Dispatch maker AdHoc says the episodic business model is "an insane thing to do," immediately after selling 2 million copies through the episodic business model

1. Games
2. Adventure Games

Dispatch maker AdHoc says the episodic business model is "an insane thing to do," immediately after selling 2 million copies through the episodic business model News By Anthony McGlynn published 1 December 2025

"If the creative is strong, you can cut it up however you like"

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)

The first season of Dispatch recently proved there's something to be said for episodic releases in video games. Releasing two episodes weekly for four weeks helped the superhero narrative game gain momentum, as Dispatch garnered over two million players – and while the business model may have worked, developer AdHoc Studios doesn't advise it.

CEO Michael Choung explains why to Knowledge, providing some background to his team's decision. "Everyone was telling us not to do it. We had internal debates about it, but the story was always structured that way," he describes.

"A lot of the reasons for it we're now seeing the results of. There would just be a longer time period for it to be covered,” he says. "TV has been doing it for 70 years. We knew that it gives a 'The train is leaving the station, but not just yet – I can still make it' kind of feeling across weeks, and people catch on."

You may like

• The Boys-like superhero comedy Dispatch from former Telltale devs is set to hit a 3-year sales target in 3 months, to the surprise of its executive producer
• Dispatch's success shows a way forward for a struggling AA narrative genre
• Hitman and 007 First Light studio admits there were "many, many mistakes" made with Agent 47, but that Telltale veterans' new game is teaching them some lessons

Dispatch | Official Reveal Trailer - Extended Cut (HD) - YouTube Watch On

He notes that week-on-week, playership "kept doubling" as more saw Dispatch and decided to dive in – but he's unequivocally clear: this is not an advisable way to put out a game. "It's insane to do. From every metric, from a production perspective, no one should do this," he states. "If you think episodic alone is going to be the thing that dictates success for you, then good luck!"

AdHoc features several devs from Telltale Games, including Choung himself, giving them quite a bit of combined knowledge on digital stories and fragmented shipping. The difference maker is the same as ever: good storytelling.

"If the creative is strong, you can cut it up however you like, and it probably is going to make it through, even if it's a poor decision," he muses. "If we'd said, 'We're just going to release the whole thing,' it probably would have done OK. But it probably wouldn't have been as big as this. From a production perspective, we released four times. We were basically a live-service game for a month."

Dispatch's success shows a way forward for a struggling AA narrative genre

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES PC Gaming PS5 Xbox Series X Platforms PlayStation Xbox Anthony McGlynnSocial Links NavigationContributing Writer

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more The Boys-like superhero comedy Dispatch from former Telltale devs is set to hit a 3-year sales target in 3 months, to the surprise of its executive producer    Dispatch's success shows a way forward for a struggling AA narrative genre    Hitman and 007 First Light studio admits there were "many, many mistakes" made with Agent 47, but that Telltale veterans' new game is teaching them some lessons    Another win for story-driven single-player games as superhero comedy Dispatch sells a "pretty good" 1 million copies in 10 days    After selling 1 million copies in just 10 days, devs behind story-driven episodic superhero game Dispatch need to "think about" season 2: "That was a question mark 3 weeks ago"    Dispatch dev says "there was no glitch" causing a bad ending, it's just you    Latest in Adventure Games Hytale's returning owner has hatched a genuinely ingenious marketing strategy: repeatedly telling everyone the game "isn't good," but like, only for now    Pokemon archeologist travels 12 hours to reunite a 17-year-old Diamond save file with the player who was forced to sell the barely functional, chewed cartridge after his partner's car wreck    How Dispatch helped me to see my father's death in a new light    Dispatch leads say the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 team's shout-out at the Golden Joysticks "means so much," and "I've never had a game make me cry so quickly before"    Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher 3 veteran says superhero smash hit Dispatch is "my game of the year" – and it certainly wouldn't be replicable with AI    Dispatch's success shows a way forward for a struggling AA narrative genre    Latest in News Minecraft lead says "I'm looking forward to Hytale" personally, but tells curious fans "there are many Minecraft-like games, so I doubt it will change much for us"    Dispatch maker AdHoc says the episodic business model is "an insane thing to do," immediately after selling 2 million copies through the episodic business model    Veteran Metal Gear Solid producer says "given our age" it was now or never for an MGS3 remake: "Because it's such an incredible series, I decided that now was the time"    Fallout star explains that season 2 will address the "different perspectives" of New Vegas' multiple endings: "It's a really beautiful thing"    The US government "nearly shut us down," former GTA lead says: "They decided we were the only people on the internet peddling pornography, apparently"    Embark makes free-to-play Arc Raiders sound like a nightmare, says its $40 price let it cut a lot of un-fun crap: "Crafting no longer has timers on it that you have to wait out"    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: "Excellent '90s-tinged superhero brawling across a punchy campaign falls just short of arcade bliss"
2. 2Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
3. 3Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
4. 4Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
5. 5This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving

1. 1Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
2. 2Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
3. 3The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
4. 4Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
5. 5Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"

1. 1Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
2. 2Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
3. 3The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
4. 4IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
5. 5Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"