Jeffrey Kaplan is born in New Jersey. His early life is marked by a deep passion for video games, tabletop games, and fantasy literature, experiences that would later heavily influence his career path. He displayed an early aptitude for creative writing and storytelling, laying the foundation for his future role in crafting rich and immersive game worlds.

Kaplan's path to Blizzard was unconventional. A skilled EverQuest player and insightful forum poster on game design, his articulate posts on the official EverQuest forums caught the attention of Blizzard. They were impressed enough to offer him a position as a game designer, despite his lack of formal game development experience. This marked the beginning of his storied career at Blizzard.

Kaplan plays a significant role in the development of World of Warcraft, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that would redefine the genre. Initially working on quest design and world-building, he quickly rises through the ranks, contributing to the game's lore, art direction, and overall player experience. His dedication and creative vision help shape World of Warcraft into a global phenomenon.

Following the success of World of Warcraft, Kaplan leads the development team for 'Titan,' a highly ambitious and secretive massively multiplayer online game. Despite years of development, 'Titan' faced numerous challenges and ultimately was cancelled in 2014. This experience, though disappointing, provided valuable lessons in game design and team leadership that would prove crucial in his future endeavors.

After the cancellation of 'Titan', Kaplan leads a small team to repurpose some of the scrapped ideas into a team-based multiplayer shooter. This project evolved into Overwatch, a critical and commercial success that launched in 2016. As Game Director, Kaplan became the public face of Overwatch, known for his passionate communication with the community and his dedication to creating a positive and inclusive gaming experience. His developer update videos became iconic, fostering a strong connection with players.

Under Kaplan's leadership, Overwatch became a global phenomenon, spawning a vibrant esports scene, generating significant revenue, and building a dedicated fanbase. He oversaw the development of new heroes, maps, and game modes, constantly evolving the game to keep it fresh and engaging. He also championed inclusivity and representation within the game's diverse cast of characters.

In a surprising announcement, Kaplan reveals his departure from Blizzard Entertainment after nearly two decades with the company. While the reasons for his departure remain somewhat private, it marks the end of an era for Blizzard and the Overwatch community. The news generates widespread discussion and speculation about his future plans within the gaming industry.