Former D&D and Magic VP Jess Lanzillo Takes the Helm as Creative Director of Vampire: The Masquerade
Jess Lanzillo Joins White Wolf as Creative Director for World of Darkness
Jess Lanzillo, who has a solid background as VP for Dungeons & Dragons and Creative Director for Magic: The Gathering, is now taking the reins at White Wolf as the new Creative Director for World of Darkness. This move marks a significant step as White Wolf brings its licensing and publishing efforts back in-house, aiming to expand and deepen the World of Darkness universe.
- Jess Lanzillo’s new role at White Wolf
- Her experience with D&D and Magic: The Gathering
- Focus on expanding World of Darkness IPs like Vampire: The Masquerade
- Industry context with key departures from Wizards of the Coast
- Upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 release
From D&D and Magic to World of Darkness
Lanzillo brings a wealth of experience from her time shaping two of the biggest tabletop franchises: Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Now, she’s set to apply that expertise to beloved RPGs such as Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, and Hunter: The Reckoning. Her mission? To grow the World of Darkness brand across various platforms while staying true to its unique lore and mature themes.
“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 shared in a statement. She wants to support and amplify what makes these worlds special — rich lore, player agency, and mature themes — and make sure they reach everyone who would love them.
What This Means for World of Darkness and White Wolf
White Wolf’s Executive VP Marco Behrmann highlighted Lanzillo’s arrival as a “big win” for the studio. He praised her as a “world-class Creative Director” with a knack for audience-first storytelling and transmedia development. Her leadership is expected to help White Wolf push forward with bold plans, aiming to make World of Darkness the number one horror entertainment brand worldwide.
This appointment comes at an interesting time in the tabletop industry, as several key creatives have recently left Wizards of the Coast, the publisher behind D&D and Magic. Notably, figures like Perkins and Crawford moved on earlier this year to other ventures, including Critical Role’s Darrington Press.
Looking Ahead: Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2
Fans of the World of Darkness can also look forward to the upcoming release of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2, set to arrive later this year in October. Lanzillo’s involvement signals a strong creative push to keep the franchise fresh and exciting across all formats.
