How Warner Bros. Games brought DC heroes to life

To celebrate its launch, we sat down with Warner Bros. Games San Francisco VP and studio head Katelynd LaVallee to learn more about what it takes to bring DC’s biggest superheroes and supervillains to life.

Katelynd LaVallee: As a squad-based RPG packed with some of the most iconic DC superheroes and supervillains, DC Worlds Collide has been such a fun project to work on. What I love most is how strategic it is thanks to its mix of PvP and PvE combat—you’re constantly thinking about how to build the best team and use each character’s abilities in smart ways.

And honestly, getting to work on a game where Superman, Batman, and Harley Quinn are all in the mix? That’s just cool.

Gail Simone is a legendary voice in the world of comics, known for her sharp storytelling, deep character insight, and ability to blend action with emotional depth. The idea to bring Gail Simone into the fold came directly from the DC creative team, and it was a brilliant recommendation.

She’s helping craft a rich, original narrative, while mentoring our writing team, and infusing the game with the same heart and complexity that fans have come to expect from her work. This means that DC Worlds Collide draws on the best elements of classic DC stories honoring their legacy while introducing fresh twists and character dynamics.

My favorite feature has to be Team Synergies—special abilities, found on roughly one in three of our Epic and Legendary characters, that offer players clear guidance on how to build their squads. Only one Team Synergy can be active at a time, giving each team a distinct strategic direction and unlocking exciting combinations that are even more powerful—and fun—thanks to the added boost.

It’s our job as game developers to give players the tools they need to craft their own experience, but the magic is in what they choose to do with those tools. We’ve focused on building a wide range of characters with different skills, strengths and weaknesses, and unique team synergies. We can’t wait to see how players tackle the different modes and take on other players.

It’s been a journey—and not always a conventional one. I started out as a Production Assistant at Turbine Games in 2009, fresh out of college. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a variety of roles across game development, marketing, operations, and consumer insights. Each role taught me something new and helped shape the leader I am today.

It’s been a challenge to define my unique voice and leadership style in a male-dominated industry. I strive to model the type of leadership that I believe in, which is rooted in wisdom and compassion. I’ve been lucky to find mentors who’ve helped me on that journey and supported me in my growth. Whenever I feel stuck, I lean into those relationships for guidance.

Well, you can expect a ton of amazing DC characters. I obviously can’t share details on all of them yet, but there’s a big range. A few I can mention are, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor, Bane, Gorilla Grodd. But we’re also digging deep into DC comics to deliver some unique superheroes and supervillains that you might not yet be familiar with.

It’s always a highlight of our team meetings to see new character art and chat about what characters are next up. We keep a close eye on our social channels so if there’s a character you want to see in the game send us a note!