#493 – Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming

Jeff Kaplan, legendary game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, discusses his journey from avid gamer to influential designer, highlighting key moments and philosophies that shaped his career. Kaplan recounts his early love for video games, influenced by coin-op arcades and text-based adventures like Zork. He details his transition from aspiring writer to game designer, driven by a desire to create immersive worlds and emotionally resonant experiences. Kaplan also candidly shares his struggles with depression and the importance of finding supportive communities. He emphasizes the value of small, collaborative teams in game development and the need to prioritize player experience over monetization, drawing lessons from both the successes of WoW and Overwatch, and the challenges faced during the development of the unreleased Titan.