Hello.
The option to only use the Battle.net app as an authenticator seems somewhat… obsolete to me, many people out there including myself use degoogled android phones where using the play store to install apps is not an option. These open source degoogled android phones are getting more and more common.
Phones like this with for example GrapheneOS, tend to be much more secure then the “standard” android OS from google while not having default access to Play store without exposing our phones to that eco-system.
Not having the option for a third party authenticator through TOTP (Time-based one time password) through an authenticator key which can be used by open source apps like Aegis makes it harder for users like me to have a secure account as possible while being much more secure in other aspects of our daily lives.
My Feedback/ask it to consider evolving the authenticator system to use TOTP through authenticator key a possiblity or the possibility to atleast download the app through a direct APK or release system making downloads possible through apps like Obtanium.
I respectfully disagree with calling Blizzard Authenticator obsolete. It’s still supported and it still works as designed.
I understand why some people would like Blizzard to support standard authenticator apps, but I see that as a request for more options, not proof that Blizzard’s current system is obsolete.
Blizzard chooses to support its own authentication system for its own platform, and personally, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a company to require its own security solution for its services.
Whether Blizzard should support additional authentication methods is a separate discussion. Wanting more options doesn’t necessarily mean the existing system is outdated or less secure.
I agree that there’s a difference between asking for more authentication options and saying the existing system is obsolete. At the same time, the Android ecosystem has changed quite a bit, especially for users who deliberately choose devices or operating systems without Google Play Services. Having a secure way to obtain and verify apps outside the usual Play Store workflow can become important for those users.
That’s also why I think discussions around APK distribution should focus on verification and trust rather than simply whether an app is available as a direct download. People who install mobile apps from different sources need to understand what they are installing and where it comes from. For a practical example of how mobile gaming content is presented for iOS users, ffireapp provides some additional context.