What happens to Battle.net game library when someone dies
Blizzard Entertainment publishes its own process for a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Blizzard Entertainment's support ticket system.
Under Blizzard Entertainment's terms, Battle.net game library is forfeited when the account holder dies.
Blizzard Entertainment publishes its own process for a deceased person's account: Updating the Battle.net Account Holder Name (deceased-relative account claim); a written request goes in through Blizzard Entertainment's support ticket system. The request takes 3 documents.
What to do
- •A copy of the death certificate.
- •Letters testamentary or letters of administration.
- •The account email or Battle.net login, and any game names or BattleTag.
Required Documents
- Death certificate: Blizzard names it for a deceased-relative claim, and death certificates are on its accepted-documents list.
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration: Documentation of the requester's legal standing to act for the estate.
- The account holder's email address or Battle.net login on file: With any identifying account details, such as game names or BattleTag.
What Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.'s terms say at death
- The terms
“Blizzard does not recognize the transfer of Accounts. You may not purchase, sell, gift or trade any Account, or offer to purchase, sell, gift, or trade any Account, and any such attempt shall be null and void and may result in the forfeiture of the Account.”1
What Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. says happens7
- Who owns the asset
The EULA grants only a "limited, revocable, non-sub licensable, and non-exclusive license to use the Platform," and Blizzard is the owner or licensee of all right, title and interest in the Platform.1
The EULA's "Blizzard's Ownership" section lists all accounts, including the name of the account and any BattleTags associated with it, among the things Blizzard owns.1
- How requests are reviewed
Where someone claims an account in another person's name and has no way to access it, Blizzard may be able to assist in rare cases, such as claiming the account of a deceased relative. Each request is handled case by case and is not a contractual right of inheritance.2
- Balances, payouts and refunds
Battle.net Balance is "non-transferable to another person or Account," does not accrue interest, is not FDIC-insured and, unless required by law or permitted by the agreement, is not redeemable or refundable from Blizzard at any time.1
- Purchased content and licenses
On termination of the agreement, any right to pre-purchased game access or virtual goods, such as digital cards, currency, skins, pets and mounts, is forfeit, with no refund of amounts pre-paid on the account.1
A game bought from a retailer on original media, such as a CD-ROM or DVD, may be permanently transferred to another person who accepts the agreement by handing over the original media, packaging and all documentation and deleting every copy kept. Games bought digitally cannot.1
- Deletion and data retention
Once an account is deleted, its purchased and registered products are removed and their CD-Keys "cannot be reused or registered to another Battle.net account," so a deletion cannot be undone for the estate.3
If an account is deleted, personal information is retained for 30 days, up to a maximum of 37.3
Blizzard uses the documents sent only to verify account ownership or a change of personal data, and deletes the copy once the ticket is resolved.4
- Verifying the requester
Blizzard asks for a recognizable copy rather than a crisp, detailed image, with first and last name, address, date of birth and the issuing government body clearly visible, and everything not relevant to the request physically covered.4
Blizzard's not-accepted list includes school-issued photo ID, gym membership cards, library cards and military photo ID and, as its page currently reads, driver's licenses, passports and national identification cards.4
- Passwords and login
A survivor who cannot log in uses Blizzard's no-login ticket route rather than the decedent's credentials.5
Not in Battle.net's published guidance8
- How long a request takes
- A mailing address for a written request
- A phone number for this
- A path to refund a balance to the estate
- An estates email address or fax
- The criteria used to review a deceased-relative request
- A death, estate or inheritance provision in the EULA
- A requirement for letters or other proof of legal standing
A written request to Blizzard Entertainment can ask it to transfer the game library to a named family member, provide purchase and transaction records for the estate inventory, refund an unspent balance, preserve the account while the estate is opened and close the account.
Nothing in the account survives the holder, and Blizzard Entertainment allows no lifetime transfer of it either.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for Battle.net drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
Battle.net estate claims
Blizzard Support (deceased-relative account claim / account holder name update)
Website
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