Overwatch
News, coverage and analysis tracking Overwatch across the outlets.
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.
- Morning PatchesSeveral games have received new patches and updates. Marvel Rivals released version 20260312, Overwatch's Season 1 midcycle continues, and Teardown has added multiplayer functionality.
Jeff Kaplan reveals new game, Legend of California, on the Lex Friedman PodcastJeff 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.
Overwatch's Director Quit Following Outrageous Ultimatum from Blizzard Big WigFormer 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 DirectorFormer 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 ExitFormer 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 | TAGMicrosoft'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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Jeff Kaplan Drops Bombshell About ‘Contentious’ Activision ExitOverwatch 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 exitFormer 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.
"It felt surreal": Overwatch co-creator allegedly left Blizzard after a former exec said he'd be responsible for 1,000 layoffs if the shooter didn't hit financial targetsOverwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan has revealed that he left Blizzard Entertainment in 2021 after a former executive allegedly stated he would be responsible for 1,000 layoffs if the shooter did not meet financial targets. Kaplan expressed feeling in control of the game's direction prior to this incident, which reportedly served as his breaking point.
'That Was the Biggest F*** You Moment I Had in My Career' — Jeff Kaplan, Former Boss of the Overwatch Team, Finally Reveals Why He Left Blizzard - IGNFormer Overwatch boss Jeff Kaplan revealed that extreme financial pressures from Activision Blizzard led to his departure after nearly 20 years. He cited the Overwatch League's overselling to investors and the subsequent demand for revenue generation as major factors that diverted resources and created an unsustainable environment for the development team.
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.
Former Overwatch Boss Describes "F--k You" Moment That Led To Blizzard ExitFormer Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan explained that a significant "f--k you moment" involving financial demands from Activision Blizzard led to his departure. He was reportedly told that if Overwatch didn't meet specific revenue targets, 1,000 people would be laid off, a situation he found surreal. Kaplan also discussed how pressure from investors and the Overwatch League interfered with game development, leading to a focus on quick monetization over new content.
Former Overwatch Director Breaks Silence About Sudden Departure From BlizzardFormer Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has broken his silence regarding his departure from Blizzard Entertainment in 2021. Kaplan revealed on Lex Fridman's podcast that intense pressure from Activision Blizzard's CFO to meet revenue targets, including threats of layoffs, led to his decision to leave after nearly 20 years. He is now working on a new game called The Legend of California.