Mats Steen’s life was, to many, one defined by isolation. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that gradually strips away physical mobility, Mats lived much of his 25 years in a wheelchair and confined to his Oslo apartment.
His family—parents Trude and Robert, and sister Mia—watched him spend long hours online, assuming this digital existence was a lonely substitute for real-world interaction. Little did they know that Mats had been living a vibrant, fulfilling life in an online world, one filled with friendship, romance, and adventure, far beyond what they could imagine.
After Mats passed away, his parents were overwhelmed by the unexpected outpouring of love from strangers—people who knew him, not as Mats Steen, but as Ibelin Redmoore. Mats had become a beloved figure in the online game “World of Warcraft”, where he roamed the virtual world as a heroic nobleman.
His parents, who had believed their son’s life was one of isolation, were shocked when they received hundreds of emails from those whose lives had been touched by Mats, or rather, by Ibelin. Through these messages, they learned that Mats had forged meaningful relationships in the gaming community—friendships that helped him cope with the confines of his disease, and even romantic connections that brightened his digital life.
As Ibelin Redmoore, Mats was known for his kindness, empathy, and bravery. He was a monster-slaying adventurer in the game, leading others through battles and quests, while in real life, he could barely move his body. Mats used special equipment to accommodate his disability, allowing him to play, connect, and create a whole world for himself in a space where physical limitations didn’t matter.
His parents had no idea. Like many, they had dismissed the hours he spent online, urging him to focus on real-world connections, not realizing that for Mats, the virtual realm “was” his real world. “We thought he lived, for many reasons, a wasted life,” Robert Steen reflected, admitting the depth of his misunderstanding. Yet, the outpouring of love and the stories that emerged after Mats’ passing revealed the opposite. Mats had found a way to live fully, even when his body was failing him.
This incredible story is now the subject of the Netflix documentary “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin”, which delves into how online gaming provided a lifeline for Mats. It shows how the gaming world can be a place of opportunity, connection, and even escape for disabled players like him.
Using the “World of Warcraft” archives, which recorded thousands of interactions between Mats and his friends, the film recreates his digital life with animation and voice acting. It paints a vivid picture of Ibelin’s adventures, but more importantly, it highlights the friendships and community Mats built, one that extended far beyond the walls of his apartment.
For his parents, the discovery of Mats’ secret life has been both heartbreaking and eye-opening. In a world that often feels fragmented and isolating, Mats, with only the movement of his fingers, managed to create connections that many able-bodied people struggle to find.
His story is a reminder that kindness and community can thrive in unexpected places—even in the digital realm—and that sometimes, the greatest adventures happen in worlds where physical barriers simply don’t exist.
