Following the behind-the-scenes video forOverwatch 2at BlizzConline, gamers were confident that the project was in the right hands — even if it was clearly far away from release. While some weredisappointed withOverwatch 2’s showingat the event, plenty of good things came out of the new update, such as the reveal of “hundreds” of hero missions and some fresh PvE enemies. Through all the footage of new maps and hero redesigns, Jeff Kaplan was seen talking about the game alongside Aaron Keller and other key developers.
Things seemed to be moving at a slow and steady pace, and this recent appearance ensure that theOverwatch 2community was blindsided by the news of Jeff Kaplan’s departure from the project. A beloved fixture of the game and a hero to much of the community, Kaplan had a key role in resurrecting project Titan and makingOverwatchinto what it is today. Beloved for his unique speaking style, genuine passion, and consistent community updates, Kaplan was synonymous with theOverwatchbrand. As a result, his departure has sent fans into a frenzy, though there is no need to be so doom-and-gloom aboutOverwatch 2’s future.
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The Reaction To Jeff Kaplan’s Departure
Jeff Kaplan leaving Blizzardtruly did come out of nowhere, and initially, fans had no idea how to react. Many gamers were quick to thank Jeff Kaplan for all his work, with others simply sharing their sadness about losing his presence. With Kaplan’s community updates bringing the player base together and essentially becoming a meme, fans had grown to love Jeff’s way of presenting news. As a result, the reveal of his departure was understandably saddening, though many gamers have turned this high-profile change of leadership into a surefire sign ofOverwatch 2suffering from development struggles.
Despite no information given on why Kaplan left Blizzard, many fans have automatically assumed that creative differences were to blame. While this is certainly possible, it is not known for sure, and immediately jumping to the worst-case scenario is not wise. Despite this, manyreactions to Kaplan’s departurehave seen fans calling the sequel a sinking ship and saying the game is doomed, with Kaplan simply trying to distance himself from the project. With these ideas built entirely on unfounded information, gamers have no need to worry just yet. Instead, they should have some faith in the new leadership, as Kaplan himself has told fans to do so.
Giving Aaron Keller And The Overwatch Team A Chance
After seeing all the controversy related to his departure, Jeff Kaplan followed up andreassuredOverwatchplayersthat the sequel is in great hands. While some gamers were quick to read into his words once again, Kaplan pointed to a comment saying how baseless speculation and worrying was not helpful. With Kaplan clearly still loving his former co-workers and wishing them well, it seems like the last thing he wants is for some unneeded controversy to be started due to his decision to leave Blizzard.
It is also worth noting that Jeff Kaplan has aperfect replacement in Aaron Keller. A fellow Blizzard veteran with 18 years of experience at the studio, Keller served as the assistant director of the originalOverwatch. In a recent interview, Keller made it clear that he is passionate about theOverwatchuniverse, with that same passion showing in the Behind-the-Scenes video from BlizzConline. He also reminds fans that the role of game director is smaller than it sounds, with much of the hands-on work being done by the same exact team that built the original game. Thus far, Keller has shown that he cares about the project, and while it will be hard to fill Kaplan’s shoes, fans should give him the chance to do so.
It is impossible to deny that losing Jeff Kaplan is a major blow, as his charming personality kept fans engaged for years. Whether it was his acceptance speech forOverwatch’s game of the year winback in 2016, the hilarious yule log streams, or a random developer update, seeing Kaplan was always reassuring. As such, all fans should hope for the best, wishing him success with whatever he makes next. At the same time, Jeff Kaplan deserves his privacy, just like Aaron Keller and everyone else working onOverwatch 2deserve a chance to prove themselves. Games are made by entire studios full of talented individuals, with one person rarely being the only reason that a game succeeds.
Overwatch 2is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
