Defense Matrix activated! Fortifying gameplay integrity and positivity in Overwatch 2

news.blizzard.com:

Overwatch 2 going free-to-play is driven by our belief that the game should be played and enjoyed alongside friends. On October 4, we are excited to welcome even more players into our universe. While this is an exciting time, we also recognize that free-to-play introduces new challenges in how we disincentivize disruptive behavior and gameplay. We’re ready to meet these challenges head on with a new initiative we’re calling Defense Matrix.

Defense Matrix encompasses our infrastructure of systems designed to help protect the integrity of gameplay and promote positive behavior in Overwatch 2. This initiative is spearheaded by a group made up of cross-functional teams throughout Blizzard, and they have defined a set of goals that’s guiding our mission to ensure a great experience for all Overwatch 2 players: 

These core philosophies guide the Defense Matrix team’s efforts to work together to fortify Overwatch’s security and game experience so every hero can play the game in a fair and safe environment. 

SMS Protect brings meaningful change when it comes to disruptive play. This additional layer of security is an industry-proven solution in combating both cheating and disruptive behavior, further protecting your Overwatch 2 experience from bad actors.   

The security of your account is important, and SMS Protect helps verify ownership of your account in the unforeseen event of an account compromise. Similarly, if a disruptive player has been suspended or banned, SMS Protect makes it more difficult for them to return to the game. 

Starting October 4, 2022, all players across all platforms, including consoles, are required to have a phone number attached to their battle.net account to launch Overwatch 2. The same phone number