Jeff Kaplan, Vice President of Blizzard Entertainment and the the director of Overwatch and upcoming sequel Overwatch 2, is leaving Blizzard after almost 20 years at the studio. Overwatch is a team-based first-person shooter which launched in 2016 and has continued to receive post-launch support to this day. Kaplan also worked for years as a designer on Blizzard’s iconic massively multiplayer game World ofWarcraft, so it’s not overstatement to say that millions of players have experienced his design influence in these titles.

While Overwatch has maintained a steady playerbase since its launch almost five years ago, only a slow trickle of Overwatch 2 information has been provided so far. Jeff Kaplan recently assured fans that new information would be coming soon, but for now little has been said outside of the game’s initial announcement. It is known that Overwatch 2‘s multiplayer modes will be a shared environment with the first game, meaning new heroes, maps and game modes will be added to both titles rather than one or the other. The sequel will also have a dedicated mode where a group of players battle computer-controlled enemies in PvE gameplay, a concept only glimpsed in events for the first Overwatch. Recently, Kaplan did reveal that Overwatch 2 will feature an adorable dog for players to meet, but the context behind this canine’s appearance is a mystery.

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Today Blizzard Entertainment announced that Jeff Kaplan will be leaving the developer after 19 years. The announcement comes with a personal note from Jeff to the Overwatch fanbase, expressing gratitude at the opportunity to work with the game’s developers. Aaron Keller, a founding member of the Overwatch development team, will take Kaplan’s place as the game’s director and lead designer. Addressing the Overwatch community, Keller reveals that development of Overwatch 2 is continuing smoothly despite the change in leadership.

Despite approaching its five-year launch anniversary, Overwatch continues to receive support in the form of events and updates. The game is currently in the middle of its Archives 2021 event, which brings back game modes from previous Archives events and brings some brand new skins to the game. While there are five new skins, and numerous other cosmetic items like voice lines and emotes, this year’s Archives event is lighter than previous years.

Jeff Kaplan has been a staple of Blizzard Entertainment game development and leadership for years, notable for his frequent communication with its online communities. As the face of the game, and for many one of the few recognizable faces still at Blizzard as a whole, his absence will likely be sorely missed by fans. While a change in leadership during development is often worrisome, it appears that Aaron Keller has been able to maintain Overwatch 2‘s steady course towards completion.

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Overwatch is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Source: Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch

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Thomas McNulty
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Thomas McNulty is an avid reader, writer, game player and movie watcher from New Jersey. Movies, TV shows, video games, books and pop culture are personal passions, and he is thrilled to be writing about those topics that are so near and dear. If someone has a story to tell, they should be able to tell it. He is committed to delivering accuracy with every article and staying true to his voice.

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