Codex Gamicus
Register
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
(7 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{SoftwareInfobox
 
{{SoftwareInfobox
| image = Blizzard Battle.net logo.png
+
| image = Logo-Battle.net-2021.svg
 
| developer = Blizzard Entertainment
 
| developer = Blizzard Entertainment
 
| publisher = Activision Blizzard
 
| publisher = Activision Blizzard
Line 7: Line 7:
 
}}
 
}}
   
'''''Blizzard Battle.net''''' (originally just '''Battle.net''', with the current rename taking place on [[April 14]], [[2017 in video gaming|2017]]<ref name=battlenet>{{Cite web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/20972461|title=Blizzard Battle.net Update|date=2017-04-14|accessdate=2019-08-10|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|author=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]}}</ref>) is a free online gaming service originally created in [[1996 in video gaming|1996]] by [[Blizzard Entertainment]] to facilitate the growth of its video games, namely ''[[Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition]]'', ''[[Diablo]]'', and ''[[StarCraft]]''. ''[[Diablo II]]'' and ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' (and its expansion, ''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]'') would later also use ''Battle.net''.
+
'''''Battle.net''''' (formerly '''Blizzard Battle.net''', with the current rename taking place on [[March 31]], [[2021 in video gaming|2021]] back to the original name of the platform) is a free online gaming service originally created in [[1996 in video gaming|1996]] by [[Blizzard Entertainment]] to facilitate the growth of its video games, namely ''[[Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition]]'', ''[[Diablo]]'', and ''[[StarCraft]]''. ''[[Diablo II]]'' and ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'' (and its expansion, ''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]'') would later also use ''Battle.net''.
   
Being a wholly closed, commercial venture, and with the complication that use of the service (after initial investment in a game that uses it) is free, ''Battle.net'' teeters between balance and order often. Blizzard frequently takes, some might say draconian, action in banning game CD-keys and Battle.net account names associated with game exploits, cheating, and game hack modifications.
+
Being a wholly closed, commercial venture, and with the complication that use of the service (after the initial investment in a game that uses it) is free, ''Battle.net'' teeters between balance and order often. Blizzard frequently takes, some might say draconian, action in banning game CD-keys and Battle.net account names associated with game exploits, cheating, and game hack modifications.
   
For this and other reasons, the [[bnetd]] project, basically an emulation of Battle.net, was created to allow players to use the online-play capabilities of ''Battle.net'' without having to play by Blizzard's rules (since Blizzard's servers would be cut out of the picture). Under the [[Wikipedia:Digital Millennium Copyright Act|Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA), Blizzard ordered the bnetd project to Cease and Desist in early [[2002 in video gaming|2002]].
+
For this and other reasons, the [[bnetd]] project, basically an emulation of ''Battle.net'', was created to allow players to use the online-play capabilities of ''Battle.net'' without having to play by Blizzard's rules (since Blizzard's servers would be cut out of the picture). Under the [[Wikipedia:Digital Millennium Copyright Act|Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA), Blizzard ordered the bnetd project to Cease and Desist in early [[2002 in video gaming|2002]].
   
 
==Launcher==
 
==Launcher==
During ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]'', a new service was envisaged by the developers of [[Blizzard Entertainment]]; a combination of a launcher and friend system culminated in the. This went through several renames; the current name of the client is ''Battle.net Desktop App'', although it was previously known as the '''Blizzard Desktop App'''. Before the desktop app, the games such as ''World of Warcraft'', ''StarCraft II'', and ''Diablo III'' were launched by their own standalone launcher called the '''Blizzard Launcher''', themed for each game.
+
During ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]'', a new service was envisaged by the developers of [[Blizzard Entertainment]]; a combination of a launcher and friend system culminated in what was first known as the '''Battle.net Launcher'''. This went through several renames; the current name of the client is ''Battle.net'', although it was previously known as the '''Blizzard Desktop App''' and '''Blizzard Battle.net'''. Before the desktop app, games such as ''World of Warcraft'', ''StarCraft II'', and ''Diablo III'' were launched via their own standalone launcher called the '''Blizzard Launcher''', specifically themed for each game, in addition to needing individual download applications obtained from Blizzard's website.
   
The launcher supports the following ''Blizzard Entertainment'' video games, and is supported on both Microsoft Windows and macOS.
+
The launcher supports the following ''Blizzard Entertainment'' video games, and is currently officially supported on both Microsoft Windows and macOS.
   
 
* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (supported since the ''[[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria|Mists of Pandaria]]'' expansion, the Beta of the launcher supported the ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm|Cataclysm]]'' expansion.)
 
* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (supported since the ''[[World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria|Mists of Pandaria]]'' expansion, the Beta of the launcher supported the ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm|Cataclysm]]'' expansion.)
* The ''[[World of Warcraft: Classic]]'' demo was available via the launcher during the late 2018 test, and was listed until its replacement with the full version upon its launch.
+
* The ''[[World of Warcraft: Classic]]'' demo was available via the launcher during the late 2018 beta test, and was listed until it was replaced with the full version upon its launch. This was then joined by ''[[World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic]]'' in 2021.
 
* ''[[Diablo III]]'' and its expansion pack, ''[[Diablo III: Reaper of Souls|Reaper of Souls]]'', plus the DLC ''[[Diablo III: Rise of the Necomancer]]''
 
* ''[[Diablo III]]'' and its expansion pack, ''[[Diablo III: Reaper of Souls|Reaper of Souls]]'', plus the DLC ''[[Diablo III: Rise of the Necomancer]]''
 
* ''[[Hearthstone]]''
 
* ''[[Hearthstone]]''
Line 27: Line 27:
 
* ''[[Overwatch]]''
 
* ''[[Overwatch]]''
 
* ''[[Warcraft III: Reforged]]''
 
* ''[[Warcraft III: Reforged]]''
  +
* ''[[Blizzard Arcade Collection]]''
  +
* ''[[Diablo II: Resurrected]]''
   
 
The launcher also supports or supported the following video games that have been published by [[Activision]]:
 
The launcher also supports or supported the following video games that have been published by [[Activision]]:
Line 33: Line 35:
 
* ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops 4]]''
 
* ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops 4]]''
 
* ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare]]''
 
* ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare]]''
  +
* ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered]]''
  +
* ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War]]''
  +
* ''[[Call of Duty: Warzone]]''
  +
* ''[[Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time]]''
   
The client itself supports automatic patching for the games outlined above, and is able to pre-load expansion content before official release. There is currently no in-launcher support for Blizzard Entertainment's earlier offerings (such as ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos]]'') via this platform. The Launcher supports two-factor authentication via both the [[Battle.net Authenticator]] and [[Blizzard Mobile Authenticator]].
+
The client itself supports automatic patching for the games outlined above and is able to pre-load expansion content before official release. There is currently no in-launcher support for Blizzard Entertainment's legacy video games ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos'', ''Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne'', ''Diablo II'', ''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]'', ''StarCraft'' and ''[[StarCraft: Brood War]]'', and it is currently not possible to even download the original ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos'' or ''Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne'' installers via Battle.net. The Launcher supports two-factor authentication via both the [[Battle.net Authenticator]] and [[Blizzard Mobile Authenticator]].
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Battle.net logo.png|Battle.net 1.0 logo
+
Logo-Battle.net.png|Battle.net 1.0 logo
Battle.net logo2.png
+
Logo-Battle.net-1.5.png
Battle.net 2.0 logo.png|Battle.net 2.0 logo
+
Logo-Battle.net-2.0.png|Battle.net 2.0 logo
  +
Logo-Blizzard-Battle.net.png|Blizzard Battle.net logo
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
Line 47: Line 54:
   
 
{{Blizzard Entertainment}}
 
{{Blizzard Entertainment}}
{{Digital platforms}}
+
{{Digital Platforms}}

Revision as of 22:14, 22 June 2021


Battle.net (formerly Blizzard Battle.net, with the current rename taking place on March 31, 2021 back to the original name of the platform) is a free online gaming service originally created in 1996 by Blizzard Entertainment to facilitate the growth of its video games, namely Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition, Diablo, and StarCraft. Diablo II and Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne) would later also use Battle.net.

Being a wholly closed, commercial venture, and with the complication that use of the service (after the initial investment in a game that uses it) is free, Battle.net teeters between balance and order often. Blizzard frequently takes, some might say draconian, action in banning game CD-keys and Battle.net account names associated with game exploits, cheating, and game hack modifications.

For this and other reasons, the bnetd project, basically an emulation of Battle.net, was created to allow players to use the online-play capabilities of Battle.net without having to play by Blizzard's rules (since Blizzard's servers would be cut out of the picture). Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Blizzard ordered the bnetd project to Cease and Desist in early 2002.

Launcher

During World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, a new service was envisaged by the developers of Blizzard Entertainment; a combination of a launcher and friend system culminated in what was first known as the Battle.net Launcher. This went through several renames; the current name of the client is Battle.net, although it was previously known as the Blizzard Desktop App and Blizzard Battle.net. Before the desktop app, games such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Diablo III were launched via their own standalone launcher called the Blizzard Launcher, specifically themed for each game, in addition to needing individual download applications obtained from Blizzard's website.

The launcher supports the following Blizzard Entertainment video games, and is currently officially supported on both Microsoft Windows and macOS.

The launcher also supports or supported the following video games that have been published by Activision:

The client itself supports automatic patching for the games outlined above and is able to pre-load expansion content before official release. There is currently no in-launcher support for Blizzard Entertainment's legacy video games Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Diablo II, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War, and it is currently not possible to even download the original Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne installers via Battle.net. The Launcher supports two-factor authentication via both the Battle.net Authenticator and Blizzard Mobile Authenticator.

Gallery

References

  1. Bungie. (2019-08-08). Destiny 2 - PC Move to Steam. Bungie. Retrieved on 2019-08-27