White Wolf has announced that Jess Lanzillo, former vice president for Dungeons & Dragons and creative director for Magic: The Gathering, has joined as creative director for World of Darkness. Lanzillo joins as White Wolf works to bring World of Darkness licensing and publishing back in house.
Lanzillo will be responsible for IP development for tabletop RPGs like Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Hunter: The Reckoning, and more. With a track record of guiding iconic franchises like Magic and D&D while preserving their core identity, Lanzillo’s being positioned to expand World of Darkness across multiple platforms.
“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,” Lanzillo said in a statement from White Wolf. “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.”
Lanzillo’s move to World of Darkness comes as several creative figures within Dungeons & Dragons jump ship to competitors, like Critical Role’s tabletop games-publishing arm, Darrington Press. Perkins and Crawford left D&D and Magic: The Gathering publisher Wizards of the Coast in April, after decades of shared experience at the tabletop game maker, developing content for Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars role-playing, and Warhammer fantasy role-play.
“Bringing Jess on board to shape the creative future of World of Darkness is a big win for White Wolf,” said Marco Behrmann, White Wolf executive vice president. “She’s a world-class Creative Director with deep roots in developing transmedia properties and a sharp instinct for audience-first storytelling. Jess’s experience makes her the perfect fit to lead White Wolf in bold, ambitious ways. Jess is a key pillar of our expanding studio, helping drive a strong and clear creative vision from the heart of our team. Her arrival underscores Paradox’s long-term commitment to White Wolf and our goal to make World of Darkness the number one horror entertainment brand in the world.”
A longtime fan since Vampire: The Masquerade’s 1991 debut, it appears White Wolf is looking for Lanzillo to bring both insider passion and industry savvy to the table to bring World of Darkness to its next era. But it does make one wonder: What’s going on over at Wizards of the Coast that’s making vets leave in rapid succession?
Vampire: The Masquerade will return to the realm of video games later this year, with the long-awaited release of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 in October.
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