Kintsugiyama
Kintsugiyama business and news from across the web.
Former Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan says he wants to put "Rust-like mechanics" in his new survival game "someday," but for now base-building is more like "Valheim and Subnautica"Jeff Kaplan, former lead of Overwatch, is developing a Wild West survival game called The Legend of California with his studio Kintsugiyama. While he intends to add Rust-like PvP mechanics to optional servers in the future, the current base-building system is more akin to Valheim and Subnautica, focusing on utility and aesthetics rather than defense.
Overwatch creator tries showing off his new Rust-like open-world game but finds fellow dev stuck in a T-pose instead:…During a 10-hour stream showcasing their upcoming open-world cowboy game, The Legend of California, Kintsugiyama co-founders Jeff Kaplan and Tim Ford encountered a humorous bug where a character model was stuck in a T-pose. The developers, including former Blizzard engineer Tim Ford, joked about the situation, with Kaplan humorously asking if Jira or the server would crash faster.
Is Jeff Kaplan's The Legend Of California Coming To PS5 Or Xbox? Here's What We KnowThe Legend of California, a new project from former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan and developer Kintsugiyama, is currently confirmed for PC with an alpha test starting March 26. While console releases for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are still to be determined, the game is targeting an early-access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store in 2026. Controller support will be available during the alpha test.- Jeff Kaplan’s Legend of California demos multiplayer, opens signups for March 26 Steam alphaJeff Kaplan's studio Kintsugiyama has opened signups for a Steam alpha test of their upcoming multiplayer title, The Legend of California, scheduled for March 26th. The game, inspired by California's gold rush history, will feature FPS action multiplayer with survival sandbox elements, cooperative play, and optional PvP zones. Monthly server resets will occur, but legacy unlocks will persist.
New open world, action-survival shooter from the creator of Overwatch gets its first public Steam playtest next weekKintsugiyama, an independent studio founded by former Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan, has announced its debut game, The Legend of California. The open-world action-survival shooter will have its first public Steam playtest next week, with a larger beta planned for this summer before Early Access.
Ex-Overwatch Dev's New FPS Action Game Opens For Testing Soon, How To Sign UpThe Legend of California, a new first-person shooter from former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan and developer Kintsugiyama, will hold its first public playtest from March 26-30 on Steam. While not everyone who requests access will be accepted, players invited to the alpha test will be able to share content freely. Future tests, including a larger beta, are planned before an early-access launch.
Jeff Kaplan is sick of hearing you demonize games you weren't going to play anyway: 'Shut the f**k up. No one…Former Blizzard VP Jeff Kaplan expressed frustration with online discourse surrounding games, stating that people who haven't played a game should not voice negative opinions about it. He believes such criticism is unproductive and stems from 'nerd baby rage.' Kaplan, now leading his independent studio Kintsugiyama, also reflected on his departure from Blizzard and his newfound freedom to speak candidly.
"Shut the f*ck up, no one cares" - former Overwatch boss Jeff Kaplan slams "nerd baby rage"Former Overwatch boss Jeff Kaplan has criticized what he calls "nerd baby rage" from game communities, urging players who dislike a game they haven't played to "shut the f*ck up, no one cares." Kaplan, now working on his new game The Legend of California, stated that developers often ignore overly hostile feedback, finding it unproductive.
Jeff Kaplan Discusses His Departure from Blizzard - GameHauntJeff Kaplan detailed his departure from Blizzard Entertainment in April 2021, citing pressure from a senior finance executive to meet revenue targets or face 1,000 layoffs. He described a significant cultural shift at Blizzard from a creative environment to a profit-driven one, culminating in a "f&ck you moment" with the CFO. Kaplan has since founded Kintsugiyama and is working on The Legend of California.
Overwatch Vet Jeff Kaplan On AI: "The Human Spirit Is Irreplaceable"Game industry veteran Jeff Kaplan, formerly of Blizzard Entertainment and now leading the development of The Legend of California, shared his views on artificial intelligence in game development with Lex Fridman. Kaplan described current AI as "mostly a hot mess" but acknowledged its potential for handling tedious tasks, citing an example where ChatGPT resized 2,000 images for his studio Kintsugiyama. He emphasized that while AI can assist with mundane work, the "human spirit is irreplaceable" in creative endeavors.
Overwatch Vet's New Game, The Legend Of California, Won't "Starve The Player" Early OnJeff Kaplan, former Blizzard veteran and director of Kintsugiyama studio, has shared new details about their upcoming game, The Legend of California. The first-person shooter multiplayer game aims to quickly immerse players in its core mechanics, such as shooting and exploration, without prolonged periods of simple tasks. The game will launch in early access, with developers emphasizing community involvement to refine the experience before its 1.0 release.
New Survival Game The Legend of California Announced and is Being Headed Up by Former Overwatch Lead Director, Launching on PC via Early Access in 2026 | Console CreaturesKintsugiyama, a studio led by former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan, has announced The Legend of California, a multiplayer-focused action survival first-person shooter. The game is set in an alternate timeline gold rush California and will launch on PC via Early Access in 2026 on Steam and Epic Games Store. The publisher is Dreamhaven, co-founded by former Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime.
Ex-Overwatch director reveals a multiplayer lovechild of Read Dead and Rust, which I hope boasts nude shootoutsThe Legend of California is a multiplayer survival shooter from Kintsugiyama, led by former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan, that blends elements of Red Dead Online and Rust. Set in a gold rush-era California, players can engage in shootouts, build bases, or survive in the wilderness. The game is slated for early access release this year on PC via Steam, with the developer hoping to include optional nudity for a more Darwinian survival experience.- Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan returns with a Western survival shooterFormer 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.
- The Legend of California AnnouncedKintsugiyama and Dreamhaven have announced The Legend of California, an open-world multiplayer survival shooter. The game is set on the mythical Island of California during the gold rush era and will be released in Early Access.
Ex-Overwatch Director Reveals Western Survival Game The Legend of CaliforniaJeff Kaplan, former director of Overwatch, has announced his new studio Kintsugiyama and its first game, The Legend of California. This Wild West-themed survival shooter will feature action-survival gameplay with first-person shooting elements, supporting both single-player and multiplayer modes. The game is slated for Early Access later this year and is being published by Dreamhaven.- Jeff Kaplan returns with a new Wild West multiplayer survival title – and a revealing interview about why he left BlizzardJeff 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.
Former Overwatch Lead claims he was given a horrid ultimatum: meet revenue goals or 1,000 developers would lose jobsFormer Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan revealed that he was given an ultimatum by former Blizzard CFO Dennis Durkin: meet specific revenue goals for Overwatch or 1,000 developers would lose their jobs. Kaplan stated this pressure, partly due to the financial strains of the Overwatch League, significantly impacted his career at Blizzard. He is now working on a new survival game called The Legend of California with an independent studio.
Ex-Overwatch Director's New Game Is Giving Off Red Dead Redemption VibesThe Legend of California, an upcoming open-world Western game from former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan's Kintsugiyama studio, is set to launch in early access on PC later this year. Developed by Kintsugiyama and published by Dreamhaven, the game features survival, crafting, and building elements in a 19th-century California gold rush setting, playable solo or cooperatively.- Multiplayer action survival first-person shooter The Legend of California announced for PCPublisher Dreamhaven and developer Kintsugiyama have announced The Legend of California, a multiplayer action survival first-person shooter for PC. Further details about the game's release and features are expected soon.