Former “Overwatch” game director Jeff Kaplan has revealed a striking shift in how his peers treat him after leaving Activision Blizzard.
Once a celebrated figure who spearheaded multibillion-dollar franchises, Kaplan disclosed that several industry contacts now ignore his emails entirely.
Speaking in an interview with GameSpot, the veteran developer reflected on the stark contrast between running high-budget AAA titles and starting over at his independent studio, Kintsugiyama.
The humbling reality of starting fresh
Kaplan noted the irony of the situation given his track record of creating massive financial hits. “I’m like, ‘I made you a billion dollars. You’d think you’d return my email,’ you know?”
Kaplan admitted during the discussion. He described the transition to indie development as deeply humbling, mentioning that his studio’s early IT setup was handled directly from his dining room table filled with spare PC components.
Finding clarity beyond corporate success
Despite the ghosting from former colleagues, Kaplan remains optimistic about his fresh start. He views the experience as a helpful filter that exposes genuine relationships versus connections tied strictly to corporate influence.
According to Kaplan, stepping away from corporate executive mandates has allowed his team of 33 developers to focus on creative freedom while building their debut title, “The Legend of California.”
