How a Classic 90s Pepsi Commercial Inspired Dispatch Breakout Character Malevola
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Adhoc art director Derek Stratton revealed to IGN South Africa that Malevola from the hit game Dispatch was directly inspired by Cindy Crawford's iconic 1992 Pepsi commercial.
If you have been playing Dispatch and noticed that Malevola carries a specific kind of nostalgic supermodel energy, your gaming radar is entirely correct. According to a recent interview with IGN by Adhoc art director Derek Stratton, the striking demon character was directly inspired by a legendary piece of pop culture history. Specifically, the development team looked to the iconic 1992 Pepsi commercial starring Cindy Crawford at a gas station, translating that exact brand of hyper-stylized confidence straight into the game.
Voiced by creator economy fixture Alanah Pearce, Malevola quickly became a focal point for the community after the superhero comedy game landed on new platforms. The original Pepsi spot featured Crawford in a simple white tank top and denim shorts near a red Lamborghini, captivating viewers and instantly cementing itself in the cultural zeitgeist. Adhoc managed to capture that same lightning in a bottle, giving modern players a character design that bridges the gap between retro commercial aesthetics and contemporary gaming culture.
For a community that consumes as much streaming content and internet history as actual gameplay, finding these kinds of unexpected cross-media references adds a great layer of depth to modern releases. As developers continue to pull from unexpected cultural touchstones, these design choices give players something fun to dissect on social feeds and creator streams. You can read the original interview and breakdown over at IGN South Africa.
Tags: Dispatch, Adhoc, Gaming News, Pop Culture, IGN
Original article: IGN South Africa