Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming
Lex Fridman Podcast
Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc See below for , and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama Hiring – join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring Other – other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
EPISODE LINKS: The Legend of California (Steam Page): store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/Th... Jeff’s Game Studio: kintsugiyama.com
SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to fin.ai/lex Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases. Go to blitzy.com/lex BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to betterhelp.com/lex Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to shopify.com/lex CodeRabbit: AI-powered code reviews. Go to coderabbit.ai/lex Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to perplexity.ai
OUTLINE:
- (00:00) – Introduction
- (02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
- (10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake
- (25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters
- (40:45) – EverQuest obsession
- (53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard
- (1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life
- (1:15:16) – One of Us
- (1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture
- (1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft
- (1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games
- (2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player
- (2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games
- (3:01:04) – Online toxicity
- (3:08:38) – Why Titan failed
- (3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks
- (3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes
- (4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking
- (4:04:40) – Rust
- (4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard
- (4:37:14) – Diablo IV
- (4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games
- (4:47:38) – The Legend of California
- (5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time
- (5:09:30) – AI and future of video games
PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast – Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr – Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 – RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast – Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZg... – Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
Raw Description
<p>Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March.<br /> Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc</a><br /> See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.</p> <p><b>CONTACT LEX:</b><br /> <b>Feedback</b> – give feedback to Lex: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey</a><br /> <b>AMA</b> – submit questions, videos or call-in: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama</a><br /> <b>Hiring</b> – join our team: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring</a><br /> <b>Other</b> – other ways to get in touch: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact</a></p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> The Legend of California (Steam Page): <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California">https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California</a><br /> Jeff’s Game Studio: <a href="https://www.kintsugiyama.com/">https://www.kintsugiyama.com/</a></p> <p><b>SPONSORS:</b><br /> To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:<br /> <b>Fin:</b> AI agent for customer service.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep493-sc">https://fin.ai/lex</a><br /> <b>Blitzy:</b> AI agent for large enterprise codebases.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/blitzy-ep493-sc">https://blitzy.com/lex</a><br /> <b>BetterHelp:</b> Online therapy and counseling.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep493-sc">https://betterhelp.com/lex</a><br /> <b>Shopify:</b> Sell stuff online.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep493-sc">https://shopify.com/lex</a><br /> <b>CodeRabbit:</b> AI-powered code reviews.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep493-sc">https://coderabbit.ai/lex</a><br /> <b>Perplexity:</b> AI-powered answer engine.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep493-sc">https://perplexity.ai/</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> (00:00) – Introduction<br /> (02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections<br /> (10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake<br /> (25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters<br /> (40:45) – EverQuest obsession<br /> (53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard<br /> (1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life<br /> (1:15:16) – One of Us<br /> (1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture<br /> (1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft<br /> (1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games<br /> (2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player<br /> (2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games<br /> (3:01:04) – Online toxicity<br /> (3:08:38) – Why Titan failed<br /> (3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks<br /> (3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes<br /> (4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking<br /> (4:04:40) – Rust<br /> (4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard<br /> (4:37:14) – Diablo IV<br /> (4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games<br /> (4:47:38) – The Legend of California<br /> (5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time<br /> (5:09:30) – AI and future of video games</p> <p><b>PODCAST LINKS:</b><br /> – Podcast Website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> – Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> – Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> – RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> – Podcast Playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4</a><br /> – Clips Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/lexclips">https://www.youtube.com/lexclips</a></p>
Chapters (1/25)
Show Notes
Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc See below for , and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama Hiring – join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring Other – other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
EPISODE LINKS: The Legend of California (Steam Page): store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/Th... Jeff’s Game Studio: kintsugiyama.com
SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to fin.ai/lex Blitzy: AI agent for large enterprise codebases. Go to blitzy.com/lex BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling. Go to betterhelp.com/lex Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to shopify.com/lex CodeRabbit: AI-powered code reviews. Go to coderabbit.ai/lex Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to perplexity.ai
OUTLINE:
- (00:00) – Introduction
- (02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
- (10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake
- (25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters
- (40:45) – EverQuest obsession
- (53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard
- (1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life
- (1:15:16) – One of Us
- (1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture
- (1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft
- (1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games
- (2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player
- (2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games
- (3:01:04) – Online toxicity
- (3:08:38) – Why Titan failed
- (3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks
- (3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes
- (4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking
- (4:04:40) – Rust
- (4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard
- (4:37:14) – Diablo IV
- (4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games
- (4:47:38) – The Legend of California
- (5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time
- (5:09:30) – AI and future of video games
PODCAST LINKS: – Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast – Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr – Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 – RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast – Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZg... – Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
Raw Description
<p>Jeff Kaplan is a legendary Blizzard game designer of World of Warcraft and Overwatch, now preparing to launch a new game, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama – available to wishlist on Steam today, with alpha later in March.<br /> Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep493-sc</a><br /> See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.</p> <p><b>CONTACT LEX:</b><br /> <b>Feedback</b> – give feedback to Lex: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey</a><br /> <b>AMA</b> – submit questions, videos or call-in: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama</a><br /> <b>Hiring</b> – join our team: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring</a><br /> <b>Other</b> – other ways to get in touch: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact</a></p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> The Legend of California (Steam Page): <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California">https://store.steampowered.com/app/2550530/The_Legend_of_California</a><br /> Jeff’s Game Studio: <a href="https://www.kintsugiyama.com/">https://www.kintsugiyama.com/</a></p> <p><b>SPONSORS:</b><br /> To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:<br /> <b>Fin:</b> AI agent for customer service.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep493-sc">https://fin.ai/lex</a><br /> <b>Blitzy:</b> AI agent for large enterprise codebases.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/blitzy-ep493-sc">https://blitzy.com/lex</a><br /> <b>BetterHelp:</b> Online therapy and counseling.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep493-sc">https://betterhelp.com/lex</a><br /> <b>Shopify:</b> Sell stuff online.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep493-sc">https://shopify.com/lex</a><br /> <b>CodeRabbit:</b> AI-powered code reviews.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/coderabbit-ep493-sc">https://coderabbit.ai/lex</a><br /> <b>Perplexity:</b> AI-powered answer engine.<br /> Go to <a href="https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep493-sc">https://perplexity.ai/</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> (00:00) – Introduction<br /> (02:24) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections<br /> (10:47) – Early games: Pac-Man, Zork, Doom, Quake<br /> (25:12) – Writing career – 170 rejection letters<br /> (40:45) – EverQuest obsession<br /> (53:43) – Getting hired at Blizzard<br /> (1:09:11) – Lowest point in Jeff’s life<br /> (1:15:16) – One of Us<br /> (1:19:33) – Early Blizzard culture<br /> (1:39:15) – Building World of Warcraft<br /> (1:56:59) – How WoW changed video games<br /> (2:14:21) – Single-player vs Multi-player<br /> (2:35:15) – How Blizzard made great video games<br /> (3:01:04) – Online toxicity<br /> (3:08:38) – Why Titan failed<br /> (3:25:48) – Overwatch in six weeks<br /> (3:52:46) – Best Overwatch heroes<br /> (4:01:16) – The challenge of matchmaking<br /> (4:04:40) – Rust<br /> (4:15:01) – Why Jeff left Blizzard<br /> (4:37:14) – Diablo IV<br /> (4:38:42) – Getting back to making video games<br /> (4:47:38) – The Legend of California<br /> (5:01:23) – Greatest video game of all time<br /> (5:09:30) – AI and future of video games</p> <p><b>PODCAST LINKS:</b><br /> – Podcast Website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> – Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> – Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> – RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> – Podcast Playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4</a><br /> – Clips Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/lexclips">https://www.youtube.com/lexclips</a></p>