A Young Man with a Muscle Degeneration Disease
Starts a Second Life as a 'Detective' in a Game
"Friendship with People I've Never Met"
An incredible story has emerged about a patient with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare disease that causes the degeneration of muscles throughout the body, ultimately leading to death. His name was Mats Stein, a disabled young man from Norway who passed away in 2014.
Mats Stein (right), who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his game character Evelynn [Image source=Netflix]
Although Stein spent his final days alone in a solitary room, reliant on a wheelchair and oxygen respirator due to DMD, his parents discovered an astonishing fact while sorting through his belongings. Stein had been a famous figure working as a "detective" in an online game. His story has attracted attention to the extent that it was made into a documentary and aired on Netflix.
A Son Who Never Left Home... Lived a Double Life Through Gaming
Stein lived his entire life relying on a wheelchair due to a muscle degenerative disease, and in the final stage, he could barely breathe. [Image source=Netflix]
On the 26th (local time), BBC highlighted Stein’s life. He died young at the age of 25 in 2014. He suffered from DMD, a rare genetic disorder, and in its final stages, the muscles in his arms, legs, and even those needed for breathing had degenerated, forcing him to rely on machines to breathe.
His parents, Robert and Trude, said their greatest regret was that their son passed away without ever properly making friends or having the opportunity to contribute to society. However, when they posted his obituary on an online blog he frequently used, they learned something they had never known before. Stein was a well-known figure in an online game and had already changed the lives of many people there.
Worked as a Detective Helping Those Around Him
The multiplayer online game "World of Warcraft," frequently played by Stein [Image source=Blizzard Entertainment, Netflix]
The game Stein enjoyed playing was "World of Warcraft" (WoW), developed by the American company Blizzard Entertainment. Since its release in 2002, it has remained the number one massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. In this game world, Stein lived a second life as a character named "Evelyn Redmoor." Unlike the real-life Stein, Evelyn was outgoing and active, working as a detective who listened to and helped those around her.
Many people received help from Evelyn. A son who refused to attend school due to psychological burdens was able to reunite with his mother thanks to Evelyn. A woman suffering from depression since adolescence was encouraged by Evelyn and stepped back into the world. After Stein’s obituary was shared, numerous tribute messages arrived via email not only from Norway but also from neighboring countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
"Telling Our Generation’s Story Around Gaming"
Stein’s secret "double life" caught the attention of Norwegian documentary director Benjamin Lee. The 35-year-old young director was greatly inspired by Stein’s life and began working on a documentary about his story. The documentary has been streaming worldwide on the OTT platform Netflix since the 25th.
Director Lee said, "Stein’s story raises several questions for our time," adding, "Is it possible to become friends with people you have never met, to experience love or friendship? I believe Stein’s life conveys the story of generational differences, especially our generation’s story surrounding gaming."
He continued, "Since I am also in my 30s, I am familiar with virtual worlds like games," emphasizing, "Mats Stein truly grew up inside this game."
Creating a Small Tradition Among Gamers
On the 27th (local time), real gamers gathered in an online space to commemorate Stein. [Image source=Overseas online community 'Reddit' capture]
People who were close to Evelyn in the game reportedly attended Stein’s actual funeral. Moreover, the guild (community) Stein participated in within the game still gathers every year on the anniversary of his death to hold a memorial service. This memorial has become an annual event and tradition for the guild.
Director Lee told the BBC, "This gathering is proof that true friendship exists even in the digital world," explaining, "Gamers spend much more time together than friends do in real life."
Director Lee’s documentary about Stein’s life, "Evelyn’s Extraordinary Life," won both the Best Director and Audience Awards at the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
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