Dispatch Exceeds Expectations: On Track to Surpass Three-Year Sales Target in Just Three Months

The creators of Dispatch initially anticipated that it would take three years to reach their sales target, but they are now poised to achieve it in just three months. This superhero workplace comedy adventure has already sold over 1 million copies, with player numbers consistently increasing following each weekly episode release. The final two episodes are now available, which is expected to attract even more players who have been waiting for the complete series to binge. According to AdHoc Studio founders, the game's strong sales performance demonstrates that storytelling-focused adventure titles, similar to those developed by Telltale, can still be a viable sales pitch. This is despite the initial skepticism from investors who were unconvinced by the game's potential. "I think it will be interesting to see who will follow our lead and adopt this model," says Nick Herman, Creative Director. "If you have the wrong type of content or game, it may not work, but we have at least opened the door for conversations around this approach." Although AdHoc Studio did not disclose exact sales predictions, they revealed that they had set a target figure as part of their "bull case" scenario, which they hoped to achieve over the game's lifetime, predicted to be three years. However, the game's performance has exceeded expectations, with Michael Choung, Executive Producer, stating, "We are on track to achieve this in three months." The game has continued to gain attention over time, with player numbers increasing steadily. This is largely due to the game's release schedule, which mimics that of a network TV show, with new episodes released every week. At launch, the game had around 12,000 concurrent players, which increased to 65,000 the following week and then doubled to 131,000. It is likely that sales will continue to rise alongside player numbers, especially as players often prefer to wait until a game is complete before purchasing it. Players are not losing interest in the game, with word of mouth and streamer attention contributing to its growing popularity. Although the decision to release weekly episodes was not guaranteed to work, it has proven to be successful. AdHoc Studio faced challenges when pitching the game to investors, who were skeptical about the game's potential due to its focus on storytelling and performance. However, the studio's founders believe that their approach has been vindicated, and they have found a perfect partner in Critical Role, a media company that shares their values and has a passion for telling interactive stories. The game's production costs are not publicly disclosed, but it is clear that the investment in voice acting talent, including big names like Aaron Paul, has paid off. The developers believe that strong acting performances are essential for their type of game and that using AI-generated voices is not a viable option. In fact, the creators of Dispatch feel that using AI-generated voices would compromise the game's quality, with Herman stating, "No AI can replicate the performance of our cast, including Jeffrey Wright, who brought something unique to his character." Choung adds, "Whatever we build, it has to connect with people, and we believe that AI-generated content is not a creative solution, but rather a production one." AdHoc Studio is not concerned with reducing the number of people involved in the game's development, but rather with creating a high-quality experience that resonates with players. While they acknowledge that other studios may make different decisions, they are committed to their approach and believe that it is the right one for their game.