You might not have heard of World of Darkness, but you’ve definitely heard of some of the books, video and tabletop games that are set in the universe. Created by White Wolf, the title includes names like Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, and Hunter: The Reckoning, as well as various other fantasy role-playing IPs.
Parent company, Paradox Interactive, has announced that veteran developer Jess Lanzillo will be joining White Wolf as creative director of World of Darkness. Lanzillo previously spent eight years working for Wizards of the Coast, first on Magic: the Gathering and later on Dungeons & Dragons. She worked as both vice president and creative director at Wizards of the Coast, as well as taking charge of world-building for the company.
The veteran announced that she was leaving Wizards of the Coast last month, and now it’s clear that she was preparing for her move to White Wolf. In a press release, Lanzillo said, “World of Darkness has been my creative north star since the ’90s, and I’ve seen firsthand how these games create communities and inspire storytellers.”
As a role-playing multimedia franchise, World of Darkness relies on the goodwill and passion of the community to succeed. Few people will understand this creator-to-player relationship like Lanzillo, as Dungeons & Dragons relies on a similar player connection and involvement. In her leaving message to her fans, Lazillo wrote, “Wizards turn imaginary worlds into real communities, which sounds fake but is actually the most satisfying work in the world. To everyone who let me champion this mission while constantly asking ‘can you add more glowies?’ - you are perfect and I love you.”
On joining the team at White Wolf, she says, “My focus is on supporting and amplifying what makes these worlds special - the rich lore, the player agency, the mature themes - while ensuring they reach everyone who would love them. World of Darkness is so much more than just games; it’s a cultural touchstone with a passionate community and incredible untapped potential.”
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