In an effort to protect player accounts and limit in-game toxicity, Blizzard has added SMS Protect to players in Overwatch 2. This system required all players on all platforms to have a phone number associated with their Battle.net accounts.
But it's not just about protecting the players; SMS Protect also helps Blizzard control exactly who can access Overwatch 2. Blizzard has since announced that it will be removing SMS Protect for Overwatch 9 players who previously played Overwatch 2021 as of June 2, 1. In case you don't quite understand what is SMS Protect, we have explained it here.
В previous blog post Detailing its Defense Matrix initiative to discourage disruptive behavior and gameplay, Blizzard said: “SMS Protect brings meaningful change when it comes to disruptive gaming. This additional layer of security is an industry-proven solution to combat cheating and disruptive behavior, further protecting your Overwatch 2 experience from bad players.”
Blizzard continues: “SMS Protect helps verify ownership of your account in the event of an unexpected account compromise. Likewise, if an offending player has been suspended or banned, SMS Protect makes it difficult for them to get back into the game. "
At first glance, this may seem like a good thing, but in fact, it prevents many players from participating in Overwatch 2 for reasons unrelated to their behavior. SMS Protect does not take into account households that may share the same phone number, nor does it accept prepaid or VOIP numbers.
As a result, many players cannot access the game, and this especially affects younger players or those who cannot afford paid phones, contracts, etc.
ICYMI: Blizzard Will Remove Controversial SMS Protect From Overwatch 2 For OW1 Players
New players will still have to play with their phone number
Blizzard is also trying to fix the servers & is aware of current issueshttps://t.co/SJKpiKvvCn pic.twitter.com/OySUYeYnqB
- Nibel (@Nibellion) 6th of October 2022
Due to the change in events, Blizzard announced. on their launch status update page that the SMS Protect system will be deleted. Blizzard says that "any Overwatch player with a connected Battle.net account, which includes all players who have played since June 9, 2021, will not be required to provide a phone number to play." The consequences of this will begin on October 7th.
Although it is something, this is not the end of the SMS Protect system blocking players in the game. Those who haven't played Overwatch and are looking to join the new free-to-play game can still run into trouble if the system doesn't accept their phone number.
However, Blizzard has indicated that it will be making further adjustments in this area as needed. Let's hope that those who paid for any Overwatch 2 content, or even the original Overwatch game itself, will get access to the game soon.
Regarding the ongoing server issues, Blizzard says, "We have resolved some issues and are in the process of resolving others, but players should still expect queues."
