According to the preview, DC Universe Online allows users to create their own superhero or villain and select superpowers for their characters, similar to Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes and its upcoming Champions Online.

Though the game doesn't allow players to take up the role of any famous DC Comics characters, they do appear in the game. Some examples posited by the preview include aiding Superman in a fight against villain Lex Luthor, or causing chaos in downtown Metropolis to draw the attention of famous superhero NPCs.

Described by creative director Jim Lee as a "kick-ass hybrid between a traditional MMO and a first-person action console game," DC Universe Online includes many familiar conventions of the MMO genre, including level-based character development. Powers will develop accordingly, with such skills as flight requiring advancement before they can be paired with mid-air attacks or combos.

The game features a blend of instanced locales and large shared environments, two of which have been revealed to be Batman's Gotham City and Superman's Metropolis. The preview notes that like other MMOs, the game will feature raids and instances—the emphasis, however, is on fast-paced action as opposed to experience grinding.

The developer went on to reveal that it is planning plot tie-ins with other DC Comics properties to be integrated into the in-game story arc.

"We can tie-in future DC tentpole events and translate the stories for the gaming world, and have them occur simultaneously," said creative director Jim Lee. "The possibilities are numerous and very exciting."