‘SMS Protect’ no longer a requirement for existing players in Overwatch 2: How could it affect players?
Overwatch 2 recently announced that they’ll be eliminating the requirement to ‘SMS Protect’ for all players currently playing the game who have played the original game since June 9, 2021.
In the past, Blizzard had stated that users would need to connect their mobile numbers with their Battle.net account in order to gain access to the game. Also, it was mentioned that the game would record players’ in-game chat conversations to ensure an environment that is safe and healthy for all players. But, this has created controversy since players have expressed concern about privacy.
This article will provide more detail on the recent announcement about SMS Protect being removed as well as the consequences.
Overwatch 2 is doing away of the requirement for a phone number
Whatever the platform of choice, ‘SMS Protection is a requirement to play the game regardless of whether the player has previously had Overwatch 1. But, it won’t more be required in the very near future.
A recent announcement made on the official forum, titled “Overwatch 2 Launch Status Update”reads:
“We designed Overwatch 2 to be a live service, which enables us to be responsive to a variety of player feedback. We have made the decision to remove phone number requirements for a majority of existing Overwatch players. 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. We are working to make this change and expect it to go live on Friday, October 7. We will update players once it is in effect.”
“We remain committed to combating disruptive behavior in Overwatch 2–accounts that were not connected to Battle.net as well as new accounts will still have to meet SMS Protect requirements, which helps to ensure we’re protecting our community against cheating. If a player is caught engaging in disruptive behavior, their account may be banned whether they have a new account or not.”
Blizzard appears to listen to the community and has responded to all pertinent issues. From October 7 onwards The SMS Protect program will not be required for players who already have an existing Battle.net account connected to Overwatch in the event that they have played the game before June 9 2021. However, any new accounts have to meet all SMS Protect requirements.
The impact of removing the ‘SMS Protect requirements’ in Overwatch 2
While some members of the community are happy about the removal of phone numbers requirements, some are worried due to the same reasons that led to its introduction initially. Here’s how it’s likely to affect the game:
1.) 1) The SMS Protect requirements have left some players inaccessible to the game. Prepaid phone users can’t play the game because those numbers cannot be used with Battle.net. Players who satisfy other criteria are finally eligible to participate in the game.
2.) Another of the major issues in the game right now is the smurf issue. Since the requirements have been removed, many are speculating that smurfs are destroying their experience in competitive mode. Smurfs are generally higher ranking players who utilize lower tier accounts to cause havoc on lower rankings.
3.) Another reason this change could have a negative impact on it is because of the sheer number of cheaters. This change will permit cheaters to access the game without needing the phone number connected. Although players trust Blizzard’s anti-cheat tools, every security measure has been beaten. With this layer of protection removed the game could likely experience an increasing number of cheaters over time.
Overwatch 2 is a hero shooter game developed and published through Blizzard Entertainment. It is a team game with five players, each of whom choose ‘Heroes’ who have unique abilities to fulfill the goals of the game.
The highly anticipated game suffered a somewhat rough launch. Following an DDoS attacks on the servers, as well as a host of issues with their network that were faced by users, players of the series were feeling disappointed. Although the game remains enjoyable and enjoyable but it’s currently delayed due to a variety of technical problems.