United Kingdom, March 17 -- Former Blizzard Entertainment vice president and Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has criticised players who judge games without ever playing them, calling out what he sees as a growing trend in online discourse.

Kaplan made the remarks during a 10-hour Twitch livestream showcasing his new indie project, The Legend of California, offering fans an early look at gameplay and development progress.

He said: "I understand being upset, and I understand voicing your opinion.But if a game comes out and you don't want to play it, and you never played it - shut the f*** up!"

Kaplan continued: "Who cares about my opinion if I'm not gonna play it? And if I've never played it, why does my opinion matter on that? . I just f...