Kaplan recounts: the CFO demanded specific revenue targets for Overwatch and its recurring revenue in subsequent years, warning that failure to meet them would result in the layoff of 1,000 employees—and that responsibility would fall on Kaplan. He called it “the biggest f**k you moment I had in my career,” describing it as surreal and a key factor in his decision to leave the company. He noted, fortunately, that the CFO in question is no longer with Blizzard.
Jeff Kaplan, co-creator and former director of Overwatch, has reflected on the pivotal moment that led to his departure from Activision Blizzard in 2021. In an interview with Lex Fridman, Kaplan described how, after guiding the original game’s launch in 2016, he felt in control of the team and its direction. However, his breaking point came during a tense meeting with a former executive.