New Delhi: Modern Warfare 2 requires mobile number verification. To access the game, players will need to register with a phone number, according to a recently updated article on the Battle net website.

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The SMS Protect verification system, as Blizzard Entertainment likes to refer to it, aims to reduce negative player behavior and the use of multiple free accounts. The PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will go on sale on October 28.

Overwatch 2 players reported closing their Battle.net accounts last week due to a similar practice. Those who have prepaid mobile plans exclusively.

According to information regarding phone number verification on a separate support page on the Battle.net website, "Mobile phones with prepaid plans may not work with the phone notification service."

Blizzard eventually loosened restrictions for players who had been registered with Battle.net for more than a year as complaints began to mount. However, new participants will have to add their numbers.

We are still committed to preventing disruptive behavior in Overwatch 2, so new accounts and accounts that were not previously associated with Battle.net will still need to comply with SMS security requirements.

Thus, all "newly created" Modern Warfare accounts as well as those for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will now be subject to verification.

The page also states that SMS or text message based notifications will be used only for notifications. This means that it cannot be configured for other two-factor authentication (2FA) apps such as Authy, Google Authenticator, and other apps of a similar nature.

In addition, VoIP services such as WhatsApp and iMessage do not support receiving two-factor codes.

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According to a report by PC Gamer published last week, accounts of some Modern Warfare 2 beta testers were getting locked because they used prepaid mobile numbers.

The source said that videogame players should not be required to sign a contract with a telecommunications company to access the games they have purchased. Especially considering the growing popularity of prepaid phone plans like mine.

Using phone number authentication for games is not a new idea; Both Rainbow Six Siege and Dota 2 implemented this successfully. Even Counter-Strike: Global Offensive contributed to the trend that players open a Prime account to protect themselves from hackers and Smurfs.

The Smurfs, or high-ranking players who create multiple accounts and interfere in lower level matches for entertainment purposes, are unknown to the general public.

Imagine it as a burner phone. However, requesting a mobile number limits the account to one. Unless you travel with multiple SIM cards, which is common in India.

Both of these multiplayer games do not request a postpaid mobile number, which casts doubt on Blizzard's demands. In a market like India, where on an average 9 out of 10 people have prepaid numbers, it will be interesting to see how it performs.

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Also, given that Modern Warfare 2 is available on both Steam and Battle.Net, it's unclear whether this practice is applicable to all PC users.

Launch dates for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X are set for October 28.

Early access to the campaign segment is available for digital pre-order from October 20.