CRW

HomeWiki

Activision Blizzard

Last updatedView on consumerrights.wiki ↗

Work in progress
This article has been flagged for additional work. Treat its claims as provisional.
Verification concerns
Editors have raised concerns about the verifiability of one or more claims.
Contents15
  1. Consumer-impact summary
  2. Incidents
  3. Starcraft II not including LAN play (2009)
  4. Diablo III Always-On DRM (2011) and Error 37 (2012)
  5. Overwatch 2 and PvE (2024)
  6. Account lock and forced arbitration (2024)
  7. Termination of Blizzard's contract with NetEase (2023)
  8. Call of Duty selling AI-generated content (2024 & 2025)
  9. H2M mod bait and switch (2024)
  10. Micro-transaction (MTX) overload
  11. Warcraft III: Reforged 3.0 removes LAN and offline play (2026)
  12. Products and franchises
  13. Patents
  14. See also
  15. References
Activision Blizzard
Basic information
Founded 2008-07-09
Legal Structure Public
Industry Video game publishing, Video game development
Also known as ABK, Acti-Blizz
Official website https://activisionblizzard.com

Activision Blizzard, Inc., often referred to as ABK (Activision-Blizzard-King), or Acti-Blizz, is an American video-game holding company. On 13 October 2023, Microsoft acquired ABK for $68.7 billion.

Activision Blizzard currently includes five business units:

  • Activision Publishing
  • Blizzard Entertainment
  • King
  • Major League Gaming
  • Activision Blizzard Studios

Consumer-impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User freedom
  • User privacy
  • Business model
  • Market control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Incidents

Starcraft II not including LAN play (2009)

In 2009, it was announced that Star Craft 2 would not include local area network (LAN) multiplayer. This came as a shock since LAN play had been a staple of Blizzard's multiplayer games. Blizzard would justify the decision by stating that using their Battle.net service would be the preferred way to play.[1][2]

Diablo III Always-On DRM (2011) and Error 37 (2012)

In August 2011, Blizzard confirmed that Diablo III would require an internet connection to be played even if users wanted to opt out of the multiplayer components.[3]

At launch, many players were unable to play game and received Error 37 which indicated that the servers were busy.[4]

Overwatch 2 and PvE (2024)

Players who bought the $15 Invasion Bundle in August 2023 paid for "permanent access" to Story Missions, expecting more content to follow. When all remaining PvE was cancelled seven months later, no refunds or compensation were offered.[5]

Account lock and forced arbitration (2024)

Main article: Activision Blizzard account lock and forced arbitration

Activision Blizzard blocked access to Blizzard services, requiring customers to accept forced arbitration terms in the updated Blizzard end-user license agreement (EULA).

Termination of Blizzard's contract with NetEase (2023)

Mainland China lost access to Blizzard's main titles for over a year as a result of licensing agreements going unmet.[6] Following this Overwatch was review-bombed on Steam and, eventually, acquired by Microsoft Gaming.[7]

Call of Duty selling AI-generated content (2024 & 2025)

An example of one of the paid AI-generated loading screens for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

In late 2024, Activision introduced multiple pieces of content to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 that were AI-generated.[8][9] This content was additionally paywalled, which further upset fans online.[9] It was not originally disclosed to consumers that this content was in-fact AI-generated, and it was not until Valve changed Steam's disclosure policies that it was confirmed publicly that this content was generated using AI software.[10]

Activision released Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in late 2025 that contains generative AI in the product. A prominent example of this is the backgrounds for the in-game calling cards, which display art that clearly has been trained on Studio Ghibli's animation style and contains the usual errors such as extra digits.[11] A user on X claimed that they were able to refund their copy on Steam despite having completed the campaign, citing a lack of disclosure as to the pervasive usage of AI in the game.[12] For its part, Activision had the required Steam disclaimer on the store listing.[13]

H2M mod bait and switch (2024)

On 15 August 2024, the Twitter account for the creators of the H2 Multiplayer Mod (a fan-made mod for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered) announced they had received and were complying with a cease-and-desist order on behalf of Activision effective immediately.[14] This occurred on the day before the mod was supposed to be released. Weeks prior, Activision put Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered on sale on Steam in order to drive sales in anticipation of the mod's release, as possessing a licensed copy of the game was a prerequisite in order for the mod to function. Fans immediately derided the move as a deliberately timed act, subsequently mass refunding and review bombing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam in protest of the C&D.[15]

Micro-transaction (MTX) overload

Main article: Downloadable content#DLC overload

Activision is well-known for its excessive usage of micro-transactions, with $1.34 billion in Q1 2021,[16] and further peaks, such as $5.1 billion in 2022.[17] It is clear that Activision is highly incentivized to generate as much revenue via micro-transactions, going so far as to contribute to the detriment of the games according to fans.[18][19] The cosmetics seen inside Black Ops 6 are reported to be the most distracting in the franchise to-date.[20]

Blizzard is additionally not innocent of pumping their content with MTX, with one of the most egregious examples being Overwatch 2.[21] The micro-transactions among this game has sparked controversy among the community as well.[22] Other Blizzard IPs are also not safe from this either, such as WarCraft,[23][24] Diablo,[25][26][27] and StarCraft.[28]

Warcraft III: Reforged 3.0 removes LAN and offline play (2026)

Warcraft III: Reforged is Blizzard's official remaster of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion pack The Frozen Throne. It includes updated graphics and audio, more World Editor tools, and modernized online services. At its 2020 launch, Blizzard said its goal was to modernize the game while keeping what players valued about it.[29]

Blizzard released patch 3.0.0 on 12 September 2026. It introduced the Definitive Edition graphics mode, raised the unit-selection limit from 12 to 24, and added World Editor tools. The update also removed local area network (LAN) multiplayer and offline play from the Reforged client. Players must now stay connected to the internet, even during single-player games.[30]

The patch notes did not explain either removal. They did not identify a technical reason why the graphics and gameplay changes required these restrictions.[30] Reforged supported both modes prior to version 3.0. In August 2022, Blizzard documented a fix for LAN play.[31] In January 2023, Blizzard documented offline play that required periodic online authentication.[32]

Blizzard directed players who wanted LAN or offline play to the separate Classic client.[30] This older version is called Warcraft III - Legacy TFT 1.29. Blizzard made it available to Warcraft III owners through Battle.net on 29 April 2026. It supports offline and LAN play only.[33] These features remain available in the Legacy client, but not in the updated Reforged client.[30]

Products and franchises

  • Call of Duty (Activision)
  • Crash Bandicoot (Activision)
  • Guitar Hero (Activision)
  • Skylanders (Activision)
  • Spyro the Dragon (Activision)
  • Tony Hawk's (series) (Activision)
  • Diablo (series) (Blizzard)
  • Hearthstone (Blizzard)
  • Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard)
  • Overwatch (Blizzard)
  • StarCraft (Blizzard)
  • WarCraft (Blizzard)
  • Candy Crush Saga (King)

Patents

Patent Name Summary Of Invention Consumer Related Drawback
US20160005270A1 System and method for driving microtransactions in multiplayer video games The patent lays the ground for a dynamically adjusting matchmaking system to ensure a positive experience for players in order to increase microtransactions. This patent includes a method to check quality factors such as facial expressions, body language, or "other observable metrics related to gameplay" in real time. That includes access to connected cameras like webcams. This clearly violates the consumer's privacy, especially without dedicated notice of such practices as in presumably Call of Duty Black Ops 6.

Source video, needs solid verification of loaded DLLs How to list DLLs

US11896905B2 Methods and systems for continuing to execute a simulation after processing resources go offline To simulate gameplay of NPCs, the system may identify end user devices (e.g., gaming consoles, personal computers, smartphones, etc.) that are connected to the system through a network and are available to participate in a simulated NPC gameplay session. This patent essentially describes how a botnet is created in the consumer's network, which is outright stealing resources to train the company's NPC AI — even after closing the game. Further misuse of affected network devices is very well possible, thanks to unclear language like "an agent [...] may program one or more physical processors of end user device[s]". This seems to be already happening with Call of Duty Black Ops 6. The game is reported to still run in the background even after closing it. You need to use the Windows task manager on PC to fully close the game's process. There are also tutorials online on how to completely close the game on console.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Faylor, Chris (2009-06-30). "StarCraft 2's Non-existent LAN Support Explained, Piracy Cited as Key Reason". Shack News. Archived from the original on 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  2. ↑ O'Vadka, Zac (2020-11-03) [2009-07-01]. "Blizzard Announces No LAN Support For Starcraft II". TweakTown. Archived from the original on 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  3. ↑ Lee, Garnet (2011-08-01). "Diablo 3 requires always-on Internet". Shack News. Archived from the original on 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  4. ↑ Kain, Erik (2012-05-17). "'Diablo III' Fans Should Stay Angry About Always-Online DRM". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2025-10-24. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  5. ↑ Holt, Kris (2023-06-12). "Overwatch 2's PvE Story Missions Are Paywalled And Will Cost $15 To Play". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  6. ↑ Craig, Danny (2023-01-16). "NetEase team behind the Chinese versions of Blizzard's titles has been dissolved". Hitmarker. Archived from the original on 2025-08-03. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  7. ↑ Lombardo, Cara; Grind, Kirsten; et al. (2022-01-18). "Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard in All-Cash Deal Valued at $75 Billion". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  8. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2024-12-09). "Call of Duty Fans Give Black Ops 6's Zombie Santa Loading Screen the Finger Amid 'AI Slop' Backlash". IGN. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Shaun_LaDee (2024-12-07). "Amid the 6 fingered Santa Controversy, I looked into some loading screens included in PAID bundles..." Reddit. Archived from the original on 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  10. ↑ Martin, Cole (2025-02-24). "Activision is forced to confirm the use of AI in Call of Duty due to Steam's disclosure policy". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  11. ↑ Kume (2025-11-13). "Kume on X". X. Archived from the original on 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  12. ↑ Bricky (2025-11-14). "Bricky on X". X. Archived from the original on 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
  13. ↑ "Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 on Steam". Steam. Archived from the original on 2026-03-24. Retrieved 2026-10-23. Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in game assets.
  14. ↑ H2 Multiplayer Mod (2024-08-15). "H2 Multiplayer Mod on X". X. Archived from the original on 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2025-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Cripe, Michael (2024-08-15). "Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Mod Canceled the Day Before Launch After Activision Sends Devs Cease and Desist". IGN. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  16. ↑ Strickland, Derek (2021-05-05). "Activision Q1 microtransctions hit $1.343 billion, best Q1 in 6 years". TweakTown. Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Kareem (2022-02-07). "Activision's $5.1 billion in microtransaction revenue could play a huge roll in Microsoft Gaming's future". onMSFT.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  18. ↑ Reeves, Brianna (2023-04-27). "MW2 players say increased micro-transaction sales are why COD won't improve". Dexerto. Archived from the original on 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  19. ↑ Lewis, Catherine (2023-04-28). "Microtransactions are killing Call Of Duty, players say". Gaming Bible. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  20. ↑ Morris, Daniel (2024-12-20). "Black Ops 6 cosmetics: has Call of Duty jumped the shark?". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2024-12-21. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  21. ↑ "Overwatch 2". macrotransactions.org. 2022. Archived from the original on 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  22. ↑ Star99er (2025-01-26). "Overwatch's Aggressive Microtransactions". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-07-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ "World of Warcraft". macrotransactions.org. 2026 [2025]. Archived from the original on 2026-10-24. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  24. ↑ Parker, Jason (2021-11-23). "World of Warcraft's New Microtransactions Are Greedier Than Ever". EsportsTalk. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  25. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2023-06-07). "Now Diablo 4 Is Out in the Wild, the True Horror of Its Costly Microtransactions Has Revealed Itself". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  26. ↑ "Diablo Immortal". macrotransactions.org. 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  27. ↑ "Diablo IV". macrotransactions.org. 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  28. ↑ ackmondual (2021-07-16). "MTX (microtransaction) is beyond suckage". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  29. ↑ Blizzard Entertainment (2020-01-28). "To Battle! Warcraft III: Reforged Is Now Live". Activision Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Kaivax (2026-09-12). "Warcraft III: Reforged - Forsaken Kingdom Patch Notes". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2026-09-21. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  31. ↑ Kaivax (2022-08-19). "Warcraft III: Reforged Hotfixes". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2026-10-24. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  32. ↑ Zuvykree (2023-01-13). "WC3 offline mode". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2026-10-24. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
  33. ↑ Kaivax (2026-04-29). "Warcraft III: Legacy (The Frozen Throne 1.29) Now Available". Blizzard. Archived from the original on 2026-10-24. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
Filed under