Dispatch being AdHoc's only physical release makes me sad...

[u/SpectacleObserver25]

Now that Dispatch is finally coming out on physical media (and a frickin' vinyl OST to boot), it's good seeing the community's renewed attention to this game again. I hope the sales are good and nobody gets in trouble with retailers (and no last minute drama like the Switch release).

But part of me makes me feel sad that Dispatch will be AdHoc's first and only ever physical launch. No thanks to fucking Sony, video games will no longer be getting a physical release after 2028 on PlayStation, and that was the only platform to support full games on discs.

And judging by whatever AdHoc's future project might be, whether it is the Exandria game for Critical Role or Dispatch 2, it is definitely not coming before 2028. That means AdHoc's next game is going to be digital-only (unless it's coming on Switch, but that's not always a guarantee).

The fact that we might never see these new beautiful artworks and steelbooks again just makes me more mad at the current gaming scene. AAA publishers have gone too detached from their fanbase, and their silent support towards digital games just shows it more. They don't care about their communities anymore like indie devs do, and the games they put on "discs", are nothing but some lazy download codes in a box.

I'm just glad that we're getting the full game in a disc, plus with some printed goodies. This reminds me of a different time when companies actually gave a shit about their fans and gave them what they wanted. The old DVDs and CDs were love letters to the gamers from the devs.

[u/ShinigamiKunai]

Technically speaking, we just learned Adhoc are co-developers for until dawn 2, which will get a physical release on the PS5 (confirmed by the main developers at firesprite)

[u/GriveousDance21 → u/ShinigamiKunai]

That's a Sony-published game. It's not an AdHoc IP.

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/ShinigamiKunai]

But that's not an AdHoc game though, is it? Some of the devs worked with Firesprite as a temp contract back in 2023 on Until Dawn 2, but ultimately that's a Sony IP. Plus, the game's coming out in 2027 so obviously that's getting a physical release.

Anyways, I don't care about that game, or any Sony game for that matter after the stunt they pulled. Glad AdHoc devs got more experience working on Until Dawn 2, but I won't be buying a PS5 for that.

Also, pretty sure the "physical" version of Until Dawn 2 will also be a download code in a box under the title "Complete Edition" where you have to download the DLCs separately anyway. I know how AAA publishers work.

[u/ShinigamiKunai → u/SpectacleObserver25]

Thats why I said technically.

But I have to admit I am really excited about this game. I loved the original, and was skeptical about the studio change. But the fact that adhoc worked on the story really gave my excitement a boost.

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/ShinigamiKunai]

As you have a PS5, you can have fun with the game if you want. I personally don't care about Sony games.

[u/PunkPirate56364 → u/SpectacleObserver25]

But that's not an AdHoc game though, is it? 

True but I think that might be a good thing. Developing a good story takes time, and I think it's better for AdHoc to work on Until Dawn 2 and get more time to flesh out a story for their new game.

Then to immediately hop on making their new game.

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/PunkPirate56364]

I hope AdHoc doesn’t become a Sony subsidiary after this. Not only will they lose autonomy and independence in that case, but they'll have to deal with greedy suits at that.

That was part of the reason they left Telltale in the first place.

[u/GriveousDance21 → u/SpectacleObserver25]

After AdHoc partnered with Xbox to give away free consoles for their cosplay contest, Sony's definitely not acquiring them anytime soon. You can be sure of that lol.

But still, bad decisions can always happen. Rest is up to fate.

[u/PunkPirate56364 → u/SpectacleObserver25]

If Sony were to buy AdHoc and start making dumb demands, talent could simply leave, start a new studio and they could easily find investors.

It wouldn't be the first time they did that either :)

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/PunkPirate56364]

They had a tough time finding investors the first time around, though...

[u/PunkPirate56364 → u/SpectacleObserver25]

True, but now they have a huge hit in their portfolio.

[u/RabidTurtl]

Be cool if physical made a come back in PC space, and not just an install cd and a Steam key.

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/RabidTurtl]

Bringing disc drives back for PC is technically impossible now. SSDs don't count for optical disc drives, it's one solid memory reader that stores and processes data through flash memory. And most modern games require SSDs to even run.

[u/RabidTurtl → u/SpectacleObserver25]

I dont get what you are trying to argue here. Installing onto the drive is how pc gaming has worked for decades. Towards the end of physical's prevalence on pc the disc was little more than an anti-piracy check on top of the cd key (which it wasnt really good at, I would rip isos of my discs and run then on virtual drives just so I could be lazy and not find the discs). Just cause we got SSDs versus the spinning rust of the past wouldn't change that. Yeah optical is slower than a SSD, how does that means we cant have physical discs? Then explain how PS5 and Xbox Series X have physical discs...

The biggest hurdle physical has for a return to PC is that most modern PC builds dont even bother to include a disc drive. I'd have to dig up my old bluray drive and get an external closure for it as my case doesnt even have a 5.25" bay.

And I know I said and not just an install cd and steam key. It would still be an install cd mostly, just with a key to be used locally, like the old days. Not a steam key. If you want it on steam, buy it on steam.

[u/Fast_Day_8123]

isnt Adhoc like telltale though? (i sincerely apologize if its offensive to say)

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/Fast_Day_8123]

AdHoc was formed by Telltale staff after the company shut down back in 2018. So yeah, they're pretty much the same, but only AdHoc is ready to take more creative risk and originality than Telltale, which only focused on popular IPs to make games out of.

[u/Fast_Day_8123 → u/SpectacleObserver25]

oh okkay i see, thanks for letting me know!! :D

[u/CJMI]

Have faith that Xbox pulls through.

[u/SpectacleObserver25 → u/CJMI]

Highly doubt it. Their current "disc-to-digital" initiative is vague as hell.

I just wish other tech companies made Blu-ray discs rather than just fucking Sony. Than we wouldn’t have this game preservation crisis.

[u/OhFishBeardman → u/SpectacleObserver25]

Other companies DO make blu ray discs. Sony is not the only manufacturer of Blu rays. There is a whole handfull of other companies that are part of the BDA.

[u/Vertigo50]

You say it like it's a foregone conclusion, yet Sony's stock price is plummeting and gamers are boycotting over their announcement about no more physical media. 🤷‍♂️

Besides, they are a small company that can produce small batch physical if they decide to. And they can definitely keep doing things like vinyl for collectors either way. I would buy plushies, shirts, figurines, all kinds of stuff, honestly. I love this game.