All Dispatch Endings Explained
Deep dive into the meaning, themes, and lore implications of every ending. What do they reveal about Robert Robertson, the heroes, and the Dispatch organization?
Understanding Dispatch's Endings
Dispatch is a game about leadership, trust, and the consequences of your decisions. Each of its 4 endings explores different outcomes based on how you managed your team of reformed supervillains-turned-heroes. But these endings aren't just about success or failure - they each reveal different aspects of the Dispatch universe's deeper lore and themes.
This guide will explain what happens in each ending, what they mean thematically, and what they reveal about the game's world. We'll also explore the unanswered questions and hints about potential future stories in the Dispatch universe.
💡 Before You Read:
Each ending has a post-credits scene that provides additional context. Make sure to watch them all! You can replay Episode 8 through chapter select to see different endings without replaying the entire game.
Story Context: The Setup
What's Really Happening in Dispatch?
To understand the endings, you need to understand the core conflict. Throughout the 8 episodes, you're not just managing a dispatch center - you're caught in a struggle between:
- The Heroes: Reformed villains trying to redeem themselves and find purpose
- The Corporate Interests: Dispatch as a profit-driven organization that sees heroes as assets
- The Underlying Conspiracy: Hints throughout the game that Dispatch itself might be part of something larger
Robert Robertson, your boss, represents the institutional side of this conflict. He's torn between his duty to make Dispatch profitable and his genuine care for the heroes. Your choices throughout the game determine which side of this conflict wins - and what that means for everyone involved.
Key Plot Elements to Remember:
- • The "Catalyst Event" mentioned throughout - what caused villains to become heroes
- • The mysterious "Board" that oversees Dispatch operations
- • The hidden documents revealing Dispatch's true purpose (Secret Ending)
- • The catastrophic event in Episode 8 - and why it's happening
Good Ending Explained: Heroes United
What Happens
In the Heroes United ending, your team comes together perfectly to stop the catastrophic event. The Unity Protocol you initiate allows all 10 heroes to coordinate their abilities in ways they never could before. Coupé leads the tactical response, Malevola and Phenomaman work seamlessly together (having resolved their conflict), and Sonar provides critical intelligence.
The catastrophe is prevented with minimal casualties. More importantly, your heroes emerge stronger and more united than ever. Robert Robertson acknowledges you as the best dispatcher in Dispatch history and hints that you might be promoted to work with the mysterious "Board."
What It Means
The Good Ending represents the triumph of trust and collaboration over institutional bureaucracy. By consistently choosing your team over corporate metrics, you prove that treating people with dignity and respect creates better outcomes than treating them as assets.
Thematically, this ending explores redemption - not just for the former villains, but for the Dispatch organization itself. You've shown that an organization designed to profit from reformed villains can instead become a genuine force for good.
Post-Credits Scene:
The heroes celebrate at a bar. In a touching moment, Coupé raises a toast "to the dispatcher who believed in us when no one else did." Malevola and Phenomaman are shown laughing together. The final shot shows Robert Robertson watching news coverage of the heroes' success, smiling genuinely for the first time in the game.
Hidden Detail:
In the background of the bar scene, you can see Sonar talking quietly with a mysterious figure. This hints at the larger conspiracy explored in the Secret Ending.
Character Fates:
- • Coupé: Becomes head of hero operations at Dispatch
- • Malevola: Starts a hero training academy
- • Phenomaman: Works with Malevola at the academy
- • Sonar: Remains at Dispatch but has a secret mission
- • You (Robert): Promoted to Director of Operations
Bad Ending Explained: Total Chaos
What Happens
In the darkest timeline, your poor leadership leads to disaster. The team is fractured and dysfunctional due to unresolved conflicts and low morale. When the catastrophic event occurs, heroes refuse to work together effectively. Some heroes abandon their posts entirely, unwilling to risk their lives for a dispatcher they don't trust.
The catastrophe unfolds in full force. Significant casualties occur among both civilians and heroes. Coupé is seriously injured trying to save people. Malevola and Phenomaman's unresolved conflict leads to a critical mission failure. The city suffers massive damage.
Robert Robertson fires you, saying you were "the worst mistake Dispatch ever made." The heroes scatter - some returning to villainy, others retiring in disgrace. Dispatch's reputation is destroyed, and the organization faces shutdown.
What It Means
The Bad Ending is a cautionary tale about the consequences of prioritizing short-term metrics over people. By consistently choosing corporate interests over your heroes' wellbeing, you created an environment where trust was impossible.
This ending explores the darker side of the redemption theme: what happens when second chances are squandered. The heroes couldn't become their best selves because they were never given the support they needed. But the ending also questions whether you deserve redemption after failing them so completely.
Post-Credits Scene:
A news montage shows the aftermath. Coupé is in the hospital, badly injured. Malevola is shown being arrested after reverting to villainy in a rage. Phenomaman has completely withdrawn from society. The final shot is of you (the dispatcher) at home, looking at photos of the team from Episode 1 - a reminder of what could have been.
Chilling Detail:
In the final moments, you receive a phone call from an unknown number. A distorted voice says, "The Board wants to speak with you." This suggests consequences beyond just losing your job.
Character Fates:
- • Coupé: Critically injured, possibly permanently disabled
- • Malevola: Returns to villainy, arrested
- • Phenomaman: Complete psychological breakdown, whereabouts unknown
- • Sonar: Leaves Dispatch, identity revealed to public
- • You (Robert): Fired in disgrace, facing legal consequences
Secret Ending Explained: Hidden Truth
🔍 Most Lore-Heavy Ending
This ending requires finding all hidden documents and completing Sonar's secret questline. It reveals shocking truths about the Dispatch universe.
What Happens
After preventing the catastrophe (similar to the Good Ending), Sonar reveals he's been investigating Dispatch all along. The hidden documents you found prove that:
- Dispatch is not just a civilian organization - it's part of a government black-ops program
- The "Catalyst Event" that turned villains into heroes was deliberately engineered
- The Board has been manipulating events to create controllable super-powered assets
- Robert Robertson knows about the conspiracy but has been trying to protect his heroes from it
- The catastrophic event in Episode 8 was a test - to see if the heroes would remain loyal under extreme pressure
You and Sonar confront Robert with the evidence. He admits the truth: Dispatch was created to weaponize former villains. But he's been resisting the Board's more extreme directives, trying to give his heroes real second chances despite the organization's true purpose.
The ending leaves you with a choice (shown only in text): help Robert expose the conspiracy, or keep the secret and continue protecting your heroes from within the system. The game doesn't show the outcome - it ends with you making the choice.
What It Means
The Secret Ending reframes the entire game. Everything you did - every choice you made - was potentially being monitored and evaluated by the shadowy Board. Your success in creating a functional hero team might have just proven that reformed villains can be controlled and weaponized.
This ending explores themes of agency and manipulation. Even in the Good Ending, were your heroes truly free, or were they just well-managed assets? The Secret Ending forces you to question whether redemption is real when it's engineered by a conspiracy.
Robert Robertson becomes a more complex character - he's been trapped between his duty to the conspiracy and his genuine care for the heroes. He's been trying to give them real redemption within a system designed to exploit them.
Post-Credits Scene:
The scene shows a meeting room somewhere in Washington D.C. Shadowy figures (the Board) are reviewing footage of your final mission. One figure says, "The experiment was a success. Prepare Phase 2." Another responds, "What about Robertson?" The first figure replies, "He's served his purpose. Retire him."
The camera then cuts to Robert at home, receiving a phone call. He listens, his face grave. He says simply, "I understand," and hangs up. He looks at a photo of the heroes, then at you. The final line: "We need to talk. Tonight. Come alone."
Implications:
This sets up a potential sequel where you and Robert work to expose the conspiracy and free the heroes from government control. It also suggests that "Phase 2" might involve creating more reformed villains or expanding the program internationally.
Key Revelations:
- • The Catalyst Event was engineered by the government
- • Dispatch exists to weaponize former villains
- • The Board has been testing you and your heroes
- • Robert Robertson is a reluctant participant in the conspiracy
- • There are more Dispatch centers around the world
- • "Phase 2" hints at expansion or something darker
Neutral Ending Explained: Status Quo
What Happens
In the most common ending for first-time players, you manage to prevent immediate disaster but without achieving the unity of the Good Ending. Your heroes respond adequately to the catastrophic event - not spectacularly, but competently enough to minimize casualties.
The team stays together but remains somewhat dysfunctional. Old conflicts are managed but not resolved. Heroes perform their jobs but without the enthusiasm or cohesion seen in the Good Ending. Robert Robertson acknowledges your work as "adequate" - you kept things running, which is what Dispatch needed.
Life continues much as it did before the crisis. Heroes go on missions, conflicts arise and are temporarily resolved, and Dispatch remains operational. There's a sense that nothing has really changed - you've maintained the status quo, for better or worse.
What It Means
The Neutral Ending is about mediocrity and missed potential. Your heroes could have been something special - they could have become the unified force of the Good Ending. But your unwillingness to take strong stances meant they never fully bonded.
This ending explores the consequences of trying to please everyone and taking the middle path. By not choosing sides in the corporate vs. team conflict, you ensured survival but sacrificed greatness. Your heroes are functional but unfulfilled.
Thematically, this ending is the most realistic. Not every story ends with triumph or tragedy - sometimes people just muddle through, doing what needs to be done without achieving anything remarkable. It's a commentary on how most organizations operate: not exceptionally well, not terribly, just... adequately.
Post-Credits Scene:
The heroes are shown going about their daily routines. Coupé is doing paperwork, looking tired. Malevola and Phenomaman avoid each other in the hallway. Sonar is working alone. The atmosphere is professional but cold.
Robert Robertson is shown in his office, reviewing quarterly reports. The numbers are acceptable - not great, not terrible. He looks at a photo of a different team from years ago, when he was younger and more idealistic. He sighs and goes back to work.
The final shot is of you at your dispatch desk as a new call comes in. You answer it with a practiced, emotionless voice: "Dispatch. State your emergency." The game ends mid-call, suggesting the cycle continues.
Subtext:
This ending is quietly tragic. Everyone survives, the organization continues, but no one is particularly happy or fulfilled. It's a reminder that sometimes the worst outcome isn't disaster - it's eternal mediocrity.
Themes & Analysis
Redemption
The central theme across all endings is redemption - but what makes redemption possible?
- • Good Ending: Redemption through trust and support
- • Bad Ending: Redemption denied by poor leadership
- • Secret Ending: Questions whether engineered redemption is real
- • Neutral Ending: Incomplete redemption - surviving but not thriving
Leadership & Trust
Each ending demonstrates different leadership styles and their consequences:
- • Transformational Leadership (Good): Inspiring and empowering others to excel
- • Transactional Leadership (Bad): Treating people as resources leads to dysfunction
- • Authentic Leadership (Secret): Being true to values even within corrupt systems
- • Passive Leadership (Neutral): Maintaining stability without driving change
Systems & Individuals
The game explores tension between individual agency and systemic forces. Can good individuals thrive in corrupt systems? Can good leadership overcome institutional problems? The Secret Ending particularly highlights this theme - Robert Robertson trying to do good within a system designed for exploitation.
Second Chances
All the heroes are former villains given second chances. But the game asks: what conditions make second chances successful? The Good Ending shows that second chances work when combined with genuine support. The Bad Ending shows they fail when trust is broken. The Secret Ending questions whether these were ever really second chances or just another form of exploitation.
Post-Credits Scenes Comparison
| Ending | Post-Credits Scene | Key Revelation |
|---|---|---|
| Good | Heroes celebrating, Robert smiling | Sonar talking with mysterious figure (Secret Ending hint) |
| Bad | Aftermath montage, you at home with photos | The Board wants to speak with you (ominous) |
| Secret | Board meeting discussing "Phase 2", Robert's call | Sets up potential sequel where you expose conspiracy |
| Neutral | Everyone going through motions, cycle continues | Mediocrity is its own form of tragedy |
Unanswered Questions & Sequel Hints
Even after seeing all endings, several mysteries remain unsolved - likely setup for future content:
1. What is "Phase 2"?
Mentioned in the Secret Ending. The Board discusses implementing Phase 2 after your success. Does it involve creating more reformed villains? Expanding internationally? Something darker?
2. Who Really Caused the Catalyst Event?
The Secret Ending reveals it was engineered, but by whom specifically? A rogue scientist? A government agency? Alien technology? The game hints but never confirms.
3. What Happens to Robert Robertson?
The Board wants to "retire" him in the Secret Ending. Does he become an ally in exposing the conspiracy? Does he disappear? His fate remains unclear.
4. Are There Other Dispatch Centers?
Documents in the Secret Ending mention "Dispatch centers" (plural) around the world. Are they all part of the same conspiracy? Do they know about each other?
5. What is Sonar's Real Mission?
Even in the Good Ending, Sonar is seen talking with a mysterious figure. Is he working for the Board? Against them? Is he a double agent? His true loyalties are ambiguous.
6. Can the Other Heroes Be Saved in Bad Ending?
The Bad Ending shows heroes in terrible situations. The mysterious phone call suggests there might be consequences beyond what we see. Could there be a "redemption" path even after the Bad Ending?
🎮 Sequel Potential:
The developers have hinted that if Dispatch is successful, they'd like to explore these questions in DLC or a sequel. The Secret Ending particularly sets up a continuation where you and Robert work to expose the Board and free the heroes from government control.
Which Ending is "Canon"?
The developers have stated that they don't consider any single ending to be the "true" or "canon" ending. Each represents a valid outcome based on your choices. However, there are some considerations:
Most Narratively Satisfying: Good Ending
Provides the most closure for character arcs and feels like the "intended" conclusion for most players.
Most Lore-Important: Secret Ending
If there's a sequel, it will likely follow up on the Secret Ending's revelations about the Board and Phase 2.
Most Realistic: Neutral Ending
In a cynical way, this might be the most "true" ending - organizations rarely achieve greatness or complete failure; they just continue.