of the family showing Mats at many stages of his life, the documentary also narrates a lot within World of Warcraft itself. With clips from the game and Mats’s character, all of which have been animated, the documentary reenacts several stories.
The documentary is well-received by both critics and users on Rotten Tomatoes. Currently, with 45 reviews, the critic score stands at 98%. With fewer than 50 reviews, the user score is at 95%. The positive ratings indicate that the documentary handles the portrayal of Mats and his life respectfully.
Where can you watch the documentary? The documentary has been available on Netflix since October 25, 2024, and can be viewed with a subscription. The Fantastic Life of Ibelin shows how significant the influence of online communities can be. You can find out more about Ibelin here: A heartbreaking story from the WoW community is coming to Netflix soon
