Important: Battle.Net Account Mergers Required Soon
iTZKooPA on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 27 Comments Tags: battle.net, battle.net 2.0, bnet, oswald, penguin pet, wow account merger, wow and battle.net 
Ever since Blizzard went about the process of remaking Battle.net the company has kindly asked players to merge their World of Warcraft accounts with Battle.net. As many of you may know, Battle.net is being completely revamped as the catch all account service for all of Blizzard's online-enabled products (WoW, Warcraft RTS,Diablos, StarCraft). Version 2.0 of the system is supposed to launch alongside StarCraft II, a title that is now expected in the first half of 2010.
To date, Blizzard has been enticing players to merge their accounts. Claiming it'll make logging in easier, give you faster access for spamming for BlizzCon 2009 tickets, win Warcraft III games on its own and even make one immune to H1N1. Yesterday the company stopped asking politely. Now it's outright bribery.
Or is it?
The information that Heartbourne revealed yesterday has since been modified, the mentions of a penguin pet and the firm date since removed. It's unlikely that Blizzard will back down. After all, if the company did, it would have a mob of vanity pet lovers charging the building. With Heartbourne and I at the helm.
It's not like Blizzard to hand out a specific date to something. Let alone do so and then take it back, but that's exactly what has happened. We'll likely hear more about the pending merger requirement in the near future.
I merged my WoW account long ago and haven't had a single issue. There's been problems on and off, mostly login issues, but they have never affected me (/me knocks on skull). How many of you have merged and joined the Big Brother system powered by Blizzard? For those of you that haven't, is it out of laziness, or are you actually scared of bad things happening?
Actually, Tobold just pointed something out to me. By forcing us to use an e-mail account instead of an original login name, there's a good chance that your friends/family will now know your login name. Worse yet, it'll be easier for nefarious beings to find it as well. He explains his worries about the lower security via BNet merger here.
*Note*
I logged in during lunchtime and the launcher confirmed that all accounts must be merged to Battle.net by November 12, as previously reported. Penguin will indeed be the reward for complying (to continue to pay Blizzard money).
Reader Comments (27)
I better get my penguin, or I shall join that angry mob.
I merged with Battle.net because I had to to get my Blizzcon pet. Otherwise I still wouldn't have.
I merged to get that Battle-bot pet.
we give up account security for a penguin pet?
dosent seem like a fair trade to me. i mean the account name is half of the account info. i dont want all of my friends knowing that much
I already merged my account a while back (robot and grunty all mine!) so hope that we get the penguin as well. As for security worries, my husband and I, both play WoW, are tossing around the idea that instead of whatever main email account you have, make another one at like yahoo or hotmail or whatever just for you blizzard stuff. That way * IF * someone got your email and tried to hack your stuff, all they would have is a "junk" email address and your wow games. I would also believe that Blizzard has thought of this and has many security measures already in place or set to go in place over time and when 2.0 launches that you would not have to worry quite so much. Plus this idea does help some so that hackers would not get all your email data (like bill payment emails or such). Just my 2 coppers worth.
I will only join when i have no other choice.
When things are introduced in computers it always has problems so why should battle.net be diferent.It will have a lot of problems you can be assured...
In this case for sure it´s easier to steal account if people can know my login.
My login is something so personal that almost nobody can get it unless it´s you...
I´m very worried about these changes...
I also merged to get the Battle-bot pet. Pointless cuz it was a US thing only! :@
I tried to merge my wow account yesterday and for some reason it would verify me email can anyone help?
Cant want to get my hands on that penguin =)
Don't plan on merging until I'm forced to.
why are so many people making such a fuss over this? the way i see it is if someone reall wanted to hack your account they can and WILL find a way if they really want it bad enough...i merged mine back when it first became available and i havent had any problems yet. and if you still are tenative on it just get the authenticator keychain....its like 7 bucks....come on lol
the only thing i have a problem with is blizzard pushing it so hard that really made me scared of merging my accounts what could be their gain for this? i think i merged my accounts it said verify succesfull but i dont know i didnt get my pet when are you supostu get it anyhow another problem i faced is choosing a new password i used the same password for 3 years and now i need new one i try to avoid using the same password for my diffrent accounts
I dont know I still dont trust merging my account with battle net after a incident that rly made me angry.
i merged my account but my wife has not... we use the same account.... guess i'll be needing to switch one of the email addresses huh?
I don't know why so many people are freaking out over te merge. I have had mine merged since it was first offered. No problems ever. I think you are all just over paranoid about a game.
Battle.Net is no safer than any other account type.
Seriously, stop whining
I merged yesterday, after reading Hearthborne's post. I didn't even notice it was manditory.
Penguins will be sent out later this week. Check out the top post at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml
I merged mine back when the Battle-bot was being offered. Have yet to have any issues.
Like Littleraven stated, if security is that important, and your security software is that cheap, GET AN AUTHENTICATOR KEYCHAIN, or if you have one of the supported smartphones, get the APP that is available for I think $10.
I merged mine for the battlebot pet which seems i cant get fuel for anymore :( Security is always important and with the recent email accounts being comprimised thru phishing attacks it is moreso than ever. I do not like my email adress being username, seem too much info..for a gamesite
I hope my email is'nt hacked as i prolly got some info that can be used against me in there :(
In the battle.net panel at Blizzcon 2009, they said that you will get what's called a battle.net RealID and that this is what will show up to your friends - your actual login and email address will not.
From http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcon/recaps/battlenet-panel.xml:
What is the Real ID feature?
Real ID is at the forefront of online gaming as it will allow you to easily connect, communicate, and play with real-life friends. Connect with old friends and current guildies, and make new friends with the integrated Battle.net social networking tools. Beyond simply seeing your friend’s character names (e.g. “Gorlac” in World of Warcraft or “Snip3r” in StarCraft II), and having to remember which character name goes with which friend, you will be able to see your Real ID friend and chat with him or her across Blizzard games. What’s more, Real ID is totally optional -- the options are there for you to build your Blizzard Entertainment social network however you see fit.
I did this myself lastnight. It was really easy, and the only thing that changed at login was my login ID changed. I also have to say the website is really cool :D.
I had no worries when the Blizzard development team started juicing news out that they would call for a mandatory merger over to the battle.net login system.
I have had my Battle.net account merged ever since the release of Diablo and SC, so when WoW juiced the news out I was more than delighted to switch over. No need for pets or other such things to promote the merge, though they are quite a reward for such.
It's been almost 11 years on Battle.net and I have never once had a moments trouble with logins, account security, or any other such troubles.
@ Spikolie
you don't need to use multiple email addresses for for multiple account for both you and your wife just merge all accounts held with 1 battle.net account. loging in with the new battle.net isn't the same as with the old system where you couldn't logon the same account in 2 places at once. I have multiple accounts all sharing 1 battle.net account it promps you which account you wish to play when you login. hope this helps
i don't plan on merging until i have to, for no other reason than i'd prefer to be made than do it willingly.
I already had a Battle.net account for Warcraft 3 and others...so I thought "Why the hell not" and added WoW to my games, and now I get a penguin =D
I've had my account merged with battle net for a while now, (the authenticating......... issue) and have had no problems. And the paranoid people need to buy the keychain. nuff said