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Making the case for strong (human) narrative editors
Industry professionals discussed the critical role of human editors in game narrative development at GDC Festival of Gaming. Speakers emphasized that AI cannot replicate the emotional consistency, human context, and nuanced understanding of errors that human editors provide, which are essential for refining game stories and ensuring player engagement.
How to become the Butcher in Diablo 4 Season of Slaughter
This guide explains how players can transform into the infamous Butcher character in Diablo 4's Season of Slaughter. It details finding Shrines of Slaughter in Helltide areas and using Meaty Offerings obtained from Helltide Chests. The guide also covers utilizing Slaughterhouses and participating in the Ceremony of Slaughter PvP event to become the Butcher.
Blizzard initially feared World of Warcraft would only "be successful for five years," says former VC Jeff Kaplan
Former Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan revealed that the company initially believed World of Warcraft would only be successful for five years. Despite these early doubts, the MMO has remained a dominant force in the genre for nearly two decades.
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan returns with a Western survival shooter
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has returned with his new studio Kintsugiyama and an open-world action-survival shooter titled The Legend of California. The game, set during a fictionalized gold rush era, will feature PvE and optional PvP elements, cooperative play for up to four players, and will enter early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store later this year. Kaplan revealed the game during an appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, also discussing his departure from Blizzard due to business pressures.
Jeff Kaplan calls Overwatch 2 "one of my biggest mistakes," names devs who "didn't like PvP" and executive pressure as reasons for troubled development
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan described the development of Overwatch 2 as one of his biggest mistakes, citing internal team members who disliked PvP and pressure from Activision management for a 2019 release. Kaplan also mentioned that initial ideas for Overwatch 2 were conceived as early as 2015, prior to the original game's launch.
Jeff Kaplan reveals new game, Legend of California, on the Lex Friedman Podcast
Jeff Kaplan, former lead of Overwatch, has revealed his new game, The Legend of California, developed by his studio Kintsugi Games with assistance from Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime. The open-world action game features a cowboy aesthetic set in 1800s Gold Rush-era California and will utilize voxel-based gameplay for mining. An alpha test is planned for March, with an Early Access release to follow.
Blizzard's canceled World of Warcraft follow-up was a "1 server, 1 world" MMO with GTA and Animal Crossing influences, ex dev says, but it was so big it "could never ship"
Former Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan revealed details about the canceled MMORPG Titan, which was envisioned as a '1 server, 1 world' game with influences from Grand Theft Auto and Animal Crossing. Despite its ambitious scope, the project was deemed too large to ever ship and was eventually scrapped in 2014, with some assets being repurposed for Overwatch.
Free Play Days – Diablo IV, Killing Floor 3, Bassmaster Fishing, Worms W.M.D and Tropico 6
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can play Killing Floor 3, Bassmaster Fishing, Worms W.M.D, and Tropico 6 for free from March 12-15. Additionally, Diablo IV is available for an open trial for all Xbox players from March 11-18, allowing progress to be carried over to the full game or Game Pass.
Overwatch's Director Quit Following Outrageous Ultimatum from Blizzard Big Wig
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has explained his 2021 departure from Blizzard Entertainment, citing an ultimatum from the company's CFO regarding revenue targets. Kaplan felt immense pressure and a lack of trust, leading him to resign after nearly 20 years with the company. The article also touches on the ambitious Overwatch League and the development pressures that led to Overwatch 2.
'We'll Lay Off a Thousand People': Blizzard CFO's Outrageous Threat Was the Last Straw for Overwatch Director
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has explained that a threat from Blizzard's CFO to lay off a thousand employees if revenue targets were not met was the primary reason for his 2021 departure. Kaplan recalled the incident as a significant "f*ck you" moment, leading him to leave the company after nearly 20 years. The article also touches on the pressures surrounding the Overwatch League and the eventual transition to Overwatch 2.
Jeff Kaplan Says Overwatch League Pressure Helped Drive His Blizzard Exit
Former Overwatch team head Jeff Kaplan revealed in a Lex Fridman podcast interview that immense pressure from the overmarketed Overwatch League contributed to his departure from Blizzard Entertainment. He detailed how unrealistic revenue expectations and commitments to investors diverted resources from game development, culminating in a meeting with Activision's CFO that solidified his decision to leave. Kaplan has since announced his new project, an indie multiplayer action-survival FPS called The Legend of California.
Project Helix dev kits not going out until 2027 | TAG
Microsoft's next-gen console, Project Helix, will not have developer kits available until 2027, featuring a custom AMD chip with advanced ray tracing and upscaling. Separately, Pokémon Pokopia launched strongly on the Nintendo Switch 2, selling 2.2 million copies in three days, while Xbox is teasing "new ways to play" classic games for its 25th anniversary, emphasizing game preservation.
Game dev union members marched at GDC to propose a 'Game Workers' Bill of Rights'
Members of the United Videogame Workers of CWA union marched at the Game Developers Conference to propose a 'Game Workers' Bill of Rights.' The proposed bill includes protections against mandatory AI use, anti-crunch policies, and protections for immigrant workers. The union also announced a 'We don't play with ICE campaign' and an upcoming online Gamer Workers Conference.
Ever complained about Overwatch matchmaking? There's a chance Jeff Kaplan checked your account and all he has to…
Former Overwatch boss Jeff Kaplan discussed the complexities of the game's matchmaking system in an interview with Lex Fridman, acknowledging player complaints about win-loss ratios. Kaplan explained that while players desire fair matches, the system aims for a 50/50 win-loss record, often leading to frustrating streaks that are psychologically difficult to accept.
A terrible quest in vanilla WoW 'holds a really special place in my heart', says Jeff Kaplan, but was also 'the hubris of a junior game designer who thinks he's clever but is actually a dipsh*t'
Former Blizzard designer Jeff Kaplan reflected on the notoriously disliked "The Green Hills of Stranglethorn" quest in the original World of Warcraft. He described it as a personal project that taught him valuable lessons about game design, particularly regarding player experience and avoiding "ant farm" design principles.
One of Jeff Kaplan's 'regrets about Overwatch' was making it so team-orientated: 'I would downplay the team factor and try to put more focus on individual contribution'
Former Overwatch boss Jeff Kaplan expressed regret over the game's heavy emphasis on team coordination, stating that if he were to create a hero shooter today, he would prioritize individual contribution. He believes this shift is necessary because players are inherently selfish and that the current team-dependent design makes it difficult to carry matches or compensate for weaker teammates.
Jeff Kaplan returns with a new Wild West multiplayer survival title – and a revealing interview about why he left Blizzard
Jeff Kaplan, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment, has revealed his new project: The Legend of California, a multiplayer action survival FPS from developer Kintsugiyama and publisher Dreamhaven. In an interview with Lex Fridman, Kaplan discussed his departure from Blizzard, citing a shift in focus towards monetization and pressure regarding revenue targets. The Legend of California is slated for early access in 2026 on PC via Steam.
Jeff Kaplan Drops Bombshell About ‘Contentious’ Activision Exit
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan described his 2021 departure from Activision Blizzard as the biggest "f**k you moment" of his career, suggesting a deeply contentious exit. This revelation sheds light on potential issues within Blizzard during the development of Overwatch 2 and contributes to a broader discussion about how major game studios treat their creative talent.
"We're going to lay off 1,000 people and that's going to be on you": Ex-Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan says redundancy ultimatum led to his Blizzard exit
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan revealed that his 2021 departure from Blizzard was prompted by an ultimatum from the company's CFO regarding revenue targets and potential layoffs. Kaplan stated that the pressure to meet financial goals, exacerbated by the demands of the Overwatch League, led him to leave the company he had intended to retire from. The article also touches on the challenges faced by the development team due to the league's overmarketing and resource drain.
WoW's Horde/Alliance split was 'really controversial', says Jeff Kaplan, to the point where it was only locked in 9-12 months before the game's launch
Former Blizzard vice president Jeff Kaplan revealed that the Horde and Alliance faction split in World of Warcraft was a highly controversial decision, only being finalized 9-12 months before the game's launch. Kaplan, along with other developers like Rob Pardo and Allen Adham, debated the merits of the faction system, which was inspired by games like Dark Age of Camelot.
