Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has been vocal recently about the gaming community, particularly in the wake of his announcement for his new open-world survival shooter, The Legend of California. He took the opportunity to address the negative aspects of gaming fandom, specifically what he refers to as “nerd baby rage,” and shared his candid advice for those who feel compelled to complain about games they’re not interested in playing: “Just stop, nobody cares.”

During a lengthy gameplay stream for The Legend of California, Kaplan responded to a question about potential official role-playing servers before veering into a discussion about community reactions. He noted, “As a game developer, catering to every player is nearly impossible, and naturally, some individuals won’t be drawn to this game. It’s fascinating how some members of the Overwatch community express anger towards this project; while some are genuinely excited, others insist, ‘I don’t want to play that game!’ To them, I say, ‘If that’s the case, then don’t play it. There’s no pressure—enjoy the games you like!'”

This led Kaplan to reflect on the peculiar tendency of some players to react angrily online. He elaborated, “It’s understandable to feel upset if a game you love makes changes that impact your favorite characters, like when a paladin gets nerfed. While I may not condone hostility, I can empathize with the frustration of voicing your thoughts after an unfavorable change. However, if a game is launched that you’re not interested in, why express dissatisfaction? If you’ve never played it, your opinion holds little weight. Personal grievances about a game you won’t try are pointless.”

Kaplan acknowledged that he has been on the receiving end of significant backlash and shared his perspective on its effects as a game developer. “When faced with that kind of negativity, my response is simply to ignore it. It’s counterproductive,” he explained. “If you’re so far removed from rational discussion, I won’t bother to engage anymore.”

He also expressed that there are many other developers observing the discussions and that certain forums become places to disregard unconstructive criticism. “We’ve noticed that these outrage tactics are often about fishing for validation rather than fostering meaningful conversations,” he said. “It’s become repetitive, and I’m uninterested in it now. I might face backlash for my comments, but at this stage in my career, I’m ready to speak freely.”

Kaplan left Blizzard Entertainment in 2021 after nearly two decades with the company, where he held the positions of vice president and lead on Overwatch. Since then, he has been focused on his new venture, a small independent studio called Kintsugiyama, working on The Legend of California, which is set in an imagined version of California during the gold rush era and is slated for early access later this year. Following the recent announcement, Kaplan has been more open about his experiences, discussing the challenges he’s faced in his career, including notable moments during his time with Activision and the development of Blizzard’s MMO Titan.