Blizzard announces new Battle.net BattleTags

Not only will your BattleTag be your identifier across Blizzard games, but it will also be used as your forum handle on the community websites. These handles are not unique, so you could potentially have the same name as someone else, but you'll have an identification number that appears after your name in your profile so that people can find you and send you messages. BattleTags do not interrupt your Real ID friends or any other feature. Again, BattleTags are optional, and you are still able to post on the forums using your World of Warcraft characters or StarCraft II account. BattleTags are rolling out soon in the Diablo III beta and will be available for everyone at a later date.
Personally, this is exactly what I wanted from Real ID, now pared down to a manageable, private screen name. My real friends can stay on my Real ID list, and my online friends, guildmates, and other people can use my BattleTag. This new feature is a great response to players' concerns, and I cannot wait to try it. Hit the jump for the full FAQ and learn all about BattleTags.
What is a Battle.net BattleTag?
A BattleTag is a unified, player-chosen nickname that will identify you across all of Battle.net – in Blizzard Entertainment games, on our websites, and in our community forums. Similar to Real ID, BattleTags will give players on Battle.net a new way to find and chat with friends they've met in-game, form friendships, form groups, and stay connected across multiple Blizzard Entertainment games. BattleTags will also provide a new option for displaying public profiles.
When will BattleTags go live?
We will soon begin limited testing of some features and functionality of BattleTags in the Diablo III beta test, and the feature will be available to Diablo III players at launch. BattleTags will be integrated into other Blizzard games and services such as World of Warcraft and StarCraft II at some point in the future, but we don't have exact rollout plans to share just yet.
Will my BattleTag be unique?
A player's BattleTag is not unique, so you won't need to worry about whether your preferred name is available. You can use any name you wish, as long as it adheres to the BattleTag Naming Policy. Only one BattleTag can be associated with each Battle.net account.
If my BattleTag isn't unique, what makes me uniquely identifiable? How will I know I'm adding the right friend to my friends list?
Each BattleTag is automatically assigned a 4-digit BattleTag code, which combines with your chosen name to create a unique identifier (e.g. AwesomeGnome#3592). Your BattleTag and code are viewable when you log in to the Battle.net website and within the Diablo III beta client, and can be shared with other players who want to send you a friend request manually. You will also be able to send BattleTag friend requests list within the context of a game (by clicking a person's BattleTag when he or she sends you a message, for example) without knowing their BattleTag code. In either case, each player must mutually agree to become BattleTag friends.
I'm not in the Diablo III beta – can I choose a BattleTag now anyway?
Sure! You can pick your BattleTag now through Battle.net Account Management, regardless of whether you're participating in the Diablo III beta test. Simply visit the BattleTag creation page (http://www.battle.net/account/management/battletag-create.html) to get started. Make sure to choose a handle you will be happy with in the long term and that abides by our BattleTag Naming Policy, as you will be unable to change your BattleTag once you've selected it. We plan to provide a way for players to change their BattleTags in the future, but we don't have any further details to share just yet.
Where will my BattleTag be seen?
During the Diablo III beta test, your BattleTag will be seen in the Diablo III client (on friends lists and in chat), on the Diablo III forums, and in Battle.net Account Management. In the future, expect it to be displayed in other Blizzard games like StarCraft II and World of Warcraft on friends lists, in chat, or when making posts on their associated forums. We'll have further details on how and where your BattleTag will be displayed in the future.
When will World of Warcraft and StarCraft II support BattleTags?
Our plan is for all current and future Blizzard games to support BattleTags eventually. However, we don't have any announcements to make regarding when BattleTags will be integrated into World of Warcraft or StarCraft II at this time.
Do I need to choose my BattleTag now?
You will only be required to create a BattleTag now if you'd like to log in to the Diablo III beta client (beginning with an upcoming patch) or to use a Diablo III-related identity on the Diablo III forums. You will still be able to post on these forums using a World of Warcraft or StarCraft II character name if you wish.
Will I still be able to display my character on my profile or Armory page?
Armory profiles will be unaffected by the introduction of BattleTags. We'll have more information on how BattleTags will be integrated into existing games in the future.
How will this affect World of Warcraft?
BattleTags will add a new way for you to make friendships and communicate in World of Warcraft. For example, you'll be able to create cross-game, cross-realm friendships with your BattleTag, similar to the way Real ID works now. We'll have more details to share closer to the feature's launch.
Will this affect my existing Real ID friendships?
No. Your Real ID friendships will continue to exist, and all of the features and benefits of Real ID will remain available to you. BattleTags will simply give players another way to connect and communicate across Blizzard games. For example, if two players aren't Real ID friends but want to stay in touch across Battle.net, they'll be able to establish a BattleTag-based friendship; in the future, BattleTag friends will have access to many of the communication benefits (such as cross-game chat) currently available to Real ID friends.
Do BattleTags replace Real ID? Can I create new Real ID friendships?
BattleTags are a new feature separate from Real ID. Real ID will continue to work as it always has, and you can continue to create Real ID friendships with people you know in real life.
Will this affect my World of Warcraft or StarCraft II character names in any way?
Your World of Warcraft character names will continue to exist and work as they currently do. We're still in the process of determining how we will handle StarCraft II character names once BattleTags are integrated into the game.
How does my BattleTag work in the Diablo III beta?
Only some BattleTag features will be available during the Diablo III beta test. At first, players will be able to add friends to their friends list using their BattleTags, though new or different features may be available at different times during the testing process. We'll have more information on all of the features of BattleTags in Diablo III with the launch of the game next year.
A BattleTag is a unified, player-chosen nickname that will identify you across all of Battle.net – in Blizzard Entertainment games, on our websites, and in our community forums. Similar to Real ID, BattleTags will give players on Battle.net a new way to find and chat with friends they've met in-game, form friendships, form groups, and stay connected across multiple Blizzard Entertainment games. BattleTags will also provide a new option for displaying public profiles.
When will BattleTags go live?
We will soon begin limited testing of some features and functionality of BattleTags in the Diablo III beta test, and the feature will be available to Diablo III players at launch. BattleTags will be integrated into other Blizzard games and services such as World of Warcraft and StarCraft II at some point in the future, but we don't have exact rollout plans to share just yet.
Will my BattleTag be unique?
A player's BattleTag is not unique, so you won't need to worry about whether your preferred name is available. You can use any name you wish, as long as it adheres to the BattleTag Naming Policy. Only one BattleTag can be associated with each Battle.net account.
If my BattleTag isn't unique, what makes me uniquely identifiable? How will I know I'm adding the right friend to my friends list?
Each BattleTag is automatically assigned a 4-digit BattleTag code, which combines with your chosen name to create a unique identifier (e.g. AwesomeGnome#3592). Your BattleTag and code are viewable when you log in to the Battle.net website and within the Diablo III beta client, and can be shared with other players who want to send you a friend request manually. You will also be able to send BattleTag friend requests list within the context of a game (by clicking a person's BattleTag when he or she sends you a message, for example) without knowing their BattleTag code. In either case, each player must mutually agree to become BattleTag friends.
I'm not in the Diablo III beta – can I choose a BattleTag now anyway?
Sure! You can pick your BattleTag now through Battle.net Account Management, regardless of whether you're participating in the Diablo III beta test. Simply visit the BattleTag creation page (http://www.battle.net/account/management/battletag-create.html) to get started. Make sure to choose a handle you will be happy with in the long term and that abides by our BattleTag Naming Policy, as you will be unable to change your BattleTag once you've selected it. We plan to provide a way for players to change their BattleTags in the future, but we don't have any further details to share just yet.
Where will my BattleTag be seen?
During the Diablo III beta test, your BattleTag will be seen in the Diablo III client (on friends lists and in chat), on the Diablo III forums, and in Battle.net Account Management. In the future, expect it to be displayed in other Blizzard games like StarCraft II and World of Warcraft on friends lists, in chat, or when making posts on their associated forums. We'll have further details on how and where your BattleTag will be displayed in the future.
When will World of Warcraft and StarCraft II support BattleTags?
Our plan is for all current and future Blizzard games to support BattleTags eventually. However, we don't have any announcements to make regarding when BattleTags will be integrated into World of Warcraft or StarCraft II at this time.
Do I need to choose my BattleTag now?
You will only be required to create a BattleTag now if you'd like to log in to the Diablo III beta client (beginning with an upcoming patch) or to use a Diablo III-related identity on the Diablo III forums. You will still be able to post on these forums using a World of Warcraft or StarCraft II character name if you wish.
Will I still be able to display my character on my profile or Armory page?
Armory profiles will be unaffected by the introduction of BattleTags. We'll have more information on how BattleTags will be integrated into existing games in the future.
How will this affect World of Warcraft?
BattleTags will add a new way for you to make friendships and communicate in World of Warcraft. For example, you'll be able to create cross-game, cross-realm friendships with your BattleTag, similar to the way Real ID works now. We'll have more details to share closer to the feature's launch.
Will this affect my existing Real ID friendships?
No. Your Real ID friendships will continue to exist, and all of the features and benefits of Real ID will remain available to you. BattleTags will simply give players another way to connect and communicate across Blizzard games. For example, if two players aren't Real ID friends but want to stay in touch across Battle.net, they'll be able to establish a BattleTag-based friendship; in the future, BattleTag friends will have access to many of the communication benefits (such as cross-game chat) currently available to Real ID friends.
Do BattleTags replace Real ID? Can I create new Real ID friendships?
BattleTags are a new feature separate from Real ID. Real ID will continue to work as it always has, and you can continue to create Real ID friendships with people you know in real life.
Will this affect my World of Warcraft or StarCraft II character names in any way?
Your World of Warcraft character names will continue to exist and work as they currently do. We're still in the process of determining how we will handle StarCraft II character names once BattleTags are integrated into the game.
How does my BattleTag work in the Diablo III beta?
Only some BattleTag features will be available during the Diablo III beta test. At first, players will be able to add friends to their friends list using their BattleTags, though new or different features may be available at different times during the testing process. We'll have more information on all of the features of BattleTags in Diablo III with the launch of the game next year.
Filed under: Blizzard






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Kylenne Dec 15th 2011 4:05PM
Should have been available from the beginning, tbh. I can't wait for this to come to WoW.
Noyou Dec 15th 2011 4:39PM
Absolutely. Can't upvote this enough!
JoeHelfrich Dec 15th 2011 6:15PM
So, has anyone started an effort to get at least 10,000 people to pick the same tag and break the 4-digit identifier system?
devilsei Dec 15th 2011 4:06PM
Wow, took them long enough to figure out that this would be a good idea to do, something that has been suggested time and time again in the first place.
tgrhwke Dec 15th 2011 4:07PM
Now this is a system I definately prefer over the RealID one.
tailstrike Dec 15th 2011 4:11PM
This is brilliant - something to look forward to when meeting new people and are concerned with too much information
Snuzzle Dec 15th 2011 10:03PM
I agree! All those cool, skilled players I meet in RDF? I don't have to say "Sorry, wish we could do this again, stay cool." I can say "Here's my BattleTag... hope we can do this again soon!"
Assuming you can invite cross-realm via BattleTag, same as you can with RealID.
At this point in the game... what's the point of a realm anymore though?
Nagaina Dec 16th 2011 8:01AM
@ Snuzzle ~
The type of play experience outside of raids or dungeons you want and ease of data organization would be my guesses.
Scott Dec 15th 2011 4:22PM
This is great, but it doesn't address the number 1 concern i had/have with RealID as well:
It needs an "invisible" or "private" switch.
I have many toons across many servers, some of which were specifically crated so i could play the game and not have to deal with interruptions/requests/nagging from people.
Noyou Dec 15th 2011 5:01PM
Hopefully there will be a AFK/DND message. If the people on your Real ID/friend list can't respect that then they probably should not be on your list ;)
djsuursoo Dec 15th 2011 5:22PM
this. oh so very much THIS. i had to start playing minecraft a LOT after 4.3 landed because i wasn't all that into doing the dungeons, when the day came. certainly not as a tank.
but first request the day after it drops, within two minutes of my logging in: wanna tank a new dungeon for us?
mind i'm on my baby druid at the time(and had been having lots of fun so i was loathe to move away from something fun into something that had potential to not be fun).
i bought a few days a week in, by saying 'well, i wanna take this character in, but i gotta level and gear, etc.' while on my healer.
that didn't last.
so i started avoiding the game a bit more.
in other news my minecraft base has gone from a cabin in the woods to a veritable fortress complete with curtain wall and the 35x35 quarry has almost reached bedrock.
cloudhopper013 Dec 15th 2011 6:08PM
I KNOW RIGHT, don't you hate it when you're having a blast in Goldshire one night and you check your friends list to find a dozen people spying on you?
But no seriously, I would like that as well. It's good to get away from it all sometimes. And by "it all" I mean that "that clingy friend who you thought it would be a good idea to ad at the time but now they never leave you alone and you don't have the heart to unfriend them because you're afraid they'll notice and be all ' ;~; ' "-guy.
Xantenise Dec 15th 2011 6:23PM
Not gonna use this until there's an invisible feature. I only have three people on RealID, and I trust all of them to eff off (in a nice way ;) ) and leave me alone. Now that the BattleTag thing is coming out, I'd use it, but I want to be left alone and have an invisible option for some of my characters sometimes. Why not?
Joe Dec 15th 2011 4:13PM
And one more thing from a blue post..
If, instead, you pick a four digit random number as your BattleTag, then your BattleTag will automatically be appended with two random words instead. For example:
6374#AppleCabinet
OUFanInKansas Dec 15th 2011 4:21PM
THIS is what RealID should have been. All of the benefits. None of the privacy downsides.
Utakata Dec 15th 2011 4:22PM
...about bloody time!
loop_not_defined Dec 15th 2011 4:26PM
YESSSSS.
Wanted to set up loopnotdefined, but alas, the website is down for maintenance. :(
But seriously, this is exactly what I've been asking for. A means to form cross-realm friendships without any of the privacy issues involving real life names or login ID.
trefpoid Dec 15th 2011 4:27PM
Awesome!! I hardly give anyone my realID because I don't want 'em to know too much about me, this will be great!
jfofla Dec 15th 2011 4:31PM
Privacy Issues?
You people are PARANOID
Utakata Dec 15th 2011 5:20PM
And you are a TROLL