Dispatch’s new Deluxe Edition lets you play the whole game as storyboard animatics

By the Digital Arts & Entertainment Desk
Published: December

Main Facts: A Landmark Anniversary for a Critical Darling

Game development is traditionally a closed-door enterprise. Players rarely get to witness the chaotic, iterative alchemy that turns rough sketches and scratch-track voice lines into polished, award-winning entertainment. However, to mark the monumental one-year anniversary of its critically acclaimed, BAFTA-winning superhero workplace comedy, Dispatch, AdHoc Studio is tearing down the industry wall.

The studio has launched a comprehensive, free anniversary update for owners of the Dispatch Deluxe Edition, available now across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. The update introduces two major features: an immersive Storyboard Mode, which swaps out the game’s slick, finished animation for the original rough-draft animatics timed precisely to the dialogue, and an extensive Commentary Mode, featuring over 16 hours of behind-the-scenes insights from the cast and crew.

Alongside the in-game update, AdHoc Studio has announced a slew of physical merchandise, a dedicated mobile version set for release on iOS and Android this December, and a one-night-only live concert event in Los Angeles celebrating the game’s eclectic soundtrack.

Chronology: From Concept Scaffolding to Global Phenomenon

To truly appreciate the significance of Dispatch‘s first-year anniversary update, it helps to understand the grueling trajectory of its development:

• The Conceptual Phase: AdHoc Studio—known for its pedigree in narrative-driven gaming—utilized Unreal Engine along with advanced pre-visualization and cinematic tools to bring its unique brand of superhero workplace humor to life.
• December 1st, previous year: Dispatch launches globally, captivating players with its blend of mundane corporate drudgery and high-stakes superhero antics, eventually earning BAFTA recognition.
• The Intervening Year: The game cultivates a passionate, dedicated fanbase, establishing itself as a standout indie hit and securing a spot on numerous "best hidden-gem indie games" lists.
• December 3rd (Current Year): AdHoc Studio and Banter Events host an exclusive live soundtrack showcase at AVALON Hollywood in Los Angeles, featuring composer Andrew Arcadi, the SDN Company Band, and musical guests like THOT SQUAD, Bershy, Primer, Caroline Kingsbury, and Fartbarf.
• Current Date: The first-anniversary update goes live across all major console and PC storefronts, accompanied by physical comic book pre-orders and apparel drops.
• December 9th (Upcoming): Dispatch officially launches on iOS and Android devices, featuring a touch-optimized vertical play style and Google Play Games support for PC users.

Supporting Data: What’s Included in the Anniversary Content Drop?

The sheer volume of bonus material bundled into the anniversary celebration is staggering, catering equally to gamers, digital artists, and collectors.

In-Game Additions

• Storyboard Mode: Replaces the game’s final rendered visuals with foundational animatics. Every awkward pause, unfinished staging element, and raw storyboard sketch is preserved, allowing players to experience the structural bones of every scene.
• Commentary Mode: Features more than 16 hours of dual-track commentary split between the cast and the crew. Unlocking specific dialogue paths reveals unique commentary nodes, making multiple playthroughs rewarding for lore hunters.
• Star-Studded Voice Cast: The commentary and in-game performances feature heavyweight talent, including Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, BoJack Horseman), Laura Bailey (The Last of Us Part II, Critical Role), and Erin Yvette (Hades II, The Wolf Among Us).

Physical Merchandise & Deluxe Upgrades

• Deluxe Edition Upgrade: Available for $10.99 for Standard Edition owners, this pack includes a digital art book, four digital comics, and full access to the new anniversary features.
• Comic Book Set: The four digital comics are transitioning into a physical box set, featuring interlocking covers that combine to form a massive, cohesive battle illustration. The first 1,000 orders placed through the AdHoc store will include a numbered collector’s card.
• Apparel & Vinyl Art: T-shirts and hoodies feature exclusive artwork by Art Director Derek Stratton, originally crafted for a three-record vinyl soundtrack set produced in collaboration with Lost In Cult. The drop also includes 100 hand-signed Stratton album-art posters.
• Art Book: Dispatch: Design Works—a hardcover making-of companion book and collectible box set featuring extensive developer and cast interviews—has been announced via Lost In Cult, with pre-order alert sign-ups now live.

Mobile Edition Pricing & Specs

• Release Date: December 9th for iOS and Android.
• Pricing Model: The first four episodes are entirely free to play. Unlocking the complete game costs $19.99.
• Accessibility: Built from the ground up for touchscreens with a vertical play configuration. PC integration is supported via Google Play Games.

Official Responses: Insights from the Creative Team

The decision to expose a game’s rough, unfinished state to the public is unusual in modern software development, where marketing departments typically prioritize pixel-perfection. AdHoc Studio’s leadership, however, viewed the anniversary as an opportunity for radical transparency.

Nick Herman, Co-Creative Director on Dispatch and Chief Operating Officer of AdHoc Studio, offered profound context regarding the release:

"Dispatch was only possible because of folks who believed in it enough to show up and do their best work. In our industry, it’s often really hard to showcase those people and how the development process actually works, but fortunately our game is very weird and specific and affords us some unique opportunities."

Herman further elaborated on the studio’s holistic vision for the anniversary, emphasizing community engagement over traditional corporate milestones:

"The idea was to give people more ways into a game that’s become part of their lives—whether that’s playing alongside the cast and crew, experiencing the entire game in its original storyboards, or hanging out together IRL at the wildest version of a Dispatch concert our finance team would sign off on."

Implications: A New Benchmark for Industry Transparency

The rollout of Dispatch’s first-anniversary update carries significant implications for both independent game development and digital art education.

1. Demystifying the Pipeline for Aspiring Creators

For digital artists, animators, and storyboard revisionists, Storyboard Mode offers an invaluable masterclass in comedic timing and visual pacing. Rather than viewing pristine, fully rendered art on platforms like ArtStation or Behance, aspiring developers can now interact with the raw scaffolding of an interactive product. Seeing how a reaction shot gets an extra beat of hesitation before a line of dialogue is delivered provides practical insights into visual storytelling that textbooks rarely capture.

2. Shifting Expectations for Game Preservation and Post-Launch Content

By offering 16 hours of developer and actor commentary alongside structural production assets, AdHoc Studio is setting a new standard for what a Deluxe Edition upgrade can achieve. While many publishers rely on superficial cosmetic packs or simple digital art books to pad out anniversary editions, Dispatch treats its development history as playable content. This approach not only validates the intense labor behind indie game production, but also deepens the emotional bond between the consumer and the creative team.

3. Expanding the Accessibility Frontier

The upcoming December 9th mobile launch on iOS and Android—bolstered by a freemium trial structure (first four episodes free)—signals an aggressive push to capture casual and mobile-first audiences who may have bypassed traditional console and PC platforms. By engineering the title for vertical, touch-based play, AdHoc is proving that narrative-heavy, cinematic workplace comedies can successfully transition across disparate hardware ecosystems without losing their core identity.

As Dispatch enters its second year, the title stands not just as a triumphant indie comedy, but as a shining example of how studios can celebrate their communities while honoring the messy, beautiful reality of digital creation.