Overwatch 2 will not require present Overwatch gamers to cough up a cellphone quantity, as Blizzard rolls again the controversial anti-cheat system. TechRadar experiences: All Overwatch 2 gamers have been initially required to hyperlink an energetic cellphone quantity to their Battle.web account to play the hero shooter. Blizzard hoped the SMS Defend authentication system would assist customers confirm their accounts, and forestall disruptive and abusive gamers from returning to the sport after being banned. […] Overwatch’s cellphone quantity authentication system has confirmed controversial among the many sport’s group. A number of forms of cellphone numbers, together with these linked to pre-paid SIM playing cards and VOIP telephones, cannot be used for authentication, locking many would-be gamers out of the sequel. Even those that’d bought the unique Overwatch — which was changed by the free-to-play sequel and is not accessible — initially discovered themselves unable to play Overwatch 2 in the event that they did not have a cellphone variety of the suitable sort. Equally, many who’d purchased the sport’s Watchpoint Pack forward of its launch discovered they could not entry the sport to benefit from the $39.99 starter bundle.
“We’ve got made the choice to take away cellphone quantity necessities for a majority of present Overwatch gamers,” Blizzard stated in a discussion board put up asserting the tip of the system. “Any Overwatch participant with a related Battle.web account, which incorporates all gamers who’ve performed since June 9, 2021, won’t have to offer a cellphone quantity to play. We’re working to make this variation and count on it to go reside on Friday, October 7.” However the coverage change will not profit everybody. Blizzard says: “Accounts that weren’t related to Battle.web, in addition to new accounts, will nonetheless have to fulfill SMS Defend necessities.”
