Can I Share My Blizzard Account With My Wife? Understanding Blizzard’s Account Sharing Policy

The short, direct answer is no, you cannot share your Blizzard account with your wife. While it might seem convenient or even logical to share accounts within a household, Blizzard Entertainment’s Terms of Service (TOS) explicitly prohibit account sharing between adults. This policy is in place for several important reasons, and understanding them can help you navigate the often-confusing world of online gaming accounts. This article will delve deeper into why this is the case, and answer other related questions that you might have about Blizzard accounts and family use.

Why Account Sharing is Prohibited by Blizzard

Blizzard has a clear stance on account sharing: it’s not allowed. Their policy is designed to protect the integrity of their gaming environment, individual account security, and ensure a fair playing field for all. Here are some key reasons why:

• Account Security: Sharing your account opens up a huge vulnerability. If your account is compromised, it’s incredibly difficult to prove who was responsible for any malicious activity, potentially resulting in the loss of your account or in-game progress.
• Terms of Service: Blizzard’s TOS are very clear that the account holder is responsible for all actions taken on that account. If your wife (or anyone else) violates these terms while using your account, you could face penalties.
• Fair Play: Account sharing can be used to gain unfair advantages in competitive games. This directly impacts the integrity of the gaming experience for all players.
• Preventing Abuse: Sharing can lead to account abuse, such as gold selling, disruptive behavior, and exploiting game mechanics. These actions could get your account penalized and possibly banned.
• Personal Information Security: Your Blizzard account contains personal information tied to it. Allowing someone else to access this could lead to privacy breaches.

The Exception for Minor Children

There is one exception to Blizzard’s strict no-sharing policy: a parent or legal guardian can permit one minor child to use their account. However, even in this case, there are strict rules. The parent or guardian cannot use the account at the same time as the child, and the parent/guardian is still legally responsible for the actions of the minor.

Implications of Violating the Account Sharing Policy

Violating the TOS by sharing your account can lead to severe consequences, including:

• Account Suspension: Blizzard may temporarily suspend your account, preventing you from playing any Blizzard games.
• Permanent Ban: In more severe cases, your account may be permanently banned, resulting in the loss of all purchased games, in-game items, and progress.
• Loss of Access to Games: Losing access to your account also means you will lose access to all the games associated with it.
• No Compensation: Blizzard is not liable to provide any compensation for losses incurred due to a ban for TOS violations.

Understanding the Need for Individual Accounts

While it might seem easier to share one account between you and your wife, creating individual Blizzard accounts is ultimately the best and safest route. It allows both of you to enjoy the games you love, while maintaining account security, and staying within Blizzard’s TOS. Furthermore, having separate accounts allows for:

• Individual Progression: Each of you can progress at your own pace and have your own achievements.
• Personalized Settings: You can both customize your game settings, and create unique characters.
• No Conflicts: You can both play at the same time without needing to kick one another off of the account.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blizzard Account Sharing

To further clarify the intricacies of Blizzard’s account policy, here are some frequently asked questions:

1. Can my wife and I share a WoW account?

No, you cannot share a World of Warcraft (WoW) account. Each player needs their own separate Blizzard account and a copy of the game. Even if you play in the same household, this is a violation of the TOS.

2. Can I connect my Blizzard account to multiple devices?

Yes, you can connect your Blizzard account to multiple devices. However, you cannot use your account on more than one device at a time. Each player needs their own account and copy of the game to play simultaneously on separate devices.

3. Can I split a Battle.net account?

No, you cannot split a Battle.net account. You can move game licenses to another Blizzard account, but only to combine accounts, not to split them apart.

4. Can I share my WoW account with my child?

Yes, you may allow one minor child, for whom you are the parent or legal guardian, access to your account. You cannot play at the same time and you are responsible for their actions.

5. Does Battle.net have a family sharing option?

Blizzard offers a service to move game licenses to a child’s Battle.net account for certain games, including World of Warcraft, Diablo III, Hearthstone, and StarCraft II. Other games are not transferable. This is a one-time process to give the child their own license, not sharing.

6. Can multiple people have the same Battle.net name?

Yes, multiple people can have the same BattleTag. BattleTags do not need to be unique, as they are tied to a Blizzard account, not a character.

7. Can multiple people have the same character name in World of Warcraft?

No. Character names are unique within a realm. If the character belongs to another player, you will need to choose a different name. If the character belongs to you, and is on a different server, you can keep the same character name.

8. Can two people play on the same WoW account at different times?

Yes, two people (parent and child) can use the same WoW account at different times, but not simultaneously. If one party is playing, and the other party attempts to log in, the first will be disconnected.

9. How does Blizzard know you are account sharing?

Blizzard can detect when your account logs in from locations that are not usual. They use sophisticated systems to flag suspicious activity. However, they cannot determine who is playing, only that the location and/or IP address is unusual for that account.

10. Why is account sharing bannable?

Account sharing is against the TOS to protect users, and for the integrity of Blizzard’s gaming environment. It helps to prevent account theft, abuse, and unfair gameplay.

11. Can I use the same phone number for two Blizzard accounts?

No, a phone number can only be associated with a single Battle.net Account. This is also a security measure to protect your account.

12. Can you share Battle.net games with friends?

No, there is no way to share purchased games on Battle.net with friends. You can however play with your friends across platforms (Cross-Play).

13. Can I change my Battle.net name multiple times?

You can change your BattleTag for free the first time. Subsequent changes require the BattleTag Change service. Additional free changes are not provided.

14. Can you make multiple Battle.net accounts with the same email?

No, each Battle.net account needs a different email address. This is part of the security infrastructure of the Blizzard platform.

15. How many Battle.net accounts can I have?

There is no limit to the number of accounts you can create using your legal name. However, there is a limit to the number of accounts with Bnet Balance on them. Additionally, one person can have multiple WoW licenses on the same Blizzard account.

Conclusion

Sharing your Blizzard account with your wife is not permitted, and attempting to do so could lead to serious penalties. While it might seem inconvenient, creating individual accounts for both of you is essential to ensure account security, fair play, and compliance with Blizzard’s Terms of Service. By understanding the policies and the reasons behind them, you can both enjoy the world of Blizzard games without any worries. Remember, the best and safest way to play is by following the rules.