As Kaplan took the stage at BlizzCon 2019, most everybody watching already knew what he was about to announce. Overwatch 2 had leaked the week prior, deflating what was intended to be a surprise reveal to close out the opening ceremony of Blizzard?s yearly show. Kaplan began his presentation with by passive-aggressively addressing the leaks, sarcastically saying that he had completely forgotten what he was supposed to be saying on stage, but that it was okay because the internet had already compiled his talking points for him. Many saw it as a lighthearted attempt to play off the Overwatch 2 leaks, but Kaplan was understandably frustrated for himself and the Overwatch 2 development team who had been working on the surprise.
Though leaks may not seem like a big deal to most people, Kaplan explained that they can have a really demoralizing impact on the people who are working on the game. In an interview with Kotaku Australia, he said:
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