Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ex-Overwatch Lead Cuts Ties for New Game
Ex-Overwatch Lead Cuts Ties for New Game
15 Oct
Summary
- Former Overwatch director has not played since April 2021.
- Kaplan seeks 'clinical separation' from his former game.
- He learned detachment from leaving World of Warcraft previously.
Jeff Kaplan, the former public face and director of Overwatch, stated he has maintained a "clinical separation" from the game since his departure from Blizzard in April 2021. He has intentionally avoided playing Overwatch or engaging with its online communities to preserve his mental well-being.
This approach stems from a previous experience when Kaplan left World of Warcraft in 2008. He described that separation as more emotionally taxing, as WoW was a significant part of his identity for six years. The experience prepared him for stepping away from Overwatch.
Kaplan is now focused on his new venture, The Legend of California, an indie game. He aims to prevent himself from reminiscing about past glories, comparing it to Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. He believes Overwatch now belongs to its active players and developers.
His departure from Blizzard followed nearly two decades with the company. Kaplan's decision to leave and go indie marked a significant career shift, allowing him to pursue new creative projects without the emotional entanglement of his previous work.
