Overwatch 2’s launch has been plagued by a number of issues that have left the fans frustrated. One of the biggest problems is Blizzard’s requirement of adding a postpaid phone number to the Battle.net client to play the game. Here’s how to play Overwatch 2 without a phone number.
Blizzard has introduced a new “SMS Protect” scheme that asks the players to add and verify themselves with a postpaid number on the Battle.net client before playing Overwatch 2. However, it’s luckily axing this requirement for “some” players.
There was a massive outcry against the rule as many players were left clearly annoyed due to not having a postpaid phone number. This, coupled with issues like the LC-208 error and another game version error, has left the players wanting to scratch their hair.
Blizzard Makes it Possible to Play Overwatch 2 without a Phone Number
Blizzard has shared an apology to players for a problematic launch while announcing a major policy change for returning players. It announced that “a majority of existing Overwatch players” won’t need a phone number to be attached to a Battle.net account to play Overwatch 2.
“We have made the decision to remove phone number requirements for a majority of existing Overwatch players,” said the Overwatch team on Blizzard’s official forum.
“Any Overwatch player with a connected Battle.net account, which includes all players who have played since June 9, 2021, will not have to provide a phone number to play.”
Blizzard confirmed that players who have played Overwatch 1 at least once since crossplay was introduced on June 9, 2021, till the game’s shut down on October 2nd will be able to play Overwatch 2 without needing a phone number to attach to their Battle.net account.
How to Play Overwatch 2 Without a Postpaid Phone Number?
Yes, you can play Overwatch 2 without a postpaid or prepaid phone number starting Friday, October 7, 2022, if you have previously played Overwatch between June 9, 2021, and October 2, 2022.
Blizzard is axing the requirement to link their phone number for most of the returning players. However, if you haven’t played Overwatch before and you are starting off with a completely new account, your journey is going to be a bit difficult.
You must add a phone number to your Battle.net account by visiting here. Remember that you can’t add a prepaid number or VoIP. If you don’t do it, you won’t be able to play Overwatch 2.
Additionally, new players will also need to play at least 100 matches to unlock all game modes and heroes.
Why is a Postpaid phone number required to play Overwatch 2?
Blizzard previously explained why a postpaid phone number is a must to play Overwatch 2 in an interview with Forbes. It introduced the “Defense Matrix Initiative” to prevent bad actors from being able to use cheats and create additional accounts known as “smurfs.”
Before Overwatch 2, cheaters can only buy Overwatch when their accounts got banned. Now that the game has become free-to-play, it would become easier for cheaters to create smurf accounts if adding a postpaid phone number wasn’t a key requirement.
Blizzard calls it the “SMS Protect Scheme” where players must add their postpaid phone number to the Battle.net client before proceeding to play Overwatch 2. It has also introduced the “First Time User Experience” that will make new players unlock modes and heroes gradually after their onboarding.
Players are desperately calling for Blizzard to axe these as many of them can’t enjoy Overwatch 2 due to these limitations. Not everyone possesses a postpaid phone number and its requirement to play Overwatch 2 has become a huge problem for players.
The returning players have got a sigh of relief as they don’t need a phone number to play Overwatch 2 now. However, the new players and the players who are returning after a very long time are still struggling.
Do you think these methods are fair enough for the rest of the Overwatch players? Share your opinions in the comments.