I am a Cricket Wireless Customer. I have been a loyal Blizzard supporter for 31 years, even when they deserved it the least. I have bought every game they ever made, mostly collectors editions.
I have a family. I play Overwatch with my daughters frequently. I have earned/bought every skin they’ve released so far. I am a model player with a 5 star endorsement rating.
What have I done wrong? I have plenty of money to spend but frankly as a responsible adult I can’t just go changing my phone number and those of my family (yes, not just carrier but number, too, as Blizzard has said previous prepaid or VOIP numbers will not work)
I’m sure the Venn diagram doesn’t have a majority overlap, but from what I researched there are about 12 million Cricket customers compared to 9 million OW accounts.
Please let us play the game we bought and paid for and helped keep alive while you appear to have whittled away the best parts! This is the most egregious anti-consumer situation I’ve ever faced from a video game company. Usually it’s just a poor choice (like implementing a Battle Pass) I have to make for myself. In this case, it’s not even physically possible for me to capitulate. I am just screwed. Thanks Blizzard!
The worst part being that this will only stop the laziest of smurfs, but exclude every affected rule-abiding player.
The numbers don’t add up. There has to be another reason. Otherwise they would just grandfather in all OW1 accounts and let the bad actors get filtered out by bans, after which they would face the same new requirement.
If not for Pokemon Go, I wouldn’t have a phone. No need for one in my area and in my circumstances. I think this is a horrible way to alienate certain players. Do not agree with it in the slightest.
There has to be another way to combat smurfs. Requiring phone plans is pretty excessive.
See I do have a phone plan with a damn sweet ASUS ROG Phone 5s+. Cricket just isn’t good enough for Blizzard, apparently, because it works with any other verification service I’ve tried.
I feel you man, my entire family is in the exact same boat now. I love and adore this game and I’ve played it forever and I hate how I’m all of a sudden being ostracized for what service provider I use. I shouldn’t have to switch for Blizzard if my number works on almost every other Auth platform I know, its unfair and ridiculous. Hopefully we get some clarity or a workaround but for now it’s just soul-crushing to know i’m not allowed to play my favorite game come Oct 4.
I’ve heard some people saying their numbers worked with their account despite being of those types. Have you tried adding your phone number to your account yet?
I had mine added about 10 years ago, logged in and was able to get into OW no problem yesterday. Yes it’s now on a prepaid phone but originally it was on a Virgin Mobile pay as you go phone.
I might not be a Cricket customer and I’ve been lucky that a family member has allowed me to use their number
But this absolutely stinks! It’s unfair! You should have every right and opportunity to play the game! As should everyone else in the same or similar situations!
I’m in NY. Maybe they don’t have jurisdiction, but my AG office seems to LOVE getting complaints and they’ve answered every single one I’ve ever sent (which is maybe 3 or 4).
A person cant file until after October 4th. Right now, they aren’t breaking any trade laws, or caveats of it. After the 4th, if they follow through. They will be.
they are shutting down ow1, a game i paid 4 times already. do you think they care if 5% of the players can’t verify their phone after closing a game at least a 25% of their playerbase still wants online?? nope, they dont. the list of things blizzard just ignores is endless at this point.
