Overwatch 2 found itself in the midst of controversy--not just because of the multiple DDoS attacks it suffered on launch--when it decided to force players to use a phone number to verify their account. The game uses a 2-factor authentication system called SMS Protect, which in theory is designed to prevent disruptive behavior, but in doing so also limits what types of phone numbers are accepted: prepaid phone plans and VOIP numbers are blocked. This led to a lot of outcry from fans, to the point that Blizzard had to partially walk back some of the restrictions, though it still requires having an aged Battle.net account.

Now, with all the ensuing drama regarding the SMS Protect restrictions, Activision Blizzard is going right ahead and implementing it yet again, in the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. A new FAQ page for Battle.net details that in order to access Modern Warfare II at all, you'll need a phone number, and once more, VOIP services and WhatsApp will not work, while prepaid phone numbers "may not work".

Source

 

[Reploid]

Who cares?

 

[scoobydude51]

It’s like this requirement could also be considered as a DRM since if you don’t enter a phone number, it locks you out from playing the entire game, including the single player campaign.

 

[ZeroFX]

What a great idea, cod fans wants to play and companies need to farm some numbers for their shared spam lists! I'm ok with my offline and coop games.

Waah waah waah I don't want to give up my phone number, I just want to grief and troll people online waah waah waah.

Ok furry.

 

[Bladexdsl]

gaming of the future:
please enter your phone number to proceed..
we have sent you an SMS to this number with a code. please enter this code to commence loading the game.

 

[ZeroT21]

This game is already cancer anyways, who cares

 

[DrPerkeleeee]

This is ridiculous. Pff what the hell?! This can't be working for all. I'm pretty sure there are countries that do not allow this. Privacy wise

 

[KingVamp]

They really don't want us to buy their games.

 

[tbgtbg]

They really don't want us to buy their games.

Mission accomplished.

Granted I never was going to buy these games, but if/when other publishers see it working and start to follow suit on games I do want to buy, that's not going to be a good thing.

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

Wait, how can they identify whether a phone number is prepaid or not? That's not information the service provider gives if some one or entity requests info on the phone number. Hell, I work at a place under one of the service providers in my country, and we can't even tell if a number from another provider is prepaid or not - and we deal primarily with phones and porting numbers over!

 

[andyhappypants]

Just like 2fa, keeps my account safe, don’t agree with the prepay discrimination though.

 

[destructor1]

Well, it stays as easy as it always has been. Don´t buy s**t from this f*cking b*llshit garbage "company".
Simple as that. It´s only a freakin´game. No one needs this. And especially not from ActiBlizzShit.
Keep the boycott alive. This IS the only way to put pressure o these f*ckers. We don´t buy the crap they throw on the market, the marketvalue of this comp goes down the frickin´ drain. Just as they f*cking deserve.

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

Well, it stays as easy as it always has been. Don´t buy s**t from this f*cking b*llshit garbage "company".
Simple as that. It´s only a freakin´game. No one needs this. And especially not from ActiBlizzShit.
Keep the boycott alive. This IS the only way to put pressure o these f*ckers. We don´t buy the crap they throw on the market, the marketvalue of this comp goes down the frickin´ drain. Just as they f*cking deserve.

I'm with you, and I am almost expecting their shareholders are going to start diminishing (if they haven't already), stocks lowering, and profits dropping and player base decreasing within the next 10 years, if not sooner.

But I can't get behind your inconsistent censoring of your swear word formats. This website allows them, anyways.

 

[CoolMe]

Modern Warfare II? Yet another remake?
Obviously, i'm way out of the loop when it comes to COD and their releases..

 

[K3Nv3]

I played the beta and it's just meh imo I'll take the 2009 release over this crap

 

[The Catboy]

Just like 2fa, keeps my account safe, don’t agree with the prepay discrimination though.

This seems more like a worse 2FA, as it’s extremely limiting and the method used is picked for you.

 

[Noblige]

Give em more of your data folks, cuz there's no way that could possibly go wrong

 

[AkiraKurusu]

dO yOu GuYs NoT hAvE pHoNeS

...God, do I miss the DS Lite and PlayStation 2 era; there was no "connect your phone number" requirement, there were practically no loot boxes or fake currencies to hide how much you're actually spending, and there was a ton more AA games being greenlit and sold.
And to think that this is what today's kids are seeing as 'normal' and all they've ever known; utterly sickening.

 

[DoctorBagPhD]

Waah waah waah I don't want to give up my phone number, I just want to grief and troll people online waah waah waah.

Shit take.

 

[Spider_Man]

And none of the actual game files will be on the disc.

It'll be fucking warzone again and you have to sit and download all the game packs in order to play the game.

 

[codezer0]

I thought the community has agreed that call of duty multiplayer is irredeemable. Why is anyone still giving bobby kotick money in [ current year ]?