Jeff Kaplan Was An Industry Icon, Now Peers Ignore His Emails: Ex-Overwatch Director Talks “Humbling” Reality Of Indie Dev

"Have you ever seen Napoleon Dynamite?" I'll admit it: When I sat down with former Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan to discuss his legacy and what comes next, I hadn't anticipated being asked questions myself--especially ones pertaining to one of the early aughts' most iconic (and absurd) comedy films. Yet it took only 20 minutes until we reached this point--when discussing the tragedy of Uncle Rico felt like a both a natural and important conversation to have. Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, it's easy to see how the World of Warcraft developer went on to become not just the director of Overwatch, but the highly public face of the game. There is an openness to Kaplan that fosters trust--a warmth that makes conversation feel natural. This quality was most assuredly what Blizzard was looking for as it readied itself to launch a new tentpole title that needed to make World of Warcraft-type money. From Overwatch's reveal in 2014 to Spring 2021, Kaplan was all but synonymous with the hero shooter, personally delivering showcases, press conferences, and developer updates to its massive playerbase. But despite this--and a nearly two-decade-long career at Blizzard--Kaplan ultimat…

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