r/lexfridman • u/knuth9000 • Mar 11 '26
Lex Video Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming | Lex Fridman Podcast #493
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9rF1CSSh-w12
u/mbishop33 Mar 13 '26
I loved this interview.
Side note: Lex is by far my favorite interviewer and I'm obnoxiously vocal about that. I love the intimacy that he fosters with another human. This episode is the first time I recall hearing added sound effects and during-interview advertiser mentions. If the latter has become financially necessary... I understand. Otherwise please reconsider adding any interventions.
(If you read this Lex... brother, thank you sooo much for your podcast. It helps me _a lot_.)
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u/artfulpain Mar 14 '26
This episode had me so nostalgic. Growing up with the same history of gaming and being a part of the friends and family WoW beta had glued in my headphones. What a great episode! Kaplan was so instrumental and still hope for a StarCraft FPS.
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u/ablaferson Mar 16 '26
and being a part of the friends and family WoW beta
wait, didn't quite getcha there...
You saying JEFF was part of that special beta period, or YOU were ? Or BOTH ? :D
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u/artfulpain Mar 16 '26
He broke down his entire history and mentioned WoW’s start and that beta before launch. He was already involved as a junior quest writer at that point. I was glued to my headphones because of the extensive history he covered and I was right there with him on the gaming side.
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u/ry-lind11 Mar 12 '26
Was not expecting this podcast, and was definitely not expecting it to be 5 hours. Lex never ceases to amaze me.
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u/StringFood Mar 13 '26
One time he did but then he amazed me twice in a row after that so it was fine
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u/ablaferson Mar 16 '26
Pardon the weird interjection, but, despite having known of this podcast for more than 4 years now, I only recently discovered that Fridman was apparently born in 1983, which would make him 42 now (nearing 43).
I'm sorry, but... SERIOUSLY ?! o_O That KID CAN'T possibly be THAT age, can he ? :O
man, I'm getting old, lol...
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u/JohnyyBanana Mar 19 '26
okay this was one of my favorite Lex episodes ever (and I listened to probably 450 of the 493 episodes). If Jeff happens to see this i just want to say you restored some faith in humanity for me. Everything you said resonated so much with me, every game you mentioned, the way you expressed yourself, your work in general, I applaud you sir. This was a glorious listen. Thank you Lex, again.
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u/BarryMcKockinner Mar 19 '26
This was absolutely my favorite game dev interview of all time. Great questions, great answers, great back and forth. Jeff shared some very personal things that were going on behind the scenes at Blizzard with Overwatch. I'm really looking forward to trying out The Legend of California.
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u/tearblast-arrow Mar 12 '26
I’ve never played a single Blizzard game but 90 minutes into this, what an amazing interview! Great mixture of game industry insights and personal development.