Jeff Kaplan says his new game would need “eight billion players” to go free-to-play

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Jeff Kaplan, who used to lead the Overwatch team, recently revealed his new shooting game and explained why it probably won’t be free-to-play.

Jeff Kaplan, who left Blizzard in 2021, has recently shared what led to his departure and announced his new game, a Wild West shooter called The Legend of California.

Unlike Overwatch, this multiplayer game takes place on a constantly changing, open-world map with a few recognizable locations that always stay the same. Players also need to focus on survival – they’ll have to find supplies, collect resources, and create items to stay alive.

Although the game is still under development and doesn’t have a confirmed release date, the developer, Kaplan, anticipates it will be a paid title.

The Legend of California probably won’t be free-to-play

During a livestream showcasing The Legend of California, Kaplan responded to a viewer question about in-game purchases. He said that while plans weren’t final, he wasn’t a fan of the free-to-play approach used by games like Fortnite and Overwatch.

Honestly, I have no idea how we’ll make money with this game. We’re definitely not going to be free-to-play – we just don’t have the resources. A free-to-play model requires a massive player base and a huge development team constantly creating new content, and we’re nowhere near that scale.

We don’t plan to make the game free-to-play, at least not right now. However, we’re open to changing our minds if circumstances allow.

He explained that the game will probably reward players with items they earn through gameplay, instead of selling them through small purchases.

I’m aiming for a straightforward approach. Currently, players unlock content simply by playing the game,” he explained. “It’s a somewhat unusual concept – the idea of earning rewards just by playing the game hasn’t really been done in a long time.

Just a reminder that The Legends of California is still in development, meaning the creators, Kaplan and the Kintsugiyama team, might adjust their plans. As of now, though, it looks like the game will be a one-time purchase, without lots of additional in-game buying.

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2026-03-19 16:20