Telltale Devs Are Back With 'Dispatch' and a Wildly Familiar Episodic Gamble – Are We Ready for Weekly Gaming?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Former Telltale Games developers at AdHoc Studio are reviving the episodic format with their new superhero comedy game, *Dispatch*, which will launch weekly starting October 22nd; it's a bold gamble on a format that's seen its share of ups and downs, but with a stellar (and quirky) voice cast, it could be a fascinating experiment in "appointment gaming."
Right, so apparently, the spirits of episodic gaming – which, let's be fair, have been a tad restless since Telltale's heyday – are getting another crack at the big time. As spotted by the sharp eyes over at Rock Paper Shotgun, a new game called *Dispatch* from AdHoc Studio, packed with former Telltale Games developers, is set to roll out in an episodic format. And bloody hell, if that isn't a curious turn of events, then my crystal ball needs recalibrating.
You know that feeling when you cast a spell, and it works a bit too well, but also not at all? That's kinda how I always felt about Telltale's episodic model. On one hand, games like *The Walking Dead* absolutely nailed the narrative tension, making us cling to every character, every choice, and every excruciating wait for the next chapter. That initial burst of 'appointment gaming' was electrifying, wasn't it? The water cooler (or rather, the Discord server) was buzzing with theories and lamentations. But then, the 'wait' became a 'wait *too long*', the 'keeping up' turned into 'bloody hell, what happened last time?', and the whole thing sort of… faded. The model became as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane, ultimately contributing to Telltale's own unfortunate demise.
So, when I hear that a bunch of the same brilliant minds behind those narrative masterpieces are giving it another go, my internal curiosity meter starts pinging like crazy. AdHoc Studio, co-founded by Nick Herman (who was a creative director on *The Walking Dead* and *Tales from the Borderlands*), are stepping back into the episodic ring with *Dispatch*. It’s a comedy adventure game about managing superheroes, which, on paper, sounds like a proper laugh and a genuinely fresh concept. Forget grimdark, give me 'HR for Heroes' any day of the week. The premise alone sparks that authentic enthusiasm for gaming that makes me want to dig deeper.
But here's the kicker: they're not just doing episodic; they're doing *weekly* episodic. The first two episodes drop on October 22nd, with two more arriving each week after that, for a total of eight. AdHoc co-founder and *Dispatch* creative director Nick Herman, in a statement (cheers to IGN for the quote!), reckons the release format is an "underrated part of the player experience." He believes episodic makes the story "easy to slip into, easy to keep up with, and easy to share with friends," aiming for "appointment gaming" with the cadence of a TV show, rather than those soul-crushing monthly waits.
Now, I love a good 'appointment' TV show. *Ted Lasso* or *Severance* dropping weekly? Absolutely, sign me up, mate. It keeps the conversation going, builds anticipation, and allows the narrative to breathe. But games? That's a whole different beast. Our gaming habits are, shall we say, a touch more… chaotic. We've got massive backlogs looming over us like digital spectres. We might play a game intensely for a week, then get sidetracked by a shiny new indie darling or a sudden urge to revisit an old classic. Asking us to religiously tune in weekly for a game, when we're not tied to a subscription model or a linear viewing schedule, feels like trying to herd a flock of particularly stubborn digital sheep. Is the weekly release schedule enough to make us commit in a way the old Telltale model couldn't?
My gentle skepticism kicks in here. While I appreciate the sentiment of making it "easy to keep up with," my gamer brain immediately questions the practicalities. Are players going to dedicate a specific slot in their week to *Dispatch*? Or will it just pile up in their 'to play' list, eventually becoming a binge-fest anyway, which then negates the 'appointment' aspect? There's a fine line between building anticipation and letting a player forget they even started the story. Perhaps the sheer novelty of a consistent, rapid-fire release will be the magic touch that finally makes this model stick for games. Or maybe, like a poorly cast teleportation spell, it'll just land us back where we started, albeit a bit quicker.
And let's not forget the voice cast, because holy moly, they've pulled out some big guns. We're talking industry legends like Laura Bailey and Matthew Mercer, whose voices are basically the sonic comfort food of gamers everywhere. But then, AdHoc has also roped in some truly intriguing, if slightly unexpected, names: Aaron Paul from *Breaking Bad* (yeah, *that* Aaron Paul!), Jeffrey Wright from *The Batman* (a bloody legend!), and then, in a move that I can only describe as optimistically chaotic, we've got Jacksepticeye, Moistcr1tikal, and Yung Gravy. I will be making no further comments on those particular casting choices, beyond saying that it certainly makes for a… diverse vocal tapestry. It’s either a stroke of genius for audience reach, or an experimental brew that might give us all a bit of digital indigestion. Only time will tell if these disparate voices will harmonise or create a glorious, irreverent cacophony.
Our mates over at Rock Paper Shotgun had Edwin check out a demo earlier this year, and he felt "mostly positive" about his short time with it, which is a good sign. It suggests the core game is solid, which is frankly half the battle. So, is AdHoc Studio on the cusp of a groundbreaking resurgence for episodic gaming, or are they walking a digital tightrope over a chasm of past failures? I reckon it's a bit of both, mate. It's an audacious experiment, blending the narrative chops of yesteryear with a bolder, faster release cadence. And as a curious digital wizard, I'm genuinely excited to see what happens when they finally unleash this particular spell on us. Whether it's a magnificent success or a charmingly chaotic mishap, it's bound to be interesting.
Tags: Episodic Gaming, Adventure Games, Telltale Games, AdHoc Studio, Dispatch
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun