In virtually every Telltale game, players will see the message: “Silence is a valid option.” However, despite the fact that AdHoc was formed by former TellTale Games developers, such an option does not appear in a review of Dispatch. While TellTale games usually had the player character silent if no option is selected, without selecting one i Dispatch results in one being automatically selected. And now the developers have explained why.
In theory, silence is a valid option when it comes to choice-based games. It can represent failure to act, result in bad results, or it can create a feeling that this particular character is super awkward at times. Not to mention, it pays homage to silent video game protagonists if you squint hard. But it's not who Dispatch protagonist Robert Robertson is, and that's only part of the reason.
Silence is a valid option for 1% of players
At the Game Developers Conference (GDC), as reported by PCGamer, Dispatch Creative directors Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart explained why AdHoc did not exercise this additional dialogue option: less than 1% of players ever chose it. Herman explained how the team loved playing choice-based games as an “absolute weirdo” who responded to everything “with a blank stare.” But their experience at Telltale came into play, and they knew the numbers. “Silent options were either intentionally or unintentionally triggered less than 1% of the time for all users globally,” explained Herman.
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Despite this, Lenart explained that AdHoc was still considering supporting this playstyle “silence is a valid option”. 1% of gamers are still gamers after all, but everyone does Dispatchs dialogue choices would result in “almost 15 full minutes of Robert not saying anything.” It's worth adding that, apart from this not really fitting Robert Robertson's character, it makes little sense to provide an opportunity to skip Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul's appearance. Dispatchs achievements, including his and beyond, were one of the most celebrated parts of the game.
Robert Robertson going silent would also create new scenarios that AdHoc would have to solve. It's almost always someone on the other side talking to Robert, which means you have to take into account the impact on other characters. Overall, it creates more work than the team could justify. As Herman explained,
“It doesn't sound like much, but we still had to write other characters that reacted to that silence. We have to record voice. We had to storyboard, animate, light and polish all of that. All of that to support less than 1% of the situations, especially as a new studio, really didn't feel worth it. So we killed it.”
Broadcast fans didn't mind its absence
And while, yes, it's unfortunate for 1% of the use cases, it's not like it was something the fans missed. Many probably didn't even think about it. Each week, players responded to the performances and choices in the available ones Dispatch section. And when it all ended, the fans cry for it Dispatch season 2 was almost immediate. AdHoc has yet to say anything official about Dispatch season 2, although many actors and developers have given supportive personal comments about the idea, but perhaps this feature will return. Or silence is no longer a valid option.
It is uncertain what the future looks like Dispatch will be now, but things are looking up for AdHoc. A GDC talk about the game is nothing to scoff at, but just as importantly, it turned out to be a critical and commercial success. Dispatch sold over 3 million units within two months of its launch cycle and has come to new platforms such as the Nintendo Switch. Not to mention, players have created Dispatch season 2 wishlists since the moment the season ended, and that kind of response only comes when something special happens.
- Released
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October 22, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, crude humor, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, use of drugs and alcohol
- Developer
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AdHoc Studio
- Publisher
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AdHoc Studio
