AdHoc Studios’ Breakthrough Success Fuels Critical Role’s Most Anticipated Adventure Yet
When “Dispatch” was first revealed at The Game Awards in 2024, it showed immense promise. Developed by AdHoc Studios, a team founded by the creative minds behind episodic hits from Telltale Games like “The Walking Dead”, “The Wolf Among Us”, and “Tales from the Borderlands”, this superhero workplace comedy seemed destined for success. While the studio lacked widespread name recognition, that didn’t stop “Dispatch” from achieving a perfect landing, earning widespread acclaim for its sharp writing, unique premise, and engaging gameplay.
The commercial success of “Dispatch” is undoubtedly a major win for AdHoc, but it might signify something even bigger for Critical Roll. The Dungeons and Dragons actual play phenomenon announced they are partnering with the creators of “Dispatch” to develop the first official Critical Role video game. While a project of this nature would likely succeed on its own merit, the triumph of “Dispatch” has perfectly set the stage for a spectacular launch.
How Dispatch Established AdHoc Studios as a Major Player
The shutdown of the original Telltale Games remains one of the most turbulent studio closures in recent gaming history. Despite the popularity of titles like “The Walking Dead”, Telltale suddenly ran out of funds and collapsed on September 21, 2018. In a shocking move, 90% of the staff was let go overnight without warning or severance, given only 30 minutes to leave. Voice actor Melissa Hutchison, known for her role as Clementine, reportedly found out during a recording session. By October, the studio was effectively shuttered.
However, the story of Telltale Games didn’t end there. In 2019, LCG Entertainment acquired many of the key Telltale IPs and reopened the studio under new leadership, with roughly half the staff being former employees. But another studio also rose from the ashes of the original Telltale, AdHoc Studios. Formed by alumni from Telltale, Ubisoft, and Night School Studio, AdHoc was established with a mission to “carry the interactive narrative torch into the future.”
“Dispatch” is the debut game from AdHoc Studios, and it became an instant sensation. Selling over a million copies within the first 10 days of its initial episode release on October 22, “Dispatch” dominated the Steam charts, even temporarily overtaking “Battlefield 6” for the top spot. This flagship title proved that AdHoc Studios was a worthy successor to the legacy of the original Telltale Games, on par with the LCG-rebooted version, and it has paved the way for another significant success.
Why AdHoc’s Critical Role Game is Set for Success
On July 21, 2025, Critical Role announced a partnership with AdHoc Studios. This collaboration will see the creation of “Dispatch” merchandise, tabletop gaming content, and an animated series, while AdHoc will develop a video game set in the world of Exandria. While it’s still early, hints from Travis Willingham, CEO of Critical Role Productions and a voice actor in “Dispatch”, suggest the game might feature:
- Choice-driven narrative gameplay similar to “Dispatch”
- A new story set in Exandria, taking place between the main Critical Roll campaigns
- Potential cameos from beloved groups like Vox Machina, the Mighty Nein, or Bells Hells
The entire main cast of Critical Role also lends their voices to “Dispatch”, including Laura Bailey as Invisigal, Travis Willingham as Phenomaman, Matthew Mercer as Shroud, Liam O’Brien as Lightningstruck, Ashley Johnson as Ashley Rhinnes, Marisha Ray as Brickhouse, Sam Riegel as Sweettalker, and Taliesin Jaffe providing additional voices. This deep connection between the two creative entities reinforces the potential for a truly authentic and compelling Critical Role game. The success of “Dispatch” not only builds massive brand recognition for AdHoc Studios but also gives “Critters” (fans of Critical Roll) a tantalizing preview of the narrative depth and quality they can expect from the upcoming game.
