Run Games from Battlenet Launcher with Steam Overlay

Get the Steam overlay working with Battlenet games (confirmed to work with StarCraft Remastered; WoW Classic & Cataclysm Classic; Warcraft III: Reforged; Arcade Collection; Diablo II: Resurrected; Diablo Immortal, Diablo IV; Overwatch 2; Call of Duty: Black Ops 4/Warzone/Modern Warfare 2/Cold War; Avowed); and much more! Works with Big Picture mode, In-Home Streaming and Steam Link. Also includes instructions for Steam Deck.

Introduction

This guide is sort of an updated companion of my YouTube tutorial because I wanted to take screenshots from my favorite Blizzard games and play on my TV using the Steam Link. I also wanted to share this with others who were also frustrated by suggested methods that were tedious, outdated or simply did not work. When I stumbled upon this process (which I modified from another YouTube video suggestion), I was shocked by how deceptively easy it was. This method does not need any scripts, installers, or attempts to bypass the Battle.net Launcher altogether. Moreover, the file path will not break with updated versions of the launcher.

The Steam overlay has been tested and confirmed that ALL games tied to the Battle.net Launcher run flawlessly – even in Big Picture mode, In-Home Streaming and Steam Link hardware. Steam shortcut codes for Activision's non-Blizzard game titles, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, etc., as well as all of Blizzard's Battle.net launcher games – including Diablo IV, World of Warcraft Classic and Warcraft III: Reforged are listed following the Battle.net Game Shortcut Codes section.

To celebrate Diablo IV coming to Steam, I will be using it for an updated demonstration:

Configuring the Battlenet Launcher

To save time and to avoid the possibility of troubleshooting this later, it is advised to configure the Battle.net Launcher first.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To get the Battle.net Launcher and Steam to play nice with each other, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Battle.net Launcher.
   
2. Click the down arrow next to the Battle.net icon at the top-left corner of the launcher.
   
3. Click Settings.
   
4. In the App tab under the General heading, under the "ON GAME LAUNCH" section, select Exit Battle.net completely and uncheck Show a brief countdown instead of closing immediately beneath it.
   
   Under the “WHEN CLICKING X (CLOSE WINDOW)” section, select Exit Battle.net completely.
   
   Optional – Under the "ON GAME LAUNCH" section, select Minimize Battle.net to the system tray and check Restore Battle.net window when game ends.
   
   
   
5. Under the Startup heading, uncheck Launch Battle.net when I start my computer; and check Remember emails and phone numbers and Keep me logged in checkboxes.
   
6. Click the Done button to exit the Launcher's Settings.
   
7. Click Exit (DO NOT click Log Out) the Battle.net launcher before trying to run a game from the Steam shortcut.
   
   

Adding Battlenet Game Shortcuts to Steam

It is assumed anyone following these instructions is running the Steam client in Windows, as I am not able to test it in Mac, Linux, or other modern operating systems to know if this method will work.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Important note: To add shortcuts to run Activision/Blizzard games directly from the Battle.net Launcher, each game will need to undergo the same steps depending on which game(s) you own.

1. Click Games in the top left of the Steam client, then navigate and click Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library…
   
   
   
   Alternatively, clicking Add a Game located at the bottom left corner in Steam and select Add a Non-Steam Game... will work as well.
   
   
   
   
2. After the list has populated, search for and check the box next to Battle.net then click the button labeled Add Selected Programs.
   
   Note: If it not found under the PROGRAM list, click the Browse… button to search for Battle.net.exe. With the recent Steam client redesign, adding Battle.net Launcher.exe is no longer necessary. (While unimportant due to the method these shortcuts are being created, it should be noted that the default path for 32-bit versions of Windows is located in C:\Program Files\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\ in 64-bit versions of the operating system.)
   
   
   
   
3. Navigate to Library > Home in the Steam client's main navigation bar, then begin typing Battle.net in the Search field with the magnifying glass icon to locate it easily. (Note: you will not need to capitalize or type in the entire keyword.)
   
   Right click on Battle.net found in the list in the left column and click on Properties….
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Under the Shortcut heading, change the name of your shortcut in the field that says "Battle.net" located to the right side of the Battle.net icon.
   
   Optional – to change the Battle.net shortcut icon, click the icon itself and locate your game’s executable to use that shortcut icon instead.
   
   In the TARGET field, add a space after the end quotation of Battle.net.exe and type --exec="launch (game shortcut code)" followed by the game property that will open directly to the Battle.net Launcher. In this case, the property will be Fen… i.e. --exec="launch Fen" and be sure that launch and the game shortcut is inside a new set of quotations.
   
   
   
   For a table of corresponding shortcut codes, refer to the Battle.net Game Shortcut Codes section listed in this guide's index.

Optional – change the game artwork in your Library’s shelf by right-clicking on your game to the right side of your library’s list and go to Manage > Set custom artwork to select a custom image. Using game box art is ideal for the new Steam library layout. SteamGridDB[www.steamgriddb.com]is also an excellent resource for customizing your non-Steam Game artwork in your library.

Launching Battlenet Games from Steam

It is important to remember that this guide intends that you manually run your games from the Battle.net launcher and that the shortcut will only open to the corresponding game tab. It will not launch the game itself for you. Due to the way Blizzard currently designed the Battle.net Launcher, this particular method will trick Steam into attaching its overlay to the Battle.net launcher and to any games being run through it.

REMINDER: It is important to make sure that the Battle.net Launcher is not running before attempting to run Battle.net games through Steam!

Step-by-Step Instructions

If you followed each step correctly, test the new shortcut by clicking the blue PLAY button inside your game library. It will update your Steam status accordingly as well as open to the corresponding game location in the Battle.net Launcher. (Battle.net game and launcher updates will also be downloaded from the launcher when they become available.)






If your Steam status doesn’t update or get the Steam overlay notifications as shown in the screenshots, delete the shortcut from Steam and follow the instructions again more closely. Sometimes a missing space or end quotation will cause it not to work.

Battlenet Game Shortcut Codes (Updated!)

Copy the Current shortcut code next to the corresponding BNet (Battlenet) game listed below and paste following code after the end quotation in the Target: field (see step 7). Legacy codes are no longer guaranteed to work as intended.

Current

Publisher	Battlenet Game Title	Steam Shortcut Code	Notes
Blizzard	Blizzard Arcade Collection	--exec="launch RTRO"
	Diablo	--exec="launch D1"	Includes the Diablo: Hellfire expansion
	Diablo II: Resurrected	--exec="launch OSI"
	Diablo III	--exec="launch D3"
	Diablo IV	--exec="launch Fen"	Available for purchase on Steam since Oct 17, 2023.
	Diablo Immortal (PC)	--exec="launch ANBS"
	Hearthstone	--exec="launch WTCG"
	Heroes of the Storm	--exec="launch Hero"
	Overwatch 2	--exec="launch Pro"	Overwatch 2 has replaced Overwatch in BNet Launcher; Available on to play on Steam as of Aug 10, 2023.
	StarCraft	--exec="launch S1"	F5 toggles between SC legacy and Remastered
	StarCraft 2	--exec="launch S2"
	Warcraft: Orcs & Humans	--exec="launch W1"
	Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition	--exec="launch W2"
	Warcraft: Remastered	--exec="launch W1R"
	Warcraft II: Remastered	--exec="launch W2R"
	Warcraft III: Reforged	--exec="launch W3"
	World of Warcraft	--exec="launch WoW"
	Cataclysm Classic + World of Warcraft Classic	--exec="launch WoWC"	Cataclysm Classic Burning Crusade Classic Wrath of the Lich King Classic /WoW Classic toggled in BNet Launcher
	Warcraft Rumble	--exec="launch GRY"	For mobile only ; not available for PC
Microsoft	Avowed	--exec="launch AQUA"
	Doom: The Dark Ages	--exec="launch ARIS"	Planned release date: May 15, 2025
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4	--exec="launch LBRA"	Planned release date: July 11, 2025
Activision	Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War	--exec="launch ZEUS"
	Call of Duty: Black Ops 4	--exec="launch VIPR"	Warning: see Overlay Overlap Bug section; Exclusive to Battle.net only
	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	--exec="launch ODIN"	Warning: see Overlay Overlap Bug section; known as Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: MW 2019
	Call of Duty; CoD: Modern Warfare II; CoD: Modern Warfare III; CoD: Black Ops 6	--exec="launch AUKS"	see also Issues with Modern Warfare III installation and shortcut code at the end of this table; formerly known as Call of Duty: MWII W22.0
	Call of Duty: MW 2 Campaign Remastered	--exec="launch LAZR"
	Call of Duty: Vanguard	--exec="launch FORE"
	Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time	--exec="launch WLBY"

Issues with Modern Warfare III installation and shortcut code

For those that purchased the game on Battlenet, it would seem that both Modern Warfare II (MWII) and III (MWIII) and their components, as well as Warzone, now require the Call of Duty base game to be installed. See Battlenet's support article at https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/346826 for detailed instructions.



If launching MWIII from the Battlenet Launcher for the first time, the --exec="launch SPOT" shortcut code will not work. Since I was unavailable for testing and did not buy the game, I cannot confirm that the shortcut code will work following the install. The good news is that the --exec="launch AUKS" shortcut will.

Legacy

Publisher	Battlenet Game Title	Steam Shortcut Code	Notes
Blizzard	Diablo 3	battlenet://D3
	Hearthstone	battlenet://WTCG
	Heroes of the Storm	battlenet://Hero
	Overwatch	battlenet://Pro
	StarCraft	battlenet://S1
	StarCraft 2	battlenet://S2
	World of Warcraft	battlenet://WoW
Activision	Call of Duty: Black Ops 4	battlenet://VIPR

Important Note – Shortcut code for Destiny 2 has been removed. As of October 1, 2019, Destiny 2 has officially moved to Steam.

Fix for Old Battlenet Launcher Installs

If you're like me who has kept the Battle.net Launcher installed over the course of many years--older than 2024 to be precise, and suddenly experiencing issues of either the game not launching unless the Launcher is already open and/or the Steam overlay doesn't work (unless running the game directly from the game's executable), then do the following steps:

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. In Windows Explorer (Win-key + E) and navigate your way to the Launcher's installation folder (default is C:\Program Files (x86)/Battle.net -- unless you might have installed it in another drive).
   
2. If you see more than one folder that has a bunch of numbers in it, e.g. Battle.net.14766 , DELETE those folders.
   
3. Download and reinstall the Launcher in the original location you had the Launcher installed previously.
   
   Download link: https://download.battle.net/desktop
   
4. Repeat the above Step-by-Step Instructions in the Configuring the Battlenet Launcher section to configure the Launcher if needed.

Optional – if you're still experiencing problems with the overlay, you may need to give the Battle.net Launcher.exe file Administrative privileges. (If that doesn't work, give Administrator privileges to the Battle.net.exe file instead.)

To do this, make sure that the Launcher is not running first, then right click on Battle.net Launcher.exe and go to Properties and click on the Compatibility tab. Under the Settings section, check the box labeled Run this program as an administrator. Click the Apply button, then OK.

For Legacy Shortcut Code Users

Thanks to a commenter on YouTube for letting me know that the shortcuts were no longer working, I did some checking and it turns out that a recent update to the Battlenet Launcher has been preventing shortcut codes from opening to the corresponding game tab in the Launcher itself. Because of this major change, I felt that this deserved its own section in this guide.

With some testing, I have found that the Steam overlay will still attach itself to the Launcher and any game run through it as normal. To continue having access to the Steam overlay, you can either manually select the game from the Battlenet Launcher itself or simply modify the shortcut code in the Target field from the Steam shortcut.

Updating Legacy Shortcut Codes

To modify the Steam shortcut, you will want to change your Steam shortcuts for Battlenet games to look like the following (using Diablo 3 as an example):

"C:\Program Files (x86)/Battle.net/Battle.net.exe" --exec="launch D3"

Just be sure swap out battlenet://(game shortcut code) with --exec="launch (game shortcut code)" if your Battlenet Launcher is installed elsewhere rather than default.

For your convenience, a list of updated codes (including legacy) are available in the Battlenet Game Shortcut Codes section above.

Running Battlenet Games in Big Picture Mode

Should you want to play battle.net games through Steam on your sofa via Steam Link or with a controller using Big Picture Mode (BPM), learn how to run them in Steam’s BPM.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. If you have Steam already running, look at the top right corner for an icon that looks like a large TV screen just to the immediate right of your Steam name, and click to restart Steam in BPM.
   
   
   
   
2. Since locating the Game Library in BPM is less intuitive prior to Steam’s massive redesign, navigate to the Search icon and type in the name of your battle.net game title to locate it quickly. Once located, click on the desired game.
   
   For this demonstration, I will be using Diablo III:
   
   
   (Note: If the game was recently played, this step won’t be necessary.)
   
   
3. Controller users will need to click on the controller icon to customize preferred controller settings. To learn how to customize your controller, you can find settings information and controller preferences/profiles all over the internet.
   
   
4. Click the green Play button to open the Battle.net Launcher where the intended game to be played can be run. (Note: If any launcher or game updates is required, this can be done here.)
   
   
5. Unless the intended game requires the use of dropdown game menu selection – such as WoW or WoW Classic, click the blue Play button in the Battle.net Launcher to start the game. Remember, it will not start the game for you.
   
   
   
   
6. If you have chosen to minimize the Battle.net Launcher during gameplay in the Configuration’ steps, it will be necessary to completely exit the Launcher. (Remember not to Log Out… otherwise you will need to log into the Launcher again!)

To exit out of Big Picture Mode (BPM), click the Steam Menu in the bottom left corner of your screen until a sliding menu appears on the right side.



Click the icon labeled Power and select Exit Big Picture Mode to return to Steam, otherwise select Exit Steam.

Add Battlenet Games to Steam Deck

I’ve been meaning to add this section, but I’ve been extremely busy. So better late than never! Right?

The good news is that it is possible to play Battle.net games – like the PC version of Diablo Immortal, on Steam Deck. Below are the steps to find out how. However, before getting started, check that there is adequate drive space on your Steam Deck or microSD card.

It should be noted that:

Publicado originalmente por Rock Paper Shotgun:

Any UHS-I microSD should work, including microSDXC (Expanded Capacity) and microSDHC (High Capacity) cards.

Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-microsd-cards-for-steam-deck

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. To enter desktop mode in Steam Deck, open the application and select "Switch to Desktop".
   
2. Download the Battle.net Launcher[www.blizzard.com].
   
3. Navigate to the Games Tab and select "Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library".
   
4. Choose Battle.net.exe, then tap the checkbox at the left of the selection and click to "Add Selected Programs."
   
   • Note: Be sure to right-click the Battle.net Launcher's executable and select "Properties". Navigate to the "Compatibility" tab, and check the option to "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool."
5. Run the Battle.net Launcher and install your chosen Battle.net game.

Overlay Overlap Bug with CoD Games

An issue with the Call of Duty games (Black Ops 4 and Modern Warfare) appears to be bugged. For some reason, both games do not fully relinquish their focus when typing in the chat box – or any field that allows typing – with the overlay open and will result with a keypress overlap.



It should be noted the bug will still manifest regardless as to whether or not you choose to run it directly through the game’s executable, the Battlenet Launcher itself, or through a modified version of the launcher by a 3rd party. Originally this bug seems to have existed since BO4’s beta release in 2018. To date, there is no known fix for either game.

To avoid accidental in-game death, creating or joining games, it is advised to use ALT+tab as a workaround to interact directly with overlay features from the Steam client itself… short of using Steam for taking screenshots.

Bug report sources:

• https://community.callofduty.com/t5/Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-4-PC/Steam-overlay-not-working-properly-with-game-overlapping-quot/td-p/10862771
  
• https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/discussions/0/1734342793785288390/

CoD: MW Dropping the Steam Overlay

Akin to Destiny 2 (before its move over to Steam), a patch introduced to Modern Warfare in late March of 2020 causes the hook to the Steam overlay to be lost when connecting to Battle.net. While I did submit a bug report to Activision about the problem with the overlay since the update, I cannot guarantee it will even be addressed on their side. It is unclear why the developer did this or if it was intentional, but it is something the developer has to fix... if they ever do.

However, the good news for controller users is that during my tests with the Steam Controller, it can still be used without the need of a 3rd party application (like GLoSC). When CoD: MW is run through the Battle.net Launcher in Big Picture Mode, the game is able to load Steam Controller configurations normally and continues to retain functionality after the overlay is lost. Note: depending on your configuration, you may still need to use your mouse to navigate the Battle.net Launcher until the game is loaded.



It should also be noted that there might be some issues for users using Xbox or other generic controllers requiring the Steam overlay in order to be able to work. If loading the game from Steam's Big Picture Mode and the controller stops working anyway after the overlay is lost, a commenter posted this helpful YouTube video link that will hopefully help you get it working for Modern Warfare again.

I will post an update as I learn of new developments.

Fix Loud Fan Noise in Battlenet Games

Although this section has nothing to do with Steam or the Steam overlay, I thought I might include it for anyone looking to address loud fan noise and increased temperatures that can be somewhat annoying – if not concerning, for any gamer dealing with this issue.

It had been nearly a year since I fired up any Battle.net games, and when I did for Diablo 3, my GPU fans became ridiculously loud. Naturally I checked around the internet to see what could be the cause and whether or not there were any viable fixes. Since suggestions provided the usual things to check and, unfortunately, nothing really worked to make the fans quieter. It was only after I had tweaked some graphic settings for a non-Battle.net game earlier in the day did it occur to me to check the game’s settings within GeForce Experience...

If you are using a GeForce graphics card and experiencing loud fan noise, this issue is caused by anyone who has customized their resolution within the NVIDIA Control Panel using Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR)[nvidia.custhelp.com], that the settings in GeForce Experience is defaulting to installed Battle.net games. (Whether or not this is the case for Radeon users, you may have to look at your AMD Radeon Software to see if there might be similar incorrect settings mentioned in this section.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

To check or change Battle.net game(s) settings within GeForce Experience:

1. Open the GeForce Experience software.
   
   
2. Under the Home tab, highlight the offending Battle.net game and click on the DETAILS button that appears beneath the lime-colored LAUNCH button.
   
   
   
   
3. Find the wrench-shaped icon, located to the right of the REVERT button (a Custom Settings label will appear below it), and click it.
   
   
4. A new pane will appear near the top-center where you can adjust custom settings for resolution, Display mode, and Quality adjustments.
   
   
   
   
   • Check the display settings to the left side of the pane. If the resolution is incorrect, click on it to widen and select the display size recommended for your monitor.
     
     
   • Repeat the above steps for all installed Battle.net games!
   
   
5. Click APPLY and close the GeForce Experience application.
   
   
6. Run your Battle.net game and see if this helps reduce fan noise and temperature.

Be aware that if you’re still experiencing loud fans and high temps, something else may be going on that may require changes to in-game settings or (hopefully not) hardware issues.

Additional Notes

This guide attempts to be more thorough than its older YouTube counterpart, which I have included here, since the video might be more helpful for those preferring visual step-by-step instruction to follow along. Please be aware that I will not be updating the video itself, save the video description – and this guide – when new information becomes available.

Additionally, I am curious if this method works with the new Steam Link app for the 2016/17 Samsung TVs. If anyone has the means to test this, I would love to hear from you so I can update this guide and the YouTube description accordingly.

IMPORTANT: The LEGACY shortcut code demonstrated in the original video is no longer guaranteed to work, however, the process is exactly the same... only use the Currently working codes instead.


Please give my guide or my video a thumbs up if you found either of them helpful; or a thumbs down if you didn't. Be sure to reserve questions, concerns, suggestions for improvement, or anything else regarding either this guide or the YouTube video, in the comments sections relative to its medium to avoid confusion.

Other Guides

For your convenience, here is a list of other guides I have written:

• Run Games from Battlenet Launcher with Steam Overlay – This guide.
  
• Move Sims 3 Game Saves to Another Location & Improve Performance
  
• How to get the Steam Overlay working with Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR)
  
• Get the Steam Overlay Working with Games on Origin
  
• Auto-Delete Sims 3 Cache and Run it on Origin with the Steam Overlay
  
• Auto-Delete Sims 3 Cache and Run it on Steam
  
• How to Stop Vampire the Masquerade – Redemption from Requesting a CD Key
  
• Move the Mabinogi Folder from Documents to Another Location
  
• Auto-Delete Sims 4 Cache and Run it on Steam
  
• How to Fix Fable Anniversary from Causing Motion Sickness
  
• How to Fix EULA Bug in Steam's SWTOR Launcher
  
• Run Games from HoYoPlay Launcher with Steam Overlay

Changelog

04/01/2025 – Added shortcut codes for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, and Doom: The Dark Ages.
12/23/2024 – Added shortcut code for Avowed.
11/30/2024 – Added new guide link.
11/13/2024 – Added shortcut codes for Warcraft: Remastered, Warcraft II: Remastered; Call of Duty: Black Ops 6; cleaned up outdated redundancies in Shortcut Codes table cells for WoW Classic and CoD/CoD:MWII/CoD:MWIII.
07/15/2024 – Added new Fix for Old Battlenet Launcher Installs section.
07/10/2024 – Added new guide link.
01/31/2024 – Added shortcut codes for Diablo, Warcraft and Warcraft 2. Enjoy!
12/19/2023 – Removed "Available for purchase on Steam" for games listed under Activision in the Notes column in the Shortcut Codes list table to avoid redundancy, and added "Exclusive to..." to CoD:BO4.
12/07/2023 – Shortcut code for CoD:MWIII is confirmed to be "AUKS", shortcut code table is updated to reflect this; ran out of character-space for Changelog... renamed old one to "old" and started new Changelog.

Changelog – old

12/07/2023 – Reached character limit to Changelog...
11/12/2023 – Restored missing images to new section: Running Battlenet Games in Big Picture Mode; rearranged a couple images for better flow; added Issues with Modern Warfare III installation and shortcut code sub-section to Battlenet Game Shortcut Codes > Current table.
11/10/2023 – Added untested/unconfirmed shortcut code for CoD:MWIII; added alternative option for adding a non-Steam game to Adding Battlenet Game Shortcuts to Steam section.
11/07/2023 – Added new section: Running Battlenet Games in Big Picture Mode; rearranged a couple sections in navigation menu for better flow.
11/04/2023 – Updated Call of Duty shortcut codes list in preparation for CoD: MW III.
11/02/2023 – Fixed typo and grammatical errors.
10/28/2023 – Combined images 8 and 9 into one in Launching Battlenet Games from Steam section for better viewing and flow; moved images inside ordered list to the Configuring the Battlenet Launcher section for the same reason.
10/27/2023 – Revised instructions and images for Steam and BNet Launcher after massive UI redesign.
10/27/2023 – Updated Notes section for Diablo 4 into Shortcut Codes table... It is available for purchase on Steam! Tested Steam overlay with D4's 'free trial' version on the BNet Launcher and it is confirmed to still work. Enjoy folks, and Happy Halloween!
08/09/2023 – Updated Notes section for Overwatch 2; Call of Duty Vanguard, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War into Shortcut Codes table. (Big things are finally happening folks! Keep watch for progressive updates!)
05/12/2023 – Updated Diablo IV's Notes information to add Server Slam for game versions toggled in BNet Launcher; restored missing text to Fix Loud Fan Noise in Battlenet Games section to clarify issue and cleaned up text to avoid redundancy.
04/12/2023 – Updated Diablo IV's Notes information to clarify Beta and Live game versions are toggled in BNet Launcher.
02/11/2023 – Added new section: Fix Loud Fan Noise in Battlenet Games to help gamers fix noisy fan issues. (Also added additional text for clarification and fixed closing tag to numbered list.)
01/19/2023 – Added shortcut code for Diablo 4.
12/06/2022 – Updated guide listing from Call of Duty: MW 2 to Call of Duty: MWII W22.0.
10/28/2022 – Added new guide link.
10/10/2022 – Updated guide's description to include Overwatch 2 and Wrath of the Lich King Classic.
10/04/2022 – Updated table to replace Overwatch with Overwatch 2 (see table Notes).
09/27/2022 – Updated World of Warcraft Classic to include Wrath of the Lich King Classic and added strike-through to Burning Crusade Classic.
07/14/2022 – Added new section: Add Battlenet Games to Steam Deck; cleaning up and updating additional guide content (ongoing).
07/07/2022 – Updated table to include Overwatch 2 Beta (see Overwatch). Note: This may change upon full game release!
06/08/2022 – Added shortcut code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II; fixed typo.
05/04/2022 – Added shortcut code to Warcraft Arclight Rumble. (Note: scan QR code to download on mobile devices... PC version not available.)
04/29/2022 – Fixed missing image in item 4, and added SteamGridDB link to item 7 at a commenter's suggestion to Adding Battlenet Game Shortcuts section. (Much thanks Scottbee!)
04/26/2022 – Added shortcut code for Diablo Immortal (PC) -- just in time for Blizzard's PC Open Beta testing! Have fun!
11/05/2021 – Removed shortcut code notes for Diablo 2: Resurrected and Call of Duty: Vanguard.
08/19/2021 – Updated CoD: 2021 to official working title, Call of Duty: Vanguard, with anticipated release date and shortcut code to table; added full game title to Crash Bandicoot 4.
06/23/2021 – Added CoD: 2021 to shortcut code table (anticipated release late 2021 - October?); added CoD: Warzone in CoD: MW 2019's code table Notes cell to avoid game naming confusion.
06/09/2021 – Removed Optional NOTE for WoW to avoid confusion; fixed typo.
06/08/2021 – Added shortcut code for Burning Crusade Classic and World of Warcraft Classic (toggled in BNet Launcher).
Note: Selected toggled Classic game becomes default in Launcher. WoW/WoW Classic toggle in Launcher is now optional.
04/06/2021 – Added shortcut code for Diablo 2: Resurrected... just in time for Blizzard's Technical Alpha testing! Have fun!
03/26/2021 – Added shortcut codes for Blizzard Arcade Collection and Crash Bandicoot 4 (confirmed to go to the correct game tabs in BNet Launcher). Added Diablo 4 to shortcut code table.
03/20/2021 – Updated Battlenet Launcher settings image to reflect optional settings suggested by other commenters. Thanks guys!
02/20/2021 – Updated images and added new information regarding the Steam Overlay and the Battle.net Launcher v.1.31.3.12685; added two new games TBD game titles to the shortcut codes list.
10/16/2020 – Added shortcut code for Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War.
07/08/2020 – Added new guide link.
04/10/2020 – Added shortcut code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered.
04/04/2020 – Added CoD: MW Dropping the Steam Overlay section.
01/28/2020 – Shortcut code updated for Warcraft III Reforged game release.
01/23/2020 – Fixed typo in link.
01/14/2020 – Added new guide link.
12/02/2019 – Restored "Activision" to Publisher table column in Shortcut Codes section. (Mistakenly deleted after removing Destiny 2 shortcut table rows.)
11/02/2019 – Embedded new image.
11/01/2019 – Added new guide link.
10/31/2019 – Fixed incorrect image and added new Overlay Overlap Bug with CoD Games section; added (assumed) Warcraft 3 shortcut code and updated shortcut code Notes in table.
10/30/2019 – Updated images for current Battlenet Launcher and new Steam library layout.
10/02/2019 – Updated CoD; MW to include release.
10/01/2019 – Removed "Important Information Regarding Destiny 2" section, Destiny 2 shortcut codes and other references to Destiny 2 as it is now officially on Steam and no longer relevant to this guide.
09/19/2019 – Added shortcut code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
09/16/2019 – Added noparse tags to prevent Steam from linking to Battle.net.
09/03/2019 – Added new guide link.
08/26/2019 – Added new game titles and added/updated Notes column to Current Shortcut Codes table.
08/06/2019 – Updated "Important Information Regarding Destiny 2" section to include 'October 1, 2019 – Destiny 2 Comes to Steam!' information.
05/30/2019 – Fixed incorrect file path regarding legacy update.
04/12/2019 – Updated guide with information regarding legacy shortcuts codes no longer working in the Battlenet Launcher, and included current shortcut codes.
11/13/2018 – Added new paragraph to Launching Battlenet Games from Steam section for clarification purposes.
11/05/2018 – Added Notes section to Shortcut Codes table (specifically for Destiny 2).
10/19/2018 – Added new guide link.
10/15/2018 – Added new guide link.
10/12/2018 – Updated Introduction section to confirm that CoD: BO4 official release is working; changed wording for guide Overview to include non-Blizzard game titles.
08/11/2018 – Added shortcut code for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
05/08/2018 – Removed Step-by-Step Instructions section and moved contents into seperate sections for easier guide navigation; changed some text for navigational continuity; added two new images.
05/04/2018 – Fixed grammatical error.
05/02/2018 – Added new guide link.
12/21/2017 – Changed grammar-related wording for clarity.
11/09/2017 – Added Other Guides section.
10/26/2017 – Fixed typo.
10/24/2017 – Updated "Important Information Regarding Destiny 2" for game launch day.
08/31/2017 – Added "Important Information Regarding Destiny 2" under Additional Notes section.
08/29/2017 – Updated text to confirm Steam shortcut code works for Destiny 2 beta.
08/25/2017 – Fixed typo.
08/18/2017 – Restored missing image and fixed some grammar issues.
08/16/2017 – Initial version.

[† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™]

@G: Where it says Cataclysm Classic, click on it to open the dropdown section of available games. World of Warcraft Classic is listed right above it... just beneath the LIVE - CLASSIC section. If you're looking for the server selection also, it'll be located in the dropdown section just beneath the Classic section.

If it's still not working, try reinstalling your Battlenet Launcher from download.battle.net

Please let me know if anything here worked for you.
Good luck!

[G]

Can't get it to work even if i have selected the version of classic and server in the bnet launcher. It keeps launching cataclysm classic. Dunno why

[† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™]

@G: The code for Classic is in the table, which the code will take you to the correct location in the launcher. However, you need to select which version of classic and server you want from inside the launcher itself (see under the GAME VERSION & ACCOUNT heading on the left side of the navigation pane). Currently it is listing WoW and Cataclysm.

I hope this helps... Let me know if you have any more questions.
Good luck and fave fun! 😄

[G]

whats the shortcut code for wow classic era and hc servers?

[SuperSpirito]

@† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™ Ok, I see! Thank you!

[† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™]

@SuperSpirito: All this does is hook the Steam overlay into to the BNet Launcher and games run through it. Shortcut codes are added to quickly navigate BNet's launcher to take you to the right area so you can perform updates if needed or make server and/or game/PTR selections, and to better organize your Steam library. What it can't do is start your game for you because Blizzard didn't design their launcher to work like that and you need to manually run the game through their launcher.

Be advised that with the CoD games, the developers have taken it upon themselves to forcefully remove 3rd party hooks into their games for the sake of "fair play". Should you find the overlay gets dropped at all, this will be the reason and there is nothing I can do about that and you will need to take it up with the developer.

I hope this clears things up.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns... otherwise, have fun gaming! 😄

[SuperSpirito]

Hey, so I want to use the overlay on BNET for the convenience and its new recording feature, specifically for Warzone, since Warzone on Steam gets nearly 40FPS less for some reason. However, I have followed and tripled check all the steps and no matter what the game never launches, and only brings up the BNET launcher. What am I doing wrong? Is this due to me not actually buying BO6, even though I have Warzone (which is free) installed though BNET?

[† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™]

@IrascibleBadger: That is interesting to know! Wish I could say I was surprised really as it seems like Steam's Audio Record works in layers--much like an onion. Not sure if Valve had that in mind because there are LOTS of games running through launchers on Steam now (Star Wars: The Old Republic (aka SWTOR) and CD Projekt Red's launcher, called the REDlauncher, just to name a couple)... which wouldn't be fair to the game publishers who has to give 30% of their revenue to Valve for game sales.

But I digress...

Out of curiosity, did you set the BNet's Launcher settings ON GAME LAUNCH to Minimize Battlenet to the system tray? If so, try changing it to Exit Battlenet completely, just to see if the Steam overlay gets dropped. You can check this by watching your Steam status or by taking screenshots via the hotkey (F12 is default in Steam), and then try the Steam Recording once you know the BNet Launcher is completely closed.

Please let me know if this helps!
Good luck.

[IrascibleBadger]

@† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™ so i probably should have mentioned previously that i knew about the option to switch to system audio and that does work, so that might be useful for a lot of people! it's not quite what i need because im pretty bad for having music/videos on in the background so having a "game audio only" option is super helpful to me.

interestingly i should note that when i started testing steam recording when it came out on the beta client branch, *at the beginning* before a few beta client updates it actually worked that setting it to game audio only would record audio from wow even if i was launching it via steam > battlenet > wow. no idea what it was that they tinkered with so it went from working to not working, but it absolutely was working at one point i'm 100% sure of that. would love to be able to feed that back to the steam devs but i really doubt i'd be able to get their attention.

[† ßâd•£üç]< Îñç™]

@IrascibleBadger: Thanks for testing and letting me know about this. While I personally don't record my games, nor have I played anything on BNet in months, I did some digging and it seems that audio is lost in recording for some reason.

Something to try is check the setting for the Audio Option. Switch it from "Game Audio Only" to "All Systems Audio" or "Record All Audio" if it isn't selected already.

Let me know if this helps at all.
Good luck and happy new year!