Overwatchfans were taken by surprise when game director Jeff Kaplan announced his departure from Blizzard last week. WhileOverwatchplayers were given one last video from Kaplan announcing his resignation, it now seems that he also sent a very touching email to Sombra’s voice actor.
Jeff Kaplan was, in many ways, the face ofOverwatch. He frequently released candid videos discussion updates and changes for the community will most of the game’s larger updates and character releases. His departure was very surprising, especially with the much anticipatedOverwatch 2actively in development, andOverwatchfans took the opportunity to show their appreciationfor all of Kaplan’s work over the years.
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Information on the email comes from voice actress Carolina Ravassa’s Instagram account. The image of the email was posted with a caption thanking Jeff Kaplan for his work creating amazing worlds that fans love, and while the email is only one word, it strikes a chord with Ravassa and players alike. The e-mail in question simply reads “boop,” a reference toSombra’s iconic cosmetic voice line inOverwatchthat won players' hearts when she debuted in the game’s cinematic short that revealed the character and her back story for the first time.
As simple as the email is, it’s also heart-touching, and the comments both on Ravassa’s Instagram as well as a Reddit thread dedicated to the post, show that many players in theOverwatchcommunity are also getting hit in the feels by the email. ManyOverwatchfans have called for in-game cosmetics to be released honoring Kaplan, while Kaplan himself has spoken out toencourageOverwatchplayers to support the development teamas well as his replacement Aaron Keller. Whether or notOverwatchwill release any special in-game recognition of Kaplan remains to be seen, but his departure has undeniably put the game in a tough position.
Transitioning to a new game director is never an easy task, and Kaplan’s departure, whileOverwatch 2is still in development, is particularly worrying. Blizzard has beenoddly tight-lipped aboutOverwatch 2since its announcement, and some players have been growing concerned due to the lack of information. The community has also been growing frustrated with some ofOverwatch’s recent developments, with many of them finding the game’s recent Archives 2021 event rather disappointing. Hopefully, the popular hero shooter’s sequel is able to find some footing with its new director and give fans a sequel well worth waiting for.
Overwatchis available now on PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.
