Jeff Kaplan, the former director of Overwatch, has maintained a complete separation from the game since his departure from Blizzard in April 2021. In a recent interview with GameSpot, Kaplan stated that he actively avoids all content related to Overwatch, describing his approach as an "almost clinical separation." He emphasized that he does not search for his name, the game itself, or any related content on platforms like YouTube or Reddit.
Kaplan drew parallels between leaving Overwatch and his earlier departure from the World of Warcraft team in 2008. He described that experience as a "training moment" for understanding the emotional weight of dedicating oneself to a project that ultimately does not belong to the individual creator but to the team and its players. This realization, he explained, informed his decision to disengage from Overwatch after his exit.
He recalled the circumstances surrounding his departure from Blizzard, mentioning a previous interview where he felt pressured by the company's former CFO to meet financial targets for Overwatch, which he characterized as a significant "fuck you moment" in his career. This experience, coupled with his prior departure from World of Warcraft, led to a deliberate decision to disconnect from Overwatch to protect himself emotionally.
Following his time at Blizzard, Kaplan has since co-founded a new studio with former Blizzard developer Tim Ford. Their current project is an open-world survival cowboy game titled "The Legend of California." Kaplan views this new venture as an opportunity to create something more personal, stating, "I didn't leave Blizzard to try to make a Blizzard game. I left Blizzard to make a Tim and Jeff game."