Starting in August, Nexon will take on publishing and live operations for the Overwatch Battle.net PC service in Korea. The move is intended to provide Korea-specific content, PC café perks, and customer support. However, there are concerns that matchmaking wait times could grow because Battle.net/Nexon account users and Steam users will play in separate environments after the service transition. Some also note that account linking and platform migration limits could make the user experience less convenient.
According to the game industry on the 13th, Blizzard on the 7th released changes to how Overwatch will be used in Korea following the transition of the PC service. Under the notice, starting Aug. 12, Nexon will handle regional publishing and live service operations for Korean PC users, while Blizzard will continue to oversee game development and global operations.
Overwatch can currently be accessed through both Battle.net and Steam. However, starting Aug. 12, Battle.net users must link a Nexon account to keep playing. Steam users can continue to log in as before without separate linking.
◇ Korean users split by platform… concerns over matchmaking delays
Previously, both Battle.net and Steam users played on the same servers that included overseas users from places like Taiwan and Japan. After the transition, though, Korean users logging in via Battle.net or Nexon will be assigned to separate servers and will not be able to play with domestic Steam users or overseas users.
Users worry that not only will the domestic server be split from the former Asia server, but Korean users themselves will also be divided by platform, potentially lengthening wait times. Because Overwatch connects players of similar skill, a smaller matchmaking pool could affect wait times. In 2019–2020, when players flocked to certain roles, the usual 1–3 minute matchmaking wait extended to 15–20 minutes.
◇ After unlinking, relinking is restricted for 1 year
With the environments split, it may become difficult for users living overseas or friends on different platforms to play together. If you choose Steam to play with overseas users, you cannot play with friends using Battle.net/Nexon. Conversely, if you choose Battle.net/Nexon, you cannot play with friends on Steam.
It is not impossible to switch platforms. However, if you unlink a Nexon account and move to Steam, you cannot relink the original account for one year. It is known that rewards previously received must also be returned in the process. To use both environments, you must create separate accounts for each.
There are also complaints about account linking. Existing Battle.net PC users must link their Battle.net account and Nexon account to continue playing after Aug. 12. Users with multiple Battle.net accounts must create additional Nexon accounts to match the number of accounts they hold. Some are uncomfortable with having to sign up for a separate Nexon account and provide additional personal information to use Overwatch.
◇ Nexon: "Separate operations for Korea-only content"
Nexon cited Korea-only events, skins, and collaboration content for Korean users as the reason for separating the environments. The company said that when Korea-only content is added, compatibility issues can arise with the global version, making a separate service environment necessary.
It added that restricting relinking for one year after unlinking an account is a measure to prevent errors and data issues that could occur as the same account moves between the two service environments.
The company said it is aware of user concerns that matchmaking wait times could grow. A Nexon official said, "We will continue to monitor matchmaking data and take necessary improvement measures so users can play smoothly."