Blizzard Battle.Net
"Your gateway to all things Blizzard."
Blizzard Battle.net is an online DRM/Digital Distribution client that was founded by Blizzard Entertainment during December 31, 1996, along with Diablo. Mainly it's one of the first online gaming service that incorporated games that make use of it. Though this early form of Battle.net gave the top notch multiplayer features of its time, where the gamer can connect with his internet friends. Though other than user account data, game data wasn't stored in the Blizzard servers.
During March 20, 2009, Blizzard reveal Battle.net and its revamped features, this will be the first of a long line of rebranding and name changing of the launcher. This is the first time were friends list, connecting to other accounts, and integration were first seen in the world. Blizzard Entertainment also give a better matching making system and revamping the ladder system, based on skill, as a way to make competitive playing much easier.
Facebook was integrated with Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment announced this on May 5, 2010, stating that "Linking the world's premier online gaming platform with the world's most popular social platform."
During the late 2016, the client gone through another set of rebranding, since according to the Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, the current form created confusion for gamers and also Blizzard wanted to consolidate the branding. They had other ideas of what new names that they would like to try, but rightfully decided that there's too much history, name recognition, and legacy behind the name of "Battle.net". During sometime around August 2017, they decided on the launcher's current name Blizzard Battle.net, as a means to combine the best of both worlds and to lessen the confusion.
Sometime around September 2017, the mobile version of Battle.net was released, but unlike the desktop version found in computers, it just provides networking features with the gamer and his friends, including accepting, unfriending, sending friend invitations, and even chatting with online peers.
Around October 23, 2017, the desktop version of Battle.net gotten a much needed makeover, by giving a tab that's decided to chats and groups, while giving introduction profiles that can be customizable and avatars. Just to catch up to speed with other clients and launchers, like the Discord. Even the ability to gift in-game gifts, like loot boxes or a Hearthstone card pack, including video games, to friends.
Blizzard Gear
The Blizzard Gear part of the launcher's website, leads to Blizzard's very own store were merchandise about their games can be sold, some of these items can only be bought there alone, while others are not exclusive and can be bought at third-party stores.
Sometime in July 7, 2018, Blizzard Entertainment opened a European branch for their online store, even pumping it with cool stuff from their famous titles, like Heroes of the Storm and StarCraft.
- Allegedly Free Game: Most of Blizzard's games are free to try, straight out of their game tabs.
- Adaptation Name Change: Blizzard keeps doing this, the client's first name was Battle.net, until it went through several iterations until it became its' current name.
- Bag of Holding: The virtual backpack that Blizzard will give players, it "holds" the Blizzard Authenticator, the Blizzard SMS, and whatever free items in the slots. But when those are remove, the backpack returns to its regular size.
- Those free items are then move to another bag.
- Beware of Vicious Dog: The Core Hound Pop is a "guard dog" to one's account.
- Can't Drop the Client: Played straight for Blizzard's recent PC versions of their games.
- Cool Old Guy: Battle.net was one of the oldest PC gaming clients, it came out during 1996.
- Digital Avatar: The profile images that one can choose or customize.
- Digital Distribution
- DRM: It's another application to install into the PC.
- Even Better Sequel: The Battle.net and Blizzard authenicator for mobile replaced the hardware authenications, because both apps outdid the authenicator devices.
- Averted slightly, since the portable keychain charm appearing devices are still alive and kicking.
- Full-Name Basis: Blizzard had users used their real names in the forums, just to cut down on "flame wars."
- Averted, when they got rid of this feature due to criticism.
- Going Mobile: There's a mobile version of Blizzard Battle.net.
- No Export for You: If one wants Blizzard games, one must make a Blizzard account to buy them.
- Same for some of their merchandise.
- Don't forget some of Activision's own games, like the PC version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Destiny 2.
- The physical Battle.net Authenticator devices can only be obtain from the official Blizzard store.
- If one wants a Core Hound, he/she must attach the Authenicator to their Blizzard accounts, unless they're playing Warcraft/World of Warcraft.
- Meaningful Rename: The original Battle.net is still around, so it was renamed into "Battle.net Classic".
- The Merch: It's Blizzard Entertainment gear for the horde!
- Microtransactions: It's not just in their games, but if one wants to change his battletag, after using up his free chance to do so, he must pay $10 for another name change.
- Obvious Beta: In 2013, the Battle.net PC launcher entered open beta, having its users test it with StarCraft II, Diablo III, and World of Warcraft.
- Oddly-Overtrained Security: In 2008, Blizzard went overboard, just for to help their customers protect their accounts. One of the ways they went overboard is for gamers to submit a Government ID, birth certificate (if the gamer is a minor), and so forth to tech support if they have any problems, especially just for simple things, like submitting a ticket, or changing parental controls. Just to make sure it's the customers and not Aiden Pearce or Sombra.
- Subverted, they made a two-factor authentication device as options.
- Online Alias: That's what the Battle tags are for.
- The Password Is Always Swordfish: One of the authenicators requires a code number from the phone app or authenicator.
- Plot Coupon: The Battle.net Authenticator, which also functions just as well as the mobile app and keeps players accounts secure.
- Press X to Not Die: A mild form, using the Blizzard Authenicator app requires the user to tap on the screen to confirm it's them.
- Random Name Generator: Gamers who are signing up for the first time will use this tool to make their Battle tag.
- Subverted, Blizzard gives only one free chance to change one's Battle tag.
- Recycled Title: The new names for the client still has some form of "Battle.net".
- Retro Gaming: The old classics, like Blackthorne, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, are also being sold.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: There's a moloc sihouettes in the Blizzard Gear's store top page, one is pushing a cart and trying to get some last minute shopping done.
- To WoW players, they get a Core Hound Pup, who is an account-wide pet that appears when one attaches an authenticator and the critter is waiting for them in-game mailbox.
- Screwed by the Lawyers: Blizzard forced bnetd, an Open Source Blizzard.net server emulator, to stop.
- Swiss Cheese Security: On August 4, 2012, hackers hacked the North American Battle.net servers by getting access to users' personal stuff, like e-mail addresses. Blizzard had to tell their customers to change all their passwords.
- Weird Currency: Played straight that gamers can convert their World of Warcraft gold into credit, doing this can having some extra game currency for buying virtual goods for games, like Overwatch and Hearthstone.
- We Sell Everything: Averted, Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that they won't sell non-Blizzard games, just to obtain their quality standard.
- Somewhat averted, due to some of the latest Activision games being sold in B.Net.
- Also, somewhat subverted, during October 1, 2019, after when Bungie split they were forced by Activision to take Destiny 2 out of Battle.net and moved it to Steam.