Modern Warfare 2 adopts phone number verification following Overwatch 2

In Modern Warfare 2, a controversial restriction similar to Overwatch 2 will be implemented, requiring players to provide their phone numbers.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, one of the most eagerly awaited games of the year, might not be an enjoyable experience for users on prepaid phones. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which is scheduled to launch on October 28, appears to have adopted a verification policy akin to Overwatch 2, which asks players to attach phone numbers to their accounts.

Modern Warfare 2 will reportedly require prepiad phone numbers for access

According to the phone alert page on the Battle.net support website and several reports from various publications, Modern Warfare 2, Overwatch 2, and the newly created Modern Warfare account all require a phone number to gain access. The additional layer of verification, called SMS Protect, was added to Overwatch as part of Blizzard’s effort to combat toxicity and abuse in the game.

Blizzard argued that without SMS Protect, it is easy for toxic players and trolls to create new accounts if their existing ones are sanctioned. However, the new two-factor authentication system has a significant flaw: without a postpaid phone number, players would be unable to access the majority of the game. This adaptation is anticipated to exclude many players who, through no fault of their own, do not have a post-paid phone number.

Blizzard faces backlash on the phone number requirement policy

Even though many competitive games require phone numbers, no player has been denied access due to that requirement. After the game’s debut, Overwatch 2’s phone number requirement rapidly drew criticism from its player community, many of whom were barred out since prepaid plans were not supported.

Because of the overwhelmingly negative response from the Overwatch community, Blizzard swiftly relaxed the phone number requirement for select Overwatch players. Blizzard dropped the phone requirement for some existing Overwatch accounts but did nothing about the restriction on prepaid phones. For new accounts, the restriction will remain in effect, so anyone with a prepaid account who wishes to play Overwatch 2 or Modern Warfare 2 will be out of luck.

If the reaction against this policy intensifies, Blizzard may look for a different means to verify users, especially with the release of Modern Warfare 2 just around the corner. After all of the community backlash and buzz around the beta, it will be interesting to see where Modern Warfare 2 takes the COD franchise when it officially releases on October 28.

Header: CallofDuty/ Activision Blizzard