AdHoc Studio’s Nick Herman on the “spite-driven” success of Dispatch

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Dispatch development driven by “arrogance and stupidity” after investor rejections

The superhero narrative game Dispatch has become one of the biggest success stories of the past year. Since its release in late 2025, the title has sold over 3 million copies and secured the “Outstanding Story-Rich Game” award at the Steam Awards 2025. However, during a recent talk at GDC 2026, the founders of AdHoc Studio revealed that the game’s existence was almost stifled by industry skepticism. Creative Directors Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart shared that the project was fueled by a mix of “arrogance and stupidity” after nearly every major investor claimed the “choices matter” genre was dead.

Defying the “Live Service” era

During their fundraising phase, AdHoc Studio faced constant rejection. At the time, the industry was heavily focused on Live Service models and recurring revenue. Investors pointed to data suggesting that single-player, narrative-driven games—similar to the classic Telltale Games style—were too niche to be profitable.

“When we pitched this to investors, they told us the genre hadn’t been successful enough to justify the risk. Their attitude was essentially that this type of game was dead,” Dennis Lenart recalled.

Rather than giving up, the team used this rejection as motivation. They believed the market data was wrong and that there was a massive, underserved audience waiting for a high-quality narrative experience.

Built by veterans with a point to prove

AdHoc Studio was formed largely by former Telltale Games veterans who understood exactly how to craft compelling choice-based stories. Nick Herman explained that their confidence wasn’t just blind ego; it was rooted in the specialized talent they had assembled. They felt a responsibility to the genre, believing that if they didn’t make this game, no one else would. This “spite-driven” development allowed them to focus entirely on quality without the interference of publishers who might have pushed for unnecessary online features or microtransactions.

The milestones of Dispatch’s success include:

Commercial Triumph: Reached 3 million units sold by the end of 2025.
Award Winner: Named “Outstanding Story-Rich Game” by the Steam community.
Cross-Platform Reach: Available on PC, PS5, and both Nintendo Switch generations.
Genre Revival: Proved that narrative-driven “Choices Matter” games are still highly profitable in the modern market.

The success of Dispatch serves as a loud rebuttal to the investors who doubted the project. By sticking to their “arrogant” belief in their craft, AdHoc Studio has revitalized the narrative adventure space. The game is currently available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, offering a masterclass in how player choice can drive a superhero epic.