Overview
- In a new Lex Fridman interview, the former Overwatch director says a CFO told him the game had to hit specific 2020 and recurring revenue targets or 1,000 layoffs would be his responsibility, with the figures redacted under his NDA.
- Kaplan describes the Overwatch League as overmarketed to team buyers and a "house of cards," with obligations like Twitch integration, spectator tools, and team skins diverting staff from the live game and the sequel.
- He says those pressures derailed plans for more world events and a larger PvE push in Overwatch 2, refocusing work toward faster monetization.
- Kaplan did not name the executive; reporters note the timeline aligns with then–Activision Blizzard CFO Dennis Durkin, who left the company in early 2021.
- The Overwatch League later shut down in 2023, the franchise has continued with live updates and rebranding, and Kaplan is now developing The Legend of California with an independent studio.