2026-03-17 13:06:36
Former Blizzard Entertainment vice president and Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has criticised players who judge games without ever playing them, calling out what he sees as a growing trend in online discourse.
Kaplan made the remarks during a 10-hour Twitch livestream showcasing his new indie project, The Legend of California, offering fans an early look at gameplay and development progress.
He said: “I understand being upset, and I understand voicing your opinion.But if a game comes out and you don’t want to play it, and you never played it – shut the f*** up!”
Kaplan continued: “Who cares about my opinion if I’m not gonna play it? And if I’ve never played it, why does my opinion matter on that? … I just f****** ignore you.”
The developer also hit at out those who make snap judgements about games based on limited footage.
He said: “The internet likes to just instantly judge, ‘Is the game any good or not?’ I don’t know how you can tell that from a two-minute video. Like, play it for a while.”
Kaplan’s new title, The Legend of California, is described as an open-world, action-survival shooter set in a mythical version of California during the gold rush era.
The game can be played solo or cooperatively, with Kaplan emphasising its early-stage development.
The developer has highlighted a more transparent, low-budget approach compared to his time working on blockbuster titles.
Kaplan said: “We’re just kind of winging it… even alpha’s going to be rough.”
He also took aim at modern monetisation trends in gaming, suggesting his new project will take a more traditional route.
Kaplan quipped: “It’s like this crazy idea… ‘Maybe I could play the game to get s***.'”
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