Dispatch Delivers a Knockout Punch That Sent AI Packing

Many great games have come out this year, with Dispatch emerging as one of 2025’s biggest success stories. The narrative-driven game was developed by AdHoc Studio, a team filled with Telltale Games veterans, and has captivated players and critics alike. Even The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz has declared it his personal Game of the Year. So, what makes this particular game so special that it earns such high praise?

The Witcher Director’s New Favorite Game

Tomaszkiewicz believes a key ingredient for Dispatch‘s success is its human soul. Moreover, he argues that artificial intelligence cannot replicate it. Furthermore, he recently shared his thoughts on AI’s role in game development. Despite supporting AI as a helpful tool, he firmly opposes it replacing creative people or stealing their work.

Additionally, he envisions a future where automation handles tedious tasks. With AI, human developers can focus on crafting a compelling story and ensuring the gameplay feels right. Due to this philosophy, a machine’s ability to truly understand human emotion well enough to tell a good story becomes an important question.

This Game Has a Heartbeat, Not Code

Although Tomaszkiewicz doesn’t believe AI can accomplish this feat, he points to Dispatch as the perfect example of why. To the celebrated director, the game is beloved because it feels like a product of human passion and creative fire. He’s convinced that the technology doesn’t have what it takes to create the game’s emotional depth and narrative nuance.

With this perspective, the ongoing and heated debate surrounding artificial intelligence within the gaming world. Some studios, like Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser’s new venture, have even begun experimenting with AI, and yet, the consensus is far from settled. Away from the AI discourse, Dispatch is enjoying well-deserved recognition.

The game not only sold an impressive two million copies in under a month, but also earned a nomination for ‘Best Debut Indie Game’ at The Game Awards. Given its success, thoughtfully crafted and human-driven stories have proven to draw massive audiences. In an age of automation, gamers are forced to answer whether they actually value the irreplaceable spark of human creativity.