comScore
Uncategorized Monday, June 11th 2012 at 7:10 pm

Diablo III Real-Money Auction House Slated For Release Tomorrow, Requires Authenticator

By ( ) Comments

About a month after launch, it looks like Blizzard may finally roll out the real-money auction house. Slated for release tomorrow (June 12), the new supplemental auction house will allow players to use their real-people money to directly bid on weapons and armor, a first for the franchise. There is a small catch though; if you want to use the real-money auction house, you’re going to have to use an authenticator. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Blizzard has always recommended that players use an authenticator, especially in the wake of widespread Diablo III account hacking. This marks the first time, however, that Blizzard is out and requiring its use. It makes sense. If Blizzard is encouraging players to start dumping money into the game by spending it on equipment that doesn’t exist in the physical world, it’s in their best interest to make sure paying customers get to keep what they’re buying. If people get hacked, sue, and start disrupting the whole system, Blizzard could be out a lot of money in more ways than one.

On top of that, it’s not hard to use the authenticator. Sure, if you’re hardcore you can drop $6.50 on a physical model, but cheaper folks can just download the free app for smartphones. Once you enable the authenticator, you’ll need your user name, password, and a verification code to log on, a verification code provided by the authenticator. For the trouble of whipping out your phone and typing in a few numbers, your account becomes practically unhackable from afar, considering any would-be thief would need to steal your phone or keychain to log into your account.

There’s no telling if the real money action house actually will launch tomorrow until after it does, or doesn’t. Blizzard is pretty notorious for pushing things back, and considering they’ve already waited until after launch to implement this feature, and already pushed it back once, they could do it again. That said, their authenticator requirement goes to show they’re thinking this one all the way through, so any further delays are probably in everyone’s best interest.

(via Joystiq)

Relevant to your interests

Filed Under | • •
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eric-Huver/1517438769 Eric Huver

    the phone app authenticator does not work with D3, do not use it if you plan on using the RMAH, just nut up and drop 7 dollars on the key chain.

  • Alziel

    You might be misinformed, friend – the SMS Authenticator does not offer the same level of security, however the Mobile Authenticator is an excellent and secure method.  Both work, one is just better.

  • Chuck

    Ive used the authenticator on D3 since the beginning with no troubles. What the article above fails to point out is you only need to use the authenticator when your IP adress changes from last time you played – which it would if hacked.

  • http://www.seriouslyspain.com/ Seriously Spain

    Hilarious that idiots would give their money to a scummy company like Blizzard just so they can buy in-game items so they can win the game. They always say “fools and their money are easily parted”, and Blizzard is laughing all the way to the bank.  Wouldn’t touch Diablo III or Blizzards auction house (which WILL get hacked) with a 10 foot pole.

  • http://www.hypnosisbulletin.com/2011/09/hypnosis-induction/ Amada Samson

      That said, their authenticator requirement goes to show they’re thinking
    this one all the way through, so any further delays are probably in
    everyone’s best interest.

  • Mydevin19

    Do you have to pay a fee for the aunthenticator thing?