Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan says he hasn’t played or searched for it since leaving Blizzard five years ago
Jeff Kaplan, the former creative director of Overwatch at Blizzard Entertainment, has revealed that he maintains a complete and intentional separation from the game following his departure from the studio. According to recent reports, Kaplan has not played Overwatch since leaving Blizzard approximately five years ago and has not even searched for information about the game or its ongoing development. He described this separation as “healthy,” indicating a conscious effort to maintain boundaries between himself and the project that once defined much of his professional career in the gaming industry.
Kaplan’s complete disconnect from Overwatch highlights the sometimes distinct boundaries that former creators maintain with their past projects. While Overwatch has continued to evolve under new leadership at Blizzard, Kaplan has chosen to focus his attention elsewhere rather than follow the game’s development either as a casual observer or industry professional. His stance reflects a broader pattern seen among some developers who seek psychological distance from major projects after moving on.