Ending “19 amazing years” at the studio, Blizzard’s vice president is moving on.
Kaplan joined the company in May 2002, working first on Warcraft 3 before World of Warcraft. In 2009, he jumped to the MMO code-named “Titan” which was subsequently cancelled in 2014. Since then, Kaplan has been the lead director and public go-to-guy of Overwatch, Blizzard’s 2016 mega-popular, multi-billion $$$ multiplayer game and Genji hate sim. A sequel is now in development, but no launch is confirmed. Awkward timing for Kaplan to skip out, though.
In an update on the Overwatch website, he makes his obligatory thank-yous to the team at Blizzard and the game’s fans but isn’t telling us what’s next. Maybe he just wants a holiday.
i am leaving Blizzard Entertainment after 19 amazing years.
it was truly the honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to create worlds and heroes for such a passionate audience. i want to express my deep appreciation to everyone at blizzard who supported our games, our game teams and our players. but i want to say a special thanks to the wonderful game developers that shared in the journey of creation with me.
never accept the world as it appears to be. always dare to see it for what it could be. i hope you do the same.
gg,
jeffrey kaplan
Kaplan is replaced by his colleague Aaron Keller.