Dispatch (video game)

Last updated

Dispatch
Dispatch game poster.jpg
Developer AdHoc Studio [a]
Publisher AdHoc Studio
Directors
  • Nick Herman
  • Dennis Lenart
  • Chris Rebbert
Producer
  • Natalie Herman
Designer
  • Charles Marcolim
Programmer
  • Seth Kingsley
Artist
  • Derek Stratton
Writers
  • Pierre Shorette
  • Suzee Matson
  • Ashley Jeffalone
  • Chad Rhiness
  • Chris Rebbert
Composer Andrew Arcadi [b]
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platforms
Release
Episodes 1–2
  • PS5, Windows
    • WW: October 22, 2025
Episodes 3–4
  • PS5, Windows
    • WW: October 29, 2025
Episodes 5–6
  • PS5, Windows
    • WW: November 5, 2025
Episodes 7–8
  • PS5, Windows
    • WW: November 12, 2025
Genres Adventure, interactive film
Mode Single-player

Dispatch is an episodic adventure game developed and published by AdHoc Studio. The game consists of eight episodes that were released on PlayStation 5 and Windows throughout October and November 2025.

Contents

Described as a superhero workplace comedy, Dispatch has the player take the role of Robert Robertson III, formerly the superhero Mecha Man, who has to take a job as a dispatcher for villains-turned-superheroes after his signature mecha suit is destroyed in battle. [2] Its cast includes the voices of Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Erin Yvette, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, and Matthew Mercer, as well as content creators jacksepticeye, MoistCr1TiKaL, Joel Haver, Alanah Pearce, and rapper Yung Gravy. The game sold over 2 million units within the first month of release and received critical acclaim.

Gameplay

Dialogue trees are used for in-game conversations. Dispatch dialogue tree example.jpg
Dialogue trees are used for in-game conversations.

Dispatch is an adventure video game, where the player's choices affect the story via the use of dialogue trees in conversations with other characters. A large form of the gameplay consists of navigating a superhero team across the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) map to crimes and events, where the player must strategically decide which hero or heroes best fit the activity based on their stats and character traits, while also managing their cooldowns. The game also features a hacking mini-game, where the player must quickly navigate pathways and complete quick time events. [3]

Synopsis

Setting

Dispatch is set in an alternate Los Angeles where super-powers — and consequently superheroes and supervillains — are commonplace and thus have divided society between "supers" (those born with powers such as flight and invisibility or born with a different appearance) and "normies" (those devoid of superpowers). While there are independent superheroes, several of them work for the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), which provides services and protection for their subscribers.

Plot

Superhero Robert Robertson III / Mecha Man attempts to locate his father's killer, the supervillain Elliot Connors / Shroud, but is lured into a trap by Shroud's gang, the Red Ring. Robert narrowly escapes, only to realize a bomb was placed on his mech suit. He survives, but the suit is heavily damaged and put out of commission. After announcing his retirement to the press and failing to stop a robbery on his own, Robert is approached by the superhero Mandy / Blonde Blazer, who proposes he works at the Torrance branch of the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) as a dispatcher in exchange for help repairing his suit. Having heavily indebted himself trying to maintain it, Robert accepts.

On his first day, he encounters his old friend Chase / Track Star, a retired speedster hero who, due to a side effect of his powers, appears 80-years-old at 39. Robert is then assigned to the Z-Team, a group of supervillains that SDN is working to reform via their Phoenix Program. However, its members do not take him seriously. He later gets into an argument with one of the Z-Team's members, Courtney / Invisigal, after she disobeys a direct order and allows a supervillain to escape. Blazer tasks Robert with cutting one of the Z-Team's members, Sonar or Coupé, to "send a message" and replace them with either SDN janitor Waterboy or Phenomaman, a former top hero and Blazer's ex-boyfriend. Sometime later, Robert grows closer to either Blazer or Invisigal and builds a rapport with the Z-Team.

Meanwhile, Robert rebuilds the Mecha Man suit with help from SDN technical specialist Royd, but fails to replicate its missing power source, the Astral Pulse. Blazer, Invisigal, and Royd locate it, but Blazer and Invisigal disagree over how to retrieve it. Chase berates Invisigal for her criminal past, causing her to leave in an attempt to retrieve the Astral Pulse alone. With Robert's assistance, she evades the Red Ring and reaches the Astral Pulse, but is intercepted by Shroud, who seemingly steals it and incapacitates her. Chase rescues her before collapsing.

With Chase hospitalized, the majority of the Z-Team votes to cut Invisigal. She later admits to Robert that she was the one who planted the bomb, having previously worked for Shroud and the Red Ring before joining the Phoenix Program. Robert is later captured by Shroud and the cut Z-Team member. Shroud reveals Invisigal hid the Astral Pulse from both of them and tortures Robert in a failed attempt at locating it. Blazer rescues Robert, but the Red Ring launches an assault on Los Angeles.

As the Z-Team and SDN fight back, Shroud leads a Red Ring detachment in attacking SDN's Torrance call center. Royd captures Invisigal and retrieves the Astral Pulse, allowing Robert to join the fight as Mecha Man while Blazer gives her amulet, the source of her powers, to Chase to revive him and help them further. Robert, Chase, Blazer, and the Z-Team defeat the Red Ring, but Shroud takes Robert's dog Beef hostage, forcing Robert to surrender.

If the player decided to trust Invisigal throughout the series despite her actions, she will take a bullet for Robert, who beats Shroud into submission before either killing or sparing him. Invisigal is subsequently welcomed back into the Z-Team. If the player did not trust Invisigal however, she will kill Shroud, take his mask, and abandon Robert and the Z-Team. If Robert killed Shroud, he is suspended pending an investigation, though Blazer and Chase do not hold it against him.

Regardless of the choices made, the Red Ring is defeated and arrested, while the Z-Team is hailed as heroes and the Torrance branch undergoes repairs.

Cast and characters

Main

Aaron Paul by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
Laura Bailey Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2025.jpg
Erin Yvette Dispatch Voice Cast Interviews 2025.png
Jeffrey Wright by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey, Erin Yvette, and Jeffrey Wright voice Robert / Mecha Man, Courtney / Invisigal, Mandy / Blonde Blazer, and Chase / Track Star respectively.
  • Aaron Paul as Robert Robertson III / Mecha Man — A third-generation superhero who lacks powers but possesses a mechanical suit with various weaponry. After the destruction of his suit and being forced into retirement, he secures a job at SDN as a dispatcher to earn finances to repair it.
    • Billy Cristos Jr. as Young Robert
  • Laura Bailey as Courtney / Invisigal — An asthmatic, rebellious former villain formerly known as Invisibitch and the lowest-ranking member of the Z-Team who can turn invisible while holding her breath.
  • Erin Yvette as Mandy / Blonde Blazer — A corporate superhero for hire, the manager of SDN's Los Angeles division, and Phenomaman's ex-girlfriend who wears an amulet that grants her the power of flight, super-strength, energy blasts, and a resistance to toxins. Without it, she loses her superhuman physique and becomes a brunette.
  • Fahim Anwar [c] as Chad / Flambae — A former supervillain turned hero, former nemesis of Mecha Man, and member of the Z-Team who possesses pyrokinesis and flameproof skin.
  • MoistCr1TiKaL [d] as Victor / Sonar — A highly intelligent man/bat hybrid, Harvard graduate, recovering cocaine addict, and member of the Z-Team who can transform into a large monstrous bat.
  • Alanah Pearce as Malevola Gibb — A broadsword wielding demoness, Sonar's Narcotics Anonymous (NA) sponsor, and member of the Z-Team who can create portals.
  • jacksepticeye [e] as Colm / Punch Up — An Irish carnival strongman, Coupé's ex-boyfriend, and member of the Z-Team who acquired the strength of ten men and an immunity to pain from a sorceress in exchange for half of his height.
  • Thot Squad [f] as Alice / Prism — A pop star influencer and member of the Z-Team who possesses photokinesis, the ability to control and manipulate light.
  • Mayanna Berrin as Janelle / Coupé — A former assassin and ballerina, Punch Up's ex-girlfriend, and member of the Z-Team who can fly and possesses umbrakinesis, the ability to generate and manipulate shadows, and an assortment of daggers.
  • Yung Gravy [g] as Bruno / Golem — A magical construct made of dirt and clay and member of the Z-Team.
  • Travis Willingham as Katon-Ur / Phenomaman — A once highly-regarded hero-for-hire from a distant planet, public face for SDN, Blonde Blazer's ex-boyfriend, and member of the Z-Team who can fly, possesses super-strength, and suffers from bouts of depression.
  • Joel Haver as Herman "Herm" / Waterboy — An insecure SDN janitor who can produce water from his mouth and body.
  • Tanoai Reed as Roy / Royd — A muscular member of the Phoenix Program who was arrested by Robert's father, became a mechanic for SDN, and helps repair Robert's Mecha Man suit.
  • Matthew Mercer as Elliot Connors / Shroud — A former member of the Brave Brigade who became a supervillain and leader of the Red Ring who killed Robert's father and possesses a mask that grants predictive abilities and various cybernetic augmentations.
  • Jeffrey Wright as Chase / Track Star — A speedster, former member of the Brave Brigade, old friend of Robert's father, and Robert's dispatching mentor who recommends him for the job. Due to his powers causing him to age 50 times faster than normal while in use, leading him to appear 80-years-old at 39, he is forced to retire and work at SDN as part of their hero records database and a dispatcher.
    • Elijah Wright as Young Chase

Recurring

  • Nimesh Patel as Galen — An experienced SDN dispatcher who possesses super hearing.
  • Jared Goldstein as Toxic — A high-ranking member of the Red Ring who possesses the power of acidity, flight, and self-healing.
  • Liam O'Brien as Kellen Sebastian / Lightningstruck — A minor villain and member of the Red Ring with electroshock blasters.
  • Ashley Johnson as Ashley Rhiness — A reporter for San Pedro Daily who often reports on SDN.

Jenn An, Brian Dobson, Liv Hamilton, Taliesin Jaffe, Isaac Jay, Frankie Quiñones, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Kelly Sheridan, Vincent Tong, and Sam Vincent all provide additional voices to the game. [4] [5]

Episodes

The game is separated into eight episodes. [6]

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Pivot"Nick Herman and Dennis LenartPierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Ashley Jeffalone, Suzee Matson, Polly Raguimov, Chris Rebbert, and Chad RhinessOctober 22, 2025 (2025-10-22)
Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, tracks down his father's killer and things take an unexpected turn.
2"Onboard"Nick Herman and Dennis LenartPierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Suzee Matson, Chad Rhiness, Ashley Jeffalone, and Polly RaguimovOctober 22, 2025 (2025-10-22)
Robert starts his first day at the Superhero Dispatch Network and meets the Z-Team.
3"Turnover"Dennis LenartSuzee Matson, Pierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Ashley Jeffalone, Chad Rhiness, and Polly RaguimovOctober 29, 2025 (2025-10-29)
Robert is informed he needs to cut one member of the Z-Team.
4"Restructure"Nick HermanAshley Jeffalone, Mayanna Berrin, Suzee Matson, Chad Rhiness, Pierre Shorette, and Polly RaguimovOctober 29, 2025 (2025-10-29)
After cutting a member of the team, Robert has to deal with the consequences and choose a new member.
5"Team Building"Dennis Lenart and Chris RebbertChad Rhiness, Mayanna Berrin, Suzee Matson, Pierre Shorette, Ashley Jeffalone, Polly Raguimov, and Chris RebbertNovember 5, 2025 (2025-11-05)
After a long day of dispatching, the Z-Team unwind together at a villain bar.
6"Moving Parts"Chris RebbertChad Rhiness, Pierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Ashley Jeffalone, Suzee Matson, Polly Raguimov, and Chris RebbertNovember 5, 2025 (2025-11-05)
Following a failed attempt to restore the Mecha Man suit, plans arise to help Robert find the missing component.
7"Retrospective"Nick HermanChris Rebbert, Pierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Ashley Jeffalone, Suzee Matson, Polly Raguimov, and Chad RhinessNovember 12, 2025 (2025-11-12)
Robert has the difficult decision to cut or keep a certain team member after an incident.
8"Synergy"Nick Herman and Dennis LenartPierre Shorette, Mayanna Berrin, Chad Rhiness, Nick Herman, Ashley Jeffalone, Suzee Matson, and Polly RaguimovNovember 12, 2025 (2025-11-12)
Robert and the Z-Team have to deal with rising threats all across the city.

Development

After their time with Telltale Games, then Ubisoft and Night School Studio, AdHoc Studio was formed in 2018 by Michael Choung, Nick Herman, Dennis Lenart, and Pierre Shorette. All four begun development on their first project, Dispatch. It was initially envisioned to be live-action, inspired by This Is SportsCenter commercials from ESPN, and planned to start production in March 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, development was shut down. [7] [8]

Around this time, the new incarnation of Telltale approached AdHoc to co-develop a sequel to The Wolf Among Us . Following the game's cancellation under the original Telltale, The Wolf Among Us 2 was announced in development in 2019. [9] However, both parties ran into creative differences; AdHoc in particular were frustrated of being treated like "work for hire" and lacking creative control over the project. Without direction from Telltale, AdHoc left the game's development and worked on a game idea for a few months before scrapping it and returned back to Dispatch. This time, they repurposed the project as animated instead of live-action, and shopped said project to multiple game studios until they land a deal with an unnamed publisher for a year until they left mid-way development. [7]

In order to get the game more funding, AdHoc announced a worldwide reveal of the game with a trailer on December 12, 2024, during that year's Game Awards [7] , alongside its ensemble cast consisting of Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey, Erin Yvette, Travis Willingham, Matthew Mercer, Seán McLoughlin (jacksepticeye), Charlie White (MoistCr1TiKaL), Alanah Pearce, Joel Haver, Lance Cantstopolis, Thot Squad, and Yung Gravy. [10] [11]

AdHoc released a demo for the game was released on May 29, 2025, to overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews and was featured in the 2025 Tribeca Festival. [11] AdHoc, now staffed with 30 employees, were under threat of closure due to lack of funding, and its founders avoided getting paychecks for six months straight to pay off their staff. [7] By July 21, 2025, Critical Role Productions announced a partnership with AdHoc, namely to co-develop a game set in the Critical Role universe, and to finance the final stages of development for Dispatch. [12]

On September 16, 2025, it was announced the game would be released in weekly intervals beginning on October 22 and ending on November 12, 2025. A deluxe edition was also announced that would come with a digital artbook and four digital comics in addition to the main game. [13]

Reception

Critical reception

Dispatch received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [14] [15] OpenCritic determined that 95% of critics recommended the game. [16]

Game Informer 's Ben Reeves praised the game's narrative and choices. [17] Gamekult 's Kelmazad enjoyed the game's art, gameplay, writing, and cast, but noted the jokes becoming tired. [18] GameSpot 's Jordan Ramée enjoyed the game's writing, visuals, acting, and challenge, but noted a lack of narrative consequence. [19] IGN 's Sarah Thwaites praised the game's writing and cast, but felt a lack of thrill with the hacking mini-games. [20] PC Gamer 's Fraser Brown lauded the characters and writing, but wished for more interactivity within the game. [21] Push Square 's Robert Ramsey enjoyed the game's writing, characters, choices, and soundtrack, but felt the quick time events were lacking. [22] VideoGamer.com's Mars Evergreen praised the game's cast, story, and choices; only noting small, occasional issues with the sound design. [23]

Sales

The game sold over one million units within the first 10 days of release [24] and two million units within the first month. [25] According to AdHoc Studio, the game is on course to beat their three year sales target in just three months. [26]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Dispatch
YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2025 The Game Awards 2025 Best Debut Indie GamePending [27] [28]

Future

In July 2025, Critical Role Productions announced a partnership with AdHoc Studio for Dispatch merchandise, tabletop gaming, and an animated series. [12]

In November 2025, AdHoc Studio co-founders Nick Herman and Pierre Shorette mentioned that they were considering a potential second season of Dispatch following the sales and reception of the game. Aaron Paul expressed enthusiasm to do more seasons of Dispatch while speaking to co-star Charles White. [29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Animation provided by Igloo Studio and PS5 version ported by Plastic Fern Studios [1]
  2. ↑ Additional music by Skyler Barto
  3. ↑ Credited under his stage name, Lance Cantstopolis
  4. ↑ Credited under his legal name, Charles White
  5. ↑ Credited under his legal name, Seán McLoughlin
  6. ↑ Credited as Harvey aka Thot Squad
  7. ↑ Credited as Matthew "Yung Gravy" Hauri

References

  1. ↑ "Dispatch Releases". MobyGames . Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ Williams, Hayley (December 12, 2024). "Aaron Paul Stars In Superhero Workplace Comedy Game Dispatch". GameSpot . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ Randall, Harvey (June 11, 2025). "Dispatch is the first Telltale-style game I've played that's delivering on the promise of playing a TV show, and it's even got a compelling management sim tucked inside, too". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ Khan, Titas (October 27, 2025). "All voice actors in Dispatch". Dot Esports . Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Dispatch (2025 Video Game) - Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information). Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ Kawanishi, Paulo (October 22, 2025). "What is the Dispatch episode release schedule?". Polygon . Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Schreier, Jason (November 14, 2025). "The Turbulent, Seven-Year Saga Behind Hit Game 'Dispatch'". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ Manchester, Austin (July 9, 2025). "How Dispatch survived COVID-19 and evolved into a familiar Telltale-like game". Polygon . Archived from the original on July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ Dornbush, Jonathon (December 13, 2019). "Telltale Games' The Wolf Among Us 2 Re-Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  10. ↑ Stedman, Alex (December 13, 2024). "Dispatch Is a Star-Studded New Game With Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, Laura Bailey, and More - The Game Awards 2024". IGN . Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Dispatch Directors Reveal Star-Studded Cast Additions at Tribeca Festival". GamesPress.com (Press release). June 11, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (July 21, 2025). "Critical Role to Start Development on Their First Video Game in Partnership With AdHoc Studio (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ McCaffrey, Ryan (September 16, 2025). "Dispatch, the Superhero Comedy from Ex-Telltale Devs, Confirms PC + PS5 Release Date and Episodic Release". IGN. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Dispatch — PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Dispatch — PS5 Critic Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Dispatch Reviews". OpenCritic . Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Reeves, Ben (November 13, 2025). "Dispatch Review". Game Informer . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Kelmazad, Kelma (November 13, 2025). "Test : Dispatch is the new pearl of the narrative game". Gamekult . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  19. 1 2 Ramée, Jordan (November 14, 2025). "Dispatch Review - Fantastic Superhero TV". GameSpot . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Thwaites, Sarah (November 14, 2025). "Dispatch Review". IGN. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Brown, Fraser (November 13, 2025). "Dispatch review". PCGamer . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Ramsey, Robert (November 13, 2025). "Dispatch Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  23. 1 2 Evergreen, Mars (November 13, 2025). "Dispatch review – Rise like a phoenix". VideoGamer. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  24. ↑ Romano, Sal (November 3, 2025). "Dispatch sales top one million". Gematsu. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Blake, Vikki (November 20, 2025). "Dispatch, The Superhero Comedy From Former Telltale Devs, Tops 2 Million Players". IGN . Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  26. ↑ Caldwell, Brendan (November 12, 2025). "Dispatch is on course to beat its three-year sales target in three months: here's how". GamesIndustry.biz . Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  27. ↑ @thegameawards (November 17, 2025). "Your nominees for Best Debut Indie game at #TheGameAwards:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (November 17, 2025). "The Game Awards Nominations 2025: 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' Becomes Most-Nominated Game Ever With 12 Nods". Variety . Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  29. ↑ Tassi, Paul (November 11, 2025). "A New Update On 'Dispatch' Season 2 After Its Surprising Launch". Forbes . Retrieved November 11, 2025.
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