Blizzard Authenticator (temporarily) gone from Blizzard Store
by Alex Ziebart 
Mar 29th 2009 at 7:00PM
Update: And, of course, as this is posted, we are pointed in the direction of a thread on the Customer Service forums indicating that this is, indeed, an error. It's currently out of stock and should be displaying as such, but the item is simply not displaying at all instead. It will return when it's in stock. Thank you to those that pointed this out.
Oddly, this happened in lockstep with the news that the Mobile Authenticator was available. Whether it was coincidental or intentional, we don't really now, but I think it's a pretty odd choice! It seems like an indication that they don't intend to stock them again. That's disappointing, to say the least. Blizzard hasn't pulled profit on either the Mobile or Physical authenticators, so I can understand wanting to cut costs by stopping production and distribution of the physical authenticators, if that is what they're doing. It's still disappointing, because I have serious doubts that everyone who wants/needs an authenticator has an iPhone/iTouch for the mobile app.
No business, even one as successful as Blizzard, wants to sell something at a loss. Blizzard has made it clear that they don't want to charge for the opt-in authenticator service. From a purely financial view, I can see why they would pull it. As a player, I really wish they didn't.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Account Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
colinthehound Mar 29th 2009 7:04PM
I own one and I'm dissapointed about this. I wonder what the profit/loss blizz are making on them. I do feel nice and secure when logging in game, god knows what will happen if and when it breaks.
Dreadskull Mar 29th 2009 7:05PM
Dang, hoping they'll come up with some other way so people who dont' have an iphone/itouch or whatever can still get an authenticator : /
Krutch Mar 29th 2009 7:06PM
If this is true I am very dissapointed in blizzard. They claim it is the best way to keep your account protected then pull it? I do not own an iphone nor will i ever. Bad Move.
Zachery Egan Mar 29th 2009 7:07PM
I hope they release one for my Blackberry. Hell, just making one for any phone would rock.
AyaJulia Mar 29th 2009 9:25PM
Or how about... making something for those of us without cell phones? (We do exist.)
Oh wait, they did, and now it may be gone for good.
Kurin Mar 29th 2009 7:07PM
This is an known issue with the blizzard store, and they intend to keep selling the authenticators... see this thread from the official CS forums:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=16019612882&sid=1
komamura Mar 29th 2009 7:07PM
Well lucky me owning both the physical authenticator and an Iphone =( wish i had known this was gonna happen before i bought it. I would have thought that the mobile authenticator would devalue the one on ebay, but now that might not be the case
Firestride Mar 29th 2009 7:34PM
Would there be anything to stop them from releasing a more general application? I don't really understand how authenticators work, but is there any reason I couldn't boot one off my computer?
Frank Mar 29th 2009 7:47PM
how do you know that blizzard hasn't pulled a profit on the authenticators? this is the first thing i've seen saying that. i doubt they would release that information either way.
SaintStryfe Mar 29th 2009 7:56PM
I didn't realize the app was ready!
Now I have the hard ware and on my iPhone. I guess I should try the iPhone version out, and if I like it just as well, I'll sell the hardware one.
Anyone know what they're fetching if they're used?
colin Mar 29th 2009 8:30PM
i had been trying to purchase the non-US authenticator for some time now, but it was always out of stock. emails to sales@blizzard.com were always replied by monkeys trained to copy and paste. so this is all probably for the best. the free iphone/ipod touch authenticator is awesome.
Kraf Mar 29th 2009 8:34PM
Ugh why can't they just mass produce more of these like they do with McDonalds burgers >.> ... anyway I think it's great that they came out with it for mobile, and all u cell phone peeps just wait, it will be out.
And whoever complains about the app being free, well consider the fact that us with ipods/iphones we paid $200-300 for the dang things, instead of $10 for the real authenticator....and you guys can put yours on your key ring, which u carry everywhere cause you drive a car (most of you) ... if our ipods ever run outa power or we forget it at home or lose it, we're screwed
Andrew Mar 29th 2009 8:46PM
I Have a hacker going to hit me, I just know it, and I have been trying to acquire a Authenticator but always has been out of stock, and when I called the help line they avoided the answer. And also not everyone has a iPhone, the iPhone was made for the busy person, who needs scheduling. Not stupid for brag rights and games. I do hope nothing goes wrong!
ScytheNoire Mar 29th 2009 8:44PM
They really need to get these in stock, EVERY WHERE! Sell them all over the place. I want them, now!
Robert Mar 30th 2009 10:30AM
I have beeen hacked 3 times in one month. I am not playing WoW again until they sell me an authenticator and I dont own one of those i phones. This may be the end of WoW for me. Very sad.
bondmykebond Mar 30th 2009 1:37AM
1. Speculation on whether the physical authenticator is being sold at a loss appears to be just that - speculation. I am surprised you did not include at least a "for what I assume to be a loss" fudge statement. So sure, are we? Why? That information needs to be included for the post to carry the weight you appear to intend.
2. Any calculation of the profit/loss of these authenticators must not only take in to account the manufacturing cost of the device, but also the employee hours saved in tracking down/restoring hacked accounts, potential account closures, etc. I expect that Blizzard is very willing to sell authenticators at a significant discount to avoid just one account breach a week. As people have adequately documented in the 14 current responses, not everyone (outside California, at least) has an iPohone and can use the current mobile authenticator. Presumably Blizzard realizes their customer base extends past the iPhone set, and will continue to support everyone. However haphazardly.
Goran Mar 30th 2009 6:17AM
Besides - as I'm from Slovenia I can not get physical one. They just don't ship them to some EU countries which is odd... :(
So - some of us can play and pay but we can not not play more safely...
Fortone Mar 30th 2009 1:51PM
I always wanted an authenticator, but then I am lazy to get one when I reach the store's product page. I played this game when it came out in 2004 and resulted in no hack since then. Just change your password every 6 months, update your firewall/anti virus/ad-ware removers, and stay away from site that you know that are malicious. Pretty simple.
Flappyfish Mar 31st 2009 3:01PM
I'm personally just confused as to why there isn't a WoW app. No doubt there are many battle-net users, but while blizz wants us to make joint battle.net accounts its clear from the posts on this website and elsewhere that this causes no end of headaches.
If the authenticator is pulled from the store, but put in app format - I would genuinely like to see it available for WoW itself and not just for the conjoined account that brings headaches with its poor code and availability. If the WoW authenticator is pulled in other words, they need a WoW authenticator replacement instead of a whole new product with a whole new set of problems.
Montezuma Apr 4th 2009 8:10PM
Do the Blizzard Authenticators work with Battle.net account? The thing that worries me about the iPhone/iPod Touch authentication software is that it is open to hacking. The physical security token could be hacked as well, but it is far less likely. Most people are not as well versed in modifying hardware or hacking hardware as they are with hacking software.
I would buy an iPod Touch if I had to so that I can keep my account secure. $200 to $300 is much less costly than replacing the time lost due to an account hack. I do not know about you, but my time is extremely valuable to me.