Battle.net desktop app
The Battle.net desktop app is a launcher application for Battle.net 2.0 games, including World of Warcraft, which replaced the Blizzard Launcher. An initial version was released in August 2013. The application unifies the login procedure for all supported games, essentially removing the need to re-enter account, password, and authenticator information when logging into a game, and is capable of displaying recent news, patch notes, and promotions relevant to each title. The app also has a chat functionality, which was enabled on 3 April 2014.[1][2] There are plans to add support for the original Blizzard games.[3] On 23 March 2017, version 1.8.0 was released that included Blizzard's plan to transition from the Battle.net brand to a new name of this application which is Blizzard Desktop app. On 14 August 2017, Blizzard reversed the removal of the "Battle.net" moniker.[4]
The desktop app has the feature for Voice Chat, Channel (or group) Chat and even Streaming Games to Facebook.[5] The open beta for the application started on 5 October 2017 and release of 1.9.1 on 19 October 2017, introduced new features such as Player Profiles and Avatars,[6] to appear offline,[7] the Social Tab and Groups,[8] gifting,[9] and the shop update.[10]
On 1 November 2019, a new beta was pushed that completely refreshes the look for the desktop app, including going back to the "Battle.net" brand.[11] The refreshed look was released on 14 January 2021.[12]
Games
The following games are available from the app:
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- World of Warcraft
- World of Warcraft: Classic and subsequent Classic expansions (2019)
- Warcraft III (Reforged and Classic) (2019)
- Diablo II: Resurrected (2021)
- Diablo III
- StarCraft (Remastered and Anthology) (2017)
- StarCraft II
- Hearthstone
- Heroes of the Storm
- Overwatch (2016)
- Blizzard Arcade Collection (2021)
- Diablo Immortal (2022)
- Diablo IV (2023)
- Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (2024)
- Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition (2024)
- Diablo (2024)
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- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Call of Duty: Warzone (2019)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (2020)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (2021)
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Notes and trivia
- Among the 2017 April Fools were a joke about bringing back a "Classic Battle.net® Theme" to the desktop app, with several jokes about it requiring "MS-DOS 5.0 or higher or Windows(R) 95/98" and being compatible with pagers.
- Often called Blizzard Launcher from fans, not to be confused with the deprecated Blizzard Launcher.
- The desktop app has been renamed multiple times throughout its life. It originally launched as Battle.net desktop app, then Blizzard desktop app and Blizzard Battle.net desktop app following the 2017 rebrand and back to "Battle.net" on 31 March 2021.
- The launcher has also been referred to as Blizzard Battle.net App.
- The original release of Destiny 2 in 2017 added the game to Battle.net as a PC exclusive.[13] However, in January 2019, Bungie separated from Activision and acquired the rights to the Destiny franchise[14] and later announces, in June 2019, the move of Destiny 2 from Battle.net to Steam with a release date on September 17,[15] but later postponed for October 1.[16] It was removed from the desktop app on September 30, 2019.[17]
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ Olivia Grace 2014-04-03. If you can't see the chat option, restart your desktop app..
- ^ Boubouille 2014-04-03. Warlords of Draenor™ Alpha Testing Begins, Battle.Net Chat Live. MMO-Champion.
- ^ Vexis 2014-07-09. Diablo 2, Starcraft, etc.... Battle.net.
- ^ Blizzard Battle.net Update (2017-08-14).
- ^ Introducing Blizzard Streaming to Facebook. Blizzard Entertainment (2016-08-26).
- ^ Psione 2017-10-05. New Feature Now Live – Player Profiles & Avatars. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2017-10-23.
- ^ Psione 2017-10-05. New Feature Now Live - Appear Offline. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2017-10-23.
- ^ Psione 2017-10-05. New Feature Now Live - Social Tab & Groups. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2017-10-23.
- ^ Dylon Kempkes 2017-10-23. New Feature Now Live – Gifting. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2017-10-23.
- ^ Dylon Kempkes 2017-10-12. New Feature Now Live – Shop Update. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved on 2017-10-23.
- ^ New Battle.net App Beta. Blizzard Entertainment (2019-11-01).
- ^ Welcome to the New Battle.net!. Blizzard Entertainment (2021-01-14). Retrieved on 2021-03-31.
- ^ Michael McWhertor 2017-05-18. Destiny 2 is coming to Blizzard's Battle.net. Polygon. Retrieved on 2018-02-27.
- ^ Michael McWhertor 2019-01-10. Bungie splits with Activision, acquires rights to Destiny. Polygon.
- ^ Christopher Grant 2019-06-06. Destiny 2 is coming to Steam in September. Polygon.
- ^ Ryan Gilliam 2019-08-01. Destiny 2's Shadowkeep expansion, free-to-play New Light delayed to October. Polygon.
- ^ Destiny 2 PC is moving to Steam on October 1
External links
- Blizzard Entertainment Official Website
- Battle.net Download
- Battle.net Forums Forum
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