[GameSpot] - Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Will Require Phone Number Verification

[343iBot]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 comes out later this month, but there's a surprise that many potential players didn't see coming. According to a page on Battle.net, Modern Warfare 2 players will be required to provide a phone number connected to a valid data plan. Additionally, VOIP and prepaid numbers won't work.

This decision is apparently part of a company-wide initiative at Activision Blizzard to fight toxic behavior in its multiplayer games. We saw the policy in action last week at Overwatch 2's launch, which led to controversy. In theory, this requirement will prevent abusive players (such as smurfs and boosters) from making new accounts, which means they'll be held accountable for their actions.

However, restricting VOIP and prepaid numbers might stop hackers from worming their way back into the system, but it also has the unfortunate side effect of blocking people who rely on such services from playing the game entirely. Given that Overwatch 2 is supposedly a free-to-play game, this would seem contrary to the company's intentions. Additionally, given that prepaid phones are often cheaper than their competition, this policy definitely hits poor and underprivileged people the hardest, as well as kids who are too young to own their own phones.

While Overwatch 2 isn't the first game to require a valid phone number to play online, reports from The Verge and the general playerbase suggest that Battle.net is being much more strict about prepaid and VOIP phone plans than games like Dota 2. In response to the controversy, Activision Blizzard announced that they will waive the phone policy for those who played the original Overwatch and have a connected Battle.net account. However, new users must still provide a phone number.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 releases on October 28. The sequel to 2019's Modern Warfare reboot released its launch trailer last week.

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[MikeHuston]

It's cool to see Activision Blizzard taking a stand against toxic behavior in their games, but it's also worth noting that some players might be affected by the phone number verification requirement, especially those who rely on prepaid or VOIP plans. I hope the company will consider the potential impact on these players and find a way to make the verification process more inclusive.

[DenisBradford]

Sorry for replying so late, but I just came across your post. It's interesting to see how Activision Blizzard is taking steps to combat toxic behavior in their multiplayer games. However, I can see how the requirement for a phone number might be inconvenient or exclusionary for some players. If you're worried about using your personal number or don't have a valid data plan, you can use free us numbers for verification services to enjoy the game without any hassle. It's good to hear that they're waiving the policy for some existing users though. Overall, it'll be interesting to see how this policy plays out and whether it actually helps reduce toxicity in the game.

Edited April 23, 2023 by DenisBradford