This indie made by ex‑Ubisoft devs just hit 2M sales — and it isn’t what you expect

Why Dispatch hitting 2 million sales in under a month matters – and why it caught my attention

This caught my attention because we keep seeing the same pattern: talented teams spin out of big studios and, free from corporate constraints, make the kind of narrative-driven games players actually want. After Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur : Expedition 33 smashed expectations earlier this year, AdHoc Studio – a crew of ex‑Ubisoft, Telltale and Night School devs – quietly rolled out Dispatch and just announced it has surpassed 2 million copies sold in under a month. That’s not just a vanity metric; it signals that smart, voice-led storytelling still sells when it’s executed with craft.

• High-level: Dispatch, an episodic graphic adventure, surpassed 2 million sales in less than a month.
• Why it matters: veteran narrative teams are proving indie releases can compete commercially with big-budget projects.
• Red flags to watch: platform breakdown, discount windows, and whether episodic pacing sustains long-term engagement.

Breaking down Dispatch’s surprise performance

Dispatch is an 8-episode, choice-driven adventure about Robert Robertson, a retired superhero who now works at the Service de Dispatching Héroïque (SDH). The game leans on sharp writing, branching decisions that affect team composition and relationships, and an animation-like art direction critics liken to series such as Invincible. It’s also packed with headline voice talent: Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey, Erin Yvette, and Jeffrey Wright all lend performances — the kind of cast that raises visibility beyond the usual narrative-game audience.

AdHoc Studio announced the milestone via Twitter with an illustration of Beef, the protagonist’s dog, and the message (translated): “We’re also sad there are no new episodes this week, but thank you to the 2 million players that have joined us so far. Wouldn’t be here without you.” That gratitude is genuine, but it also raises practical gamer questions: where did those sales come from, on which platforms, and how many were full-price purchases versus launch discounts or bundles?

Why this matters beyond the headline

There’s a trend here: teams formed by veterans of big studios are repeatedly delivering smaller-scale titles that find big audiences. Sandfall’s Clair Obscur : Expedition 33 — another ex‑Ubisoft outfit — notched 2 million sales in roughly a week and a half and walked away with 12 Game Awards nominations. The industry is in a place where pedigree, smart marketing, and platform reach can turn a focused narrative game into a commercial hit.

For players, that’s good news. It means more high-quality, voice-led adventures that respect player choice and storytelling. For the industry, it suggests publishers and platform holders still value this kind of game — and that top-tier voice talent will continue to lend credibility and attention to indie projects.

What gamers should watch next

• Season 2 potential — AdHoc hinted success “puts Dispatch on the path to a second season.” Will the team keep the episodic cadence, or shift to full-season drops?
• Post-launch support — episodic games live or die by steady updates and community engagement. Are new episodes paced to maintain momentum?
• Sales transparency — 2M is impressive, but context matters: platform splits, discounted launches, and bundles inflate numbers differently than sustained full-price sells.
• Creative sequel risks — success breeds expectations. Will a second season repeat the formula or try to evolve the mechanics and worldbuilding?

My skeptical hat is on: big headline numbers can mask a lot. A celebrity cast and episodic cliffhangers generate buzz, and platform promotions can crank sales quickly. The real test is player retention and whether the community sticks around for the long haul or drops off between episodes.

TL;DR — The real takeaway for players

Dispatch’s 2 million sales are a win for narrative games and for veteran teams going indie. It proves polished writing, strong voice acting, and episodic hooks can still break through. But don’t read the number as the whole story — keep an eye on how AdHoc supports the game, the pacing of future episodes, and whether the player base holds steady once the launch glow fades.