Blizzard backtracks on Overwatch 2 SMS verification for legacy players Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Blizzard backtracks on Overwatch 2 SMS verification for legacy players We're all soldiers now. News by Ishraq Subhan Reporter Published on 6 Oct 2022 24 comments Blizzard has pulled back from its requirement that players add their mobile phone number to their Battle.net account in order to play Overwatch 2. It was previously mandatory for players to enroll in the "SMS Protect" system to access the game. Players who declined would be unable to login to the game's servers. Blizzard argued that SMS Protect was necessary as the game transitioned to a live service free-to-play model, in order to combat "disruptive behaviour" and stop banned users simply creating a new account. Watch on YouTube However, the community didn't take kindly to this requirement, which could be viewed as exclusionary particularly for those without a mobile phone. Additionally, some US-based players reported they were unable to enroll with prepaid (Pay as You Go) phone numbers. The logic behind this decision makes sense, given disruptive players could potentially purchase a cheap SIM card with a new number to bypass bans. But it also had the unintended consequence of disproportionately excluding players on the lower-income scale or with a poor credit score, who may have been unable to take out a monthly contract. Acknowledging these issues, Blizzard has amended this policy so existing players with a connected Battle.net account who had played Overwatch anytime since 9th June 2021 will no longer be required to add a phone number to play Overwatch 2. Blizzard claims this should cover the vast majority of legacy players. The U-turn helps ease the burden of veteran players while also maintaining a level of verification to minimise disruptive gameplay. However, this does still exclude potentially millions of new players. Blizzard has stated it will make further adjustments if required. There are of course other methods to verify the legitimacy of players. Blizzard's sister company Activision uses hardware ID bans to combat cheating in Call of Duty: Warzone with varying levels of success. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 5 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 6 Nintendo Switch firmware update lets you take screenshots in the Switch Online app The app on your console, not your phone. 6 Latest Articles Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 5 Jelly Deals Logitech's G Pro X gaming headset is its lowest-ever price during Amazon's Early Access sale Prime Members can get it for just £52. Jelly Deals Save over £500 off the retail price on this beefy ASUS TUF Dash gaming laptop from Amazon Under £1080 for an RTX 3070 laptop. Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store