Overwatch 2 phone requirement being removed for ‘majority’ of players, Blizzard provides launch issues update
Players with connected Battle.net accounts will no longer need to provide a phone number.
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What you need to know
While Overwatch 2 has launched, that launch has been accompanied by different issues and complaints, which developer and publisher Blizzard Entertainment is working to address.
Blizzard Entertainment outlined alaunch updateon Wednesday, addressing some of thelaunch issues and bugs in Overwatch 2. Among the issues mentioned, Blizzard noted that many players are still having problems getting into queues or finding matches.
Blizzard states that the reason players have seen their queue number increase is because there are actually two queues used byOverwatch 2, with one being handled directly by the game and the other by Battle.net. Backend changes are being implemented so players will only see one queue when trying to enter the game. The developers are also working to improve general server stability and reduce crashes.
Blizzard has also faced criticism for thedecision to require a phone numberin order to play Overwatch 2, as a means of reducing cheating and unwanted player behavior. Blizzard is removing this requirement for any accounts connected to Battle.net, which includes anyone that played the original Overwatch after June 9, 2021. A phone number will now only be required for new accounts that aren’t yet connected to Battle.net.
Some players are also reporting issues withmerging their accounts for Overwatch 2, with heroes not unlocked or items missing. Blizzard claims there are multiple reasons this could be happening, with bugs incorrectly labelling players as completely new or the launch build of the game not correctly merging accounts, but Blizzard insists that no player data has been lost, and while a client-side fix can’t take place until next week, the developers are looking at other options.
Overwatch 2: Watchpoint Pack
Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game, so everyone can jump in once the launch issues are resolved. If you want some more extras, you can grab the Watchpoint Pack, which includes some bonuses like premium currency and the battle pass for the game’s first season.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
