Mike Morhaime
Reporting and statements that mention Mike Morhaime.
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Task Bar Hero has normalized real money item auction houses, and Blizzard must be raging
Task Bar Hero, a popular side-scrolling RPG on Steam, features a real money auction house where players can buy and sell in-game items for very low prices. This mechanic draws parallels to Diablo 3's controversial real money auction house, sparking debate within the community. The article questions the normalization of such systems in modern gaming, especially given the game's design that encourages long playtimes and potential pay-to-progress elements.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars goes mobile, Bungie gets layoffs
This week's MMO news includes Guild Wars launching on mobile, Star Trek Online's new update, and Throne & Liberty's summer expansion. However, the industry also saw significant layoffs at Sony and Bungie, impacting hundreds of developers working on Destiny 2 and Marathon. Other news includes Valve's Steam Machine pricing, the ongoing Ashes of Creation lawsuit, and updates on Grand Theft Auto VI's online multiplayer.
Wildgate ‘hasn’t found a large enough audience to sustain ongoing development,’ but it’s staying online
Moonshot Games, led by Dustin Browder, has announced that heavy development on their multiplayer extraction RPG Wildgate is winding down due to a lack of a large enough audience. While the game will remain online and receive occasional bug fixes and balance updates, major content patches will cease. The game is available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
Perfect Ten: MMOs and other online projects created by ex-Blizzard devs
This article highlights ten notable projects created by former Blizzard Entertainment developers and leads, focusing on MMORPGs and other online games. It details various ventures, including Jeff Kaplan's 'The Legend of California,' Greg Street's 'Project Ghost,' and Ben Brode's successful 'Marvel Snap.'
Jeff Kaplan recounts development of Project Titan as a game that ‘could never ship and would never exist’
Former Blizzard director Jeff Kaplan discussed the troubled development of Project Titan, an MMORPG that was eventually scrapped and reformed into Overwatch. Kaplan revealed that he recognized the project's insurmountable issues as early as 2009 and urged management to shut it down in 2010 to prevent further financial loss.
"You've got to shut this down" - Jeff Kaplan recalls the "disaster" of Blizzard MMO Titan's development
Former Blizzard designer Jeff Kaplan described the cancelled MMO Titan as a "disaster" born from hubris following World of Warcraft's success. The ambitious project, intended to feature a dual-world structure with secret agent and business simulation elements, suffered from a lack of cohesion and clear direction, ultimately costing Blizzard an estimated $83 million before its cancellation in 2013. Kaplan admitted leadership, including his own, was ultimately responsible for the failure, with elements of Titan later influencing Overwatch.
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 Creatures
Kintsugiyama, 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.
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 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.
Ex-Overwatch Director Reveals Western Survival Game The Legend of California
Jeff 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 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.
Former Overwatch Boss Describes "F--k You" Moment That Led To Blizzard Exit
Former 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.
Ex-Overwatch Director's New Game Is Giving Off Red Dead Redemption Vibes
The 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.
