The AdHoc studio took a big risk with its first game, Dispatch, being released in the form of weekly episodes, even though this had been strongly discouraged. This idea, based more on creative vision than feasibility, paid off: the audience doubled every week, reversing the usual market expectations.
Michael Choung, CEO of AdHoc, said the following of the game’s episodic format:
“Everyone told us not to do it. […] We had internal debates about it, but the story has always been structured that way.”
However, he asserts that this model is only viable if the creative content is strong enough to support it, and advises other studios against adopting it without a strong narrative foundation. Seeing the game’s success today, he even adds:
“I don’t think we anticipated its magnitude.”
Today, the title has an “overwhelmingly positive” rating on Steam, with a total of 121,000 reviews.
It’s great to see how the risks taken by the Dispatch developers have turned into a success! Weekly releases can create such an engaging experience for players. Looking forward to seeing how this approach evolves in the gaming industry!
Absolutely, it’s impressive how the weekly release format kept players engaged and eager for more. This strategy not only built anticipation but also fostered a strong community around the game. It will be interesting to see if other developers follow this model!