AdHoc Studio, the team behind smash hit superhero adventure game Dispatch, has announced it will appear in a major panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss the creation of the game, alongside its award-winning cast.
While nothing more has been promised beyond ‘more details soon,’ it’s very possible there’s additional news from the AdHoc team as it turns its focus to a bright future, buoyed by the critical and commercial success of the game.
AdHoc Studio announces Dispatch SDCC 2026 panel – quick links
The success of AdHoc Studio’s Dispatch
Dispatch became a near-instant hit when it launched in 2025. While a range of factors played in, the support of production company Critical Role certainly helped to elevate the game’s profile, with this particular studio buoyed by a wildly passionate fanbase.
Add in a cast of award-winning voice actors who frequently appear in Critical Role productions, with their own passionate fanbases, and the nature of the game as a rare choice-based narrative adventure with strong and dynamic writing, and Dispatch was well-positioned to take flight.
No game is ever guaranteed success, but Dispatch had a very good run – and it’s achieved an enduring fanbase and longevity. During Supanova Sydney 2026, the Artist Alley was filled with stalls selling fan-created merchandise, including charms and keychains of favourite characters. When you appear in a tiny stall on the other side of the world, you know you’ve made it.
In our review of Dispatch, we called it a real triumph of superhero media, with a fresh narrative and strong characters making it a dynamic and compelling tale worth exploring.
‘Modern superhero media has lost its way,’ we wrote. ‘It’s become obsessed with the idea of itself. Obsessed with spectacle and overarching plot; lore that winds its way through the years, and requires several textbooks to understand.
‘Good, compelling superhero stories have never been about the magical artefacts, or the fabric of the universe. They are, fundamentally, about people who do extraordinary things. They’re power fantasy in disguise, relatable in their depiction of interesting, flawed heroes and how they overcome their biggest challenges.’
‘Dispatch understands this well, and it’s why its superheroic narrative succeeds. Why it’s made such an impact on players, and inspired the growth of a passionate fandom. It understands that superheroes are people first, and in its exploration of individual heroes – and particularly protagonist Robert Robertson – it paints a compelling, relatable picture of a fantasy world so close to our own.
What’s next for Dispatch could be revealed at SDCC 2026
Dispatch appearing in a panel at SDCC 2026 could (and should) be a major deal.
Panel slots are typically reserved for significant announcements or reveals, and while AdHoc Studio has promised only to discuss the creation and success of the game, it’s possible that something more could be teased.
With such a rich world to pull from, it would be a shame if Dispatch was one-and-done. There’s certainly the fan support (and not to mention the financial support) to make something in the way of a sequel happen, or even a major TV adaptation.
Given Critical Role has experience with these adaptations, having worked on animated shows The Mighty Nein and The Legend of Vox Machina for Prime Video, it wouldn’t be a significant leap to see Dispatch get an expansion of sorts into new screen media.
Any adaptation would likely tread similar ground to the game, given how close the game is to an animated show as it stands, but this could be rich ground to explore new tales and reveal more about each characters.
At this stage, nothing firm has been announced for the future of Dispatch, but hope remains. In our world of ever-expanding media franchises, it does feel likely that it’ll be expanded or adapted eventually. Only AdHoc Studio and Critical Role know if SDCC 2026 is the place where that future will be revealed.
