Modern Warfare 2 will have the same pre-paid/VOIP phone restrictions as Overwatch 2

gamesradar.com:

Activision Blizzard's upcoming shooter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, seemingly features the same mobile phone requirements that have recently plagued Overwatch 2 players. 

Just days after Overwatch 2 (opens in new tab)'s release, Blizzard was forced to walk back a decision (opens in new tab) that barred players with prepaid or VOIP phone numbers from signing up to play – something that will still affect Modern Warfare 2 (opens in new tab) players.

Overwatch 2's mobile verification system was already causing a headache for some players ahead of launch (opens in new tab), but the problem was exacerbated during launch with the realization that Blizzard didn't accept pre-paid or shared phone numbers. Despite the game's free-to-play status, that all-but locked out younger players or those who might not be able to afford a long-term monthly contract.

Blizzard later updated players about some of the bigger issues that players have faced over the past couple of days, including the controversial SMS Protect (opens in new tab) feature. Although intended to combat negative behavior by holding toxic players to account, Blizzard now says that it has "made the decision to remove phone number requirements".

However, that by no means fixes the issue for all Overwatch 2 fans, and the issue persists for Modern Warfare 2 players, too.

"Adding a phone number will allow Blizzard Entertainment to send you notifications when important changes are made to your account," states the phone notifications page (opens in new tab) on the Battle.net support site.

"Any mobile phone in a supported country with a data plan, and that is not prepaid or a VOIP number, can be used with this service."

"This seems very wrong to require videogame players to