Blizzard and Activision game launcher Battle.net has not won any “Stylish and Nice to Navigate” awards over the years. Blizzard has begun implementing an update that could change that, as it will turn the aged client into a more orderly Battle.net 2.0.
Announced on the Blizzard site, Battle.net 2.0 is not a world away from its predecessor, but I’m certainly a fan of the way the games in a row are shown at the top, rather than a long list running by the side left. In addition, the new view of the library looks fantastic, with its ability to filter games. I am sincerely excited about these filters.
It also makes better use of space in general. Select a game in the old client and you’ll get tiny info boxes surrounded by an extension of nothing. It’s nice to see that now the gaps have been filled with great news and colorful images.
One of the most annoying things about the old pitcher was the separation of the social board, meaning you would have to go through the windows to see what your teammates were doing. Now all of these things are seamlessly integrated on the right side. A big thumbs up.
Blizzard has also improved accessibility, so you can navigate most of the app with the keyboard. Screen reader support has also been added.
Here is a quick comparison between the two:
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The former Battle.net launcher
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And the home page of the new launcher
Looking at them both in parallel, the old customer looks really old-fashioned, right? I can’t get over this unused space, gah.
The new patch will be released first in North America and will hit other regions in the coming weeks.