Current Events > "OW2 requirement of a phone number is punishment for being poor"

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://twitter.com/kotaku/status/1577717828211425282?s=46&t=5TsAyig0yXrfQCwc4AnuWw

i mean

dont you guys have

you know

You have to give blizzard a phone number to play? Lol

The game being free to play is a punishment for whoever paid for the game upfront at launch

Why is it requiring a phone number. How does Blizzard keep getting worse

The real question should be this: Why are so many people clamoring to play OW2 when it's been known for months and months that it's the same goddamn game?

How is it possible to have a device to play overwatch on but not have a phone?

Not allowing pre-paid phone plans is shitty

Requiring phones in the first place is ultra shitty

_DonLorenzo posted...

i mean

dont you guys have

you know

have what???

MarthGoomba posted...

Not allowing pre-paid phone plans is shitty

Wait....what? They don't allow that? Can Blizzard just fucking die already? Why do people hate poor people so much?

CRON posted...

The real question should be this: Why are so many people clamoring to play OW2 when it's been known for months and months that it's the same goddamn game?

Because the first one is gonna be shutdown isn't it?

Kotaku behind the times and parroting dumb shit as usual.

Fuck Blizzard for this lmao

Aren't they also going to be monitoring and recording game chat in OW2 as well?

Gaming is looking bleak.

Being poor is it's own punishment

I'm rather curious exactly how many people have the means to purchase a possibly unnecessary device capable of playing it and a stable enough internet connection, but don't have enough money for something much more essential like a phone. It's still a dumb decision by Blizzard, but this feels like complaining about a demographic that probably doesn't exist.

CRON posted...

The real question should be this: Why are so many people clamoring to play OW2 when it's been known for months and months that it's the same goddamn game?

Putting a 2 on it and having a big update to coincide with the title change seems to just work with this kind of stuff. In OW1 people would come back for updates all the time even if they hated playing the game at that point, and this was supposed to be the biggest update in years.

For a different game but kinda similar example: Path of Exile 2 is supposed to come out at some point and although it's a whole new campaign of Acts(that regular fans just rush through for the endgame), it's mostly just a big update. Putting that 2 on it however generates hype.

I just got a cell within the last 2 years.

So poor they can't afford a phone but we'll off enough to have a gaming PC and everything it takes to play games online?

Nemu posted...

I'm rather curious exactly how many people have the means to purchase a possibly unnecessary device capable of playing it and a stable enough internet connection, but don't have enough money for something much more essential like a phone. It's still a dumb decision by Blizzard, but this feels like complaining about a demographic that probably doesn't exist.

If you have no use for a cell, why buy one? As for the console, that's for fun and before now you didn't need a cell to play a console game.

lol Blizzard. not giving you my phone number to play your game.

Nemu posted...

I'm rather curious exactly how many people have the means to purchase a possibly unnecessary device capable of playing it and a stable enough internet connection, but don't have enough money for something much more essential like a phone. It's still a dumb decision by Blizzard, but this feels like complaining about a demographic that probably doesn't exist.

Yep, the majority of whiners are surely people jumping on an invisible wagon similar to fake outrage on social media acting angry on the behalf of others.

Stalinrules posted...

If you have no use for a cell, why buy one? As for the console, that's for fun and before now you didn't need a cell to play a console game.

How does one even function in this day and age without a cell phone? That sounds like the kind of person that needs to get their priorities in order.

People too poor to own phones got more problems than not being able to play overwatch.

And not being able to play overwatch is the exact opposite of a punishment anyway

False

Its still stupid to require it though

This isn't the right angle of attack, kotaku. But do you.

A_Good_Boy posted...

How does one even function in this day and age without a cell phone? That sounds like the kind of person that needs to get their priorities in order.

The rest of the world isn't as well off as America or Western Europe. There's people who can't afford food and clothes, but they aren't playing overwatch.

The-19th-Sparta posted...

Yep, the majority of whiners are surely people jumping on an invisible wagon similar to fake outrage on social media acting angry on the behalf of others.

I can see it though. If you have no social life beyond online gaming, and spend your extra income on a console, a game, and an internet connection. You might not have the money left for a cell. As far as "Hey, you poors, why ya spending your money on games?" Life without some sort of fun is not living, it's surviving. And without something to look forward to, there is no point in survival.

This is almost as bad as the situation in South Korea where you need to provide the equivalent of your SSN to play online video games

Stalinrules posted...

I can see it though. If you have no social life beyond online gaming, and spend your extra income on a console, a game, and an internet connection. You might not have the money left for a cell. As far as "Hey, you poors, why ya spending your money on games?" Life without some sort of fun is not living, it's surviving. And without something to look forward to, there is no point in survival.

Okay but like, just get a phone instead of a console and play games on the phone instead. If you're that poor a phone will be much more entertaining than a video game console.

FL81 posted...

This is almost as bad as the situation in South Korea where you need to provide the equivalent of your SSN to play online video games

Nah that's an amazing rule and I'd love to see it implemented world wide.

Nemu posted...

I'm rather curious exactly how many people have the means to purchase a possibly unnecessary device capable of playing it and a stable enough internet connection, but don't have enough money for something much more essential like a phone. It's still a dumb decision by Blizzard, but this feels like complaining about a demographic that probably doesn't exist.

It shuts down everyone who either doesn't have a phone or uses the wrong sort of phone.

While this specific case is not really a life or death situation, it's a stupid shitty move by Blizzard, and there are other cases where it does become much more serious (barriers to accessing healthcare because of technology hurdles, especially in the era of telehealth).

Tyranthraxus posted...

Okay but like, just get a phone instead of a console and play games on the phone instead. If you're that poor a phone will be much more entertaining than a video game console.

Who the fuck wants to play MOBILE GAMES?! I'd rather play Mario, Halo, Metal Gear. And if that's what you want, if that makes you happy, you buy it. Besides, why would a broke fucker go for games that are nothing but microtransactions?

Kloe_Rinz posted...

The game being free to play is a punishment for whoever paid for the game upfront at launch

That's the other thing: Even people who already bought Overwatch 1 are required to put in a phone number in order to continue playing.

I lived this situation, I didn't need a cell, and without my games I would have had nothing that made me happy.

Stalinrules posted...

I can see it though. If you have no social life beyond online gaming, and spend your extra income on a console, a game, and an internet connection. You might not have the money left for a cell. As far as "Hey, you poors, why ya spending your money on games?" Life without some sort of fun is not living, it's surviving. And without something to look forward to, there is no point in survival.

I highly doubt this kind of person actually exists. How does one acquire the means to play OW2 without there being a cell phone involved at any stage in the process?

Surely that person has a cell phone when dealing with an employer that provides them with an income, surely there's a phone involved when dealing with an ISP, when they ordered their pc parts online at one of several different retailers surely there was a mandatory checkout somewhere that required them to input a cell number.

And if that person has managed to do all that without a cell phone, what kind of quality of life do they even lead where can manage to scrape by without one? Seems like the kind of person that should be getting their shit together and acquire a cell phone so they can function at a minimum with society and not bother blowing their money on video games until they've managed to do so.

Weird responses trying to downplay this with "why can't u afford phone if you game"

As if it's not a monthly commitment along with an initial investment for the phone.

Stalinrules posted...

Who the fuck wants to play MOBILE GAMES?! I'd rather play Mario, Halo, Metal Gear. And if that's what you want, if that makes you happy, you buy it. Besides, why would a broke fucker go for games that are nothing but microtransactions?

First of all overwatch is a game that is nothing but micro transactions.

Secondly games that are nothing but micro transactions are free.

Third Mario has two mobile games, both free. Mario Kart World Tour, which is the biggest Mario Kart game ever made, and super Mario run, which is a cool little casual auto runner.

Fourth there are tons of traditional games on mobile, and usually way cheaper than what you pay for them on console.

They are planning on addressing this issue this afternoon. Who knows if they will fix it or just defend the decision.

https://www.ign.com/articles/overwatch-2-launch-plagued-by-lengthy-queues-prepaid-phone-plan-problems

And, it's not as if Overwatch fans with prepaid phone plans can even return to the original game, either, as Blizzard shut down the Overwatch servers to prepare for the sequel's launch this week. Rather, players who launch Overwatch will be prompted to update to Overwatch 2. Blizzard made the decision to shut down Overwatch 1 in order to retain a unified player base in the new game.

When IGN reached for comment, Blizzard responded, saying, "We plan to address this sometime soon, potentially this afternoon." We will update this story when Blizzard addresses the lack of access for users with prepaid phone plans.

HornyLevel posted...

Weird responses trying to downplay this with "why can't u afford phone if you game"

As if it's not a monthly commitment along with an initial investment for the phone.

Is that not the same thing for paying for the internet too?

A_Good_Boy posted...

I highly doubt this kind of person actually exists. How does one acquire the means to play OW2 without there being a cell phone involved at any stage in the process?

Surely that person has a cell phone when dealing with an employer that provides them with an income, surely there's a phone involved when dealing with an ISP, when they ordered their pc parts online at one of several different retailers surely there was a mandatory checkout somewhere that required them to input a cell number.

And if that person has managed to do all that without a cell phone, what kind of quality of life do they even lead where can manage to scrape by without one? Seems like the kind of person that should be getting their shit together and acquire a cell phone so they can function at a minimum with society and not bother blowing their money on video games until they've managed to do so.

Prepaid phones exist.

I wonder how many people saying they'll never give blizz their phone number already has 2FA and has had their phone number on file with Blizz for year on end and just forgot about it because they don't play many blizzard games.

DrizztLink posted...

Prepaid phones exist.

I didn't know they didn't allow prepaid phones until post 38.

A_Good_Boy posted...

I highly doubt this kind of person actually exists. How does one acquire the means to play OW2 without there being a cell phone involved at any stage in the process?

Surely that person has a cell phone when dealing with an employer that provides them with an income, surely there's a phone involved when dealing with an ISP, when they ordered their pc parts online at one of several different retailers surely there was a mandatory checkout somewhere that required them to input a cell number.

And if that person has managed to do all that without a cell phone, what kind of quality of life do they even lead where can manage to scrape by without one? Seems like the kind of person that should be getting their shit together and acquire a cell phone so they can function at a minimum with society and not bother blowing their money on video games until they've managed to do so.

It's not just the phone. You can't be on a pre-paid plan either. I've never heard of that limit before.

A_Good_Boy posted...

I highly doubt this kind of person actually exists. How does one acquire the means to play OW2 without there being a cell phone involved at any stage in the process?

They definitely exist, that's like not even a question.

HornyLevel posted...

Weird responses trying to downplay this with "why can't u afford phone if you game"

As if it's not a monthly commitment along with an initial investment for the phone.

Probably has to do with a phone being damn near a necessity in modern society idk.

Unknown5uspect posted...

Probably has to do with a phone being damn near a necessity in modern society idk.

So tens of millions of people get prepaid phone plans which Blizzard is not accepting.

A_Good_Boy posted...

I highly doubt this kind of person actually exists. How does one acquire the means to play OW2 without there being a cell phone involved at any stage in the process?

Surely that person has a cell phone when dealing with an employer that provides them with an income, surely there's a phone involved when dealing with an ISP, when they ordered their pc parts online at one of several different retailers surely there was a mandatory checkout somewhere that required them to input a cell number.

And if that person has managed to do all that without a cell phone, what kind of quality of life do they even lead where can manage to scrape by without one? Seems like the kind of person that should be getting their shit together and acquire a cell phone so they can function at a minimum with society and not bother blowing their money on video games until they've managed to do so.

That person is either a child, or an adult that has their stuff paid for by their parents, friends, or gets their money through other means that does not involve them actually working.

DepreceV2 posted...

They are planning on addressing this issue this afternoon. Who knows if they will fix it or just defend the decision.

https://www.ign.com/articles/overwatch-2-launch-plagued-by-lengthy-queues-prepaid-phone-plan-problems

At this point, I hope they just defend the decision and enforce it. The majority of the people rampantly crying about this will probably be the type of player to fill one of these archetypes: hesitant to learning (the "I play for fun" crowd), resistant to social interactions despite playing a multiplayer game, serial rage quitter/griefer, a troll, or all of the above.

When you look at the article the quote is specifically about being on a prepaid plan. Not having no phone at all.

Poor or not, I don't want Blizzard to have my phone number.

To the people thinking "Oh you have to have a phone to play Overwatch" are stupid. First of all, Blizzard doesn't accept numbers from certain providers, should people be punished from playing free to play games because they chose a certain phone carrier? What if someone doesn't want to have a phone at all or doesn't want to give Blizzard their phone number? You know teens and stuff can have game systems, which is a novel idea I know. But no, let's just blame people instead of the company.