Template:Infobox DC Universe Online or DCUO is an MMORPG being developed by Sony Online Austin. The game has been scheduled for release in late 2010. The game is now in the Alpha stage of development.
DC Universe Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the DC Universe. SOE hopes to make a different kind of MMORPG, with The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction being cited as one of the main inspirations for gameplay. SOE is working to make DC Universe Online more interactive than standard MMORPGs, while trying to keep key elements of RPGs, which include a leveling system, raid instances, endgame progression and inventories. The world is mainly shared, public space instead of heroes or villains owning territory. The public space features dynamically-generated content designed for both hero and villain player characters (uniquely created by the player, who cannot choose DCU stalwarts).
It is known that players will choose a city of origin for their character, the only known cities being Metropolis and Gotham City. Another location currently known to be in the game is Arkham Asylum, Gotham City's mental institution for criminals (including a number of Batman's more psychopathic enemies, such as the Joker, Poison Ivy, the Riddler, Scarecrow, and Two-Face). The player is given either a Justice League or a Legion of Doom communicator—depending on their choice of playing as hero or villain—and the character's allegiance will affect how the game is played.