Blizzard's Latest Move: Steam Overwatch 2 Suddenly Demands Phone Verification, Locking Out Chinese Players?

Recently, just days after its launch on Steam, Overwatch 2 pulled a move that left players stunned: it suddenly introduced a mandatory phone verification requirement to play. This barrier has effectively locked out a massive number of players in China, sparking a firestorm within the community.

The outrage on the NGA gaming forums was immediate. Users pointed out the absurdity of a game being available on the Steam China store while simultaneously demanding an international phone number—a clear move to alienate the local player base. One player lamented that after purchasing Diablo IV, this was their final straw with Blizzard. The comment sections were filled with condemnations of Blizzard’s 'backstabbing' tactics. Some users sarcastically noted that Blizzard was 'learning from local anti-addiction policies' but in a much more hostile way. Most pointedly, many argued that Blizzard remains so brazenly anti-consumer simply because, despite everything, there is still a persistent fan base—sometimes disparagingly called 'Blizzard apologists'—who continue to support them, essentially emboldening the company to act with impunity.