Episodic Gaming: Back from the Dead, or Just a Clever Illusion? Former Telltale Wizards Reckon They've Cracked It.
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Former Telltale developers at AdHoc Studios are reviving episodic gaming with their debut title, *Dispatch*, a superhero workplace comedy, but with a crucial twist: all episodes are already completed before launch, aiming to fix the long wait times that plagued previous episodic releases and restore player trust.
Right, so we've all seen things make a comeback, haven't we? From questionable fashion choices (looking at you, low-rise jeans) to the sudden, inexplicable resurgence of certain obscure memes. But there's one gaming trend that's been hovering in the digital ether like a half-forgotten, slightly glitchy spell, and that's episodic gaming. And guess what? The wizards who arguably perfected (and then spectacularly un-perfected) it are back for another go.
I'm talking, of course, about the folks from AdHoc Studios – a team forged in the ashes of the original Telltale Games. You know, the studio that brought us iconic narrative adventures like *The Walking Dead* and *Tales from the Borderlands*, before, well, things went a bit pear-shaped. Now, AdHoc is ready to unleash their debut game, *Dispatch*, a superhero workplace comedy, and they're doing it episodically. This fascinating dive into the potential resurrection of a tricky format comes from a rather insightful piece by Robert Purchese over at Eurogamer, which you absolutely should check out for the full breakdown. Seriously, it’s a good one.
Now, I can practically hear you groaning from here, mate. 'Episodic gaming? Didn't we try that? Didn't it end in tears, long waits, and the vague feeling of being fleeced after paying for something that might never fully arrive?' And you wouldn't be wrong to feel that way, not one bit. That's the gentle skepticism kicking in, and frankly, it's earned. The very idea of paying upfront for a story that unfolds over months, with gaping chasms between chapters, often left us feeling a bit like we’d started a grand quest only for the map-maker to declare a sudden, indefinite tea break. Former Telltale dev and AdHoc co-founder Pierre Shorette admits as much, noting, 'It's probably led to a lot of distrust with episodic formats, because the first episode comes out and then it might be ages before anything else shows up.' Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Fellow co-founder Nick Herman simply added, 'This time we're going to do better.' Brave words, those.
But what exactly makes *this* attempt different? Is it just a new coat of paint on an old, rickety wagon? Well, this is where my naturally curious side perks up, because AdHoc has what appears to be a rather crucial ace up their sleeve: *all the episodes are already made*. Yes, you read that right. Every single hour-long segment of *Dispatch* is finished, polished, and ready to roll. Nick Herman confirmed, 'They're all made. It's all good.' This isn't a scenario where the dev team is frantically cobbling together Episode 3 while Episode 2 is still fresh off the digital press. Denis Lenart, another Telltale veteran and AdHoc co-founder, nailed it: 'Part of the transaction formula in our mind was they've all got to be ready and they've all got to be good to go. Because that happened to Telltale – that's one of the problems that happened.' Bloomin' hell, imagine the collective sigh of relief from players if this becomes the norm.
So, while the game will launch its first two episodes on October 22nd, followed by two more a week later, and so on until the entire series concludes on November 12th, the waiting isn't for the *creation* of content, but its *release*. It's like brewing a potent potion, but instead of releasing it drop by drop over months, they've just handed you the whole bloody cauldron, telling you to sip at your leisure, two sips a week. The idea, apparently, is to emulate a TV series, where you get a steady drip of content without the anxiety of knowing if the next season will ever actually be greenlit. You'll pay $30 for the whole series ($40 for a Deluxe Edition), but don't expect to pick and choose individual episodes – it's an all-or-nothing affair, much like committing to a Netflix show.
As for *Dispatch* itself, it sounds rather charming. It's very much a Telltale-esque adventure, steeped in choice-and-consequence mechanics. You play as Robert Robertson (yes, really), voiced by *Breaking Bad*'s Aaron Paul, a 'sort-of' superhero whose mecha-suit kicks the bucket, forcing him into the utterly mundane world of office work. His new gig? Dispatching a motley crew of misfit superheroes. The game is said to be funny, handsome, and boasts some serious voice talent, including Critical Role's Laura Bailey and Travis Willingham. And speaking of Critical Role, they're actually a 'silent partner' in this whole endeavour, lending their considerable clout and exposure to the project. Why? Because AdHoc Studios is also making Critical Role's *first ever* official video game, set in the world of Exandria. While details are sparse, it's a fair dinkum bet that it'll follow a similar narrative-driven, choice-based, and perhaps even episodic, format given AdHoc's expertise. I'm already buzzing with curiosity about that one!
The *Dispatch* demo, which has been available on Steam, seems to be garnering some genuinely positive feedback, which is always a good sign. It suggests that even with the episodic baggage, the core game itself is hitting the mark. This whole situation is a fascinating experiment, isn't it? Can a well-intentioned team, armed with lessons learned from past digital mishaps, truly redefine an approach that many gamers had written off? My optimistic chaos radar is certainly pinging, suggesting there's a good chance this could work. The transparency and 'all episodes ready' approach address the biggest pain points. It’s a bit like a wizard trying a familiar spell again, but this time, they’ve meticulously checked their reagent inventory and practiced their incantations. Let's just hope the reality doesn't accidentally blow a hole through our expectations again.
**Source:** Eurogamer
Tags: Episodic Games, AdHoc Studios, Narrative Gaming, Superhero Games, Indie Games
Original article: Eurogamer