Mats Steen, a gamer from Norway with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, found solace and friendship in the game World of Warcraft.
Connecting Through Gaming
Though his disease limited his physical abilities, Mats spent thousands of hours in the virtual world, where he could freely interact and compete. When he passed away at 25 in 2014, his family thought he was isolated by his illness. However, they soon discovered that he had built a rich network of friends online who mourned his loss deeply. Through his gaming, Mats was able to form significant bonds across great distances.
A Journey into Mats’ Digital Life
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, a documentary by Benjamin Ree, explores Mats’ online adventures posthumously. The film features interviews with his closest online friends and rivals, along with insights from Mats’ family archives. It showcases Mats’ digital alter ego, Ibelin, and highlights how virtual communities can create meaningful relationships beyond physical limits.
Ree discovered Mats’ story through a BBC article that included quotes from Mats’ parents, Robert and Trude. When Ree contacted them, he was amazed to find footage featuring both his and Mats’ families. “I’m not a religious person, but I almost became religious at that moment,” Ree said. He learned that their parents were part of the same friend group in the ’80s before losing touch.
Fans often find it surprising how small the world can be.
Home videos alone couldn’t capture Mats’ full story, so Ree collaborated with animators to recreate scenes from World of Warcraft using in-game models. He also consulted Mats’ online friends for accuracy. Once the documentary was ready, Ree approached Blizzard Entertainment for permission to use their intellectual property. Although nervous, he was relieved when Blizzard executives, moved by the film, granted approval.
The documentary premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and will stream on Netflix starting Sept. 16. “It’s a huge honor that Ibelin will now be on Netflix,” Ree expressed. “Mats Steen’s story will reach millions worldwide. I couldn’t be more excited.”