Aaron Paul has opened up about his debut in video games with the upcoming narrative thriller Dispatch. The Breaking Bad and El Camino star described the production as “honestly a very confusing process” in a recent interview.
The confusion stemmed from the game’s branching narrative structure. Unlike traditional film or TV work, Paul had to record multiple variations of the same scenes to account for different player choices. He’d perform lines across various emotional states and outcomes, often jumping between storylines in a non-sequential order.
“It was confusing because of all the story paths,” Paul explained, noting the stark difference from his previous voice work on shows like BoJack Horseman. The branching format dramatically increased both session length and the sheer volume of material to record.
Despite the challenges, Paul spent considerable time praising the script. He called the experience deeply rewarding and suggested he helped make certain sequences “more dramatic” through collaborative shaping during recording sessions. His background as an active gamer reportedly helped him connect with the material and understand the medium’s unique demands.
The approach Paul described mirrors what other actors have said about performing in branching narrative games. Bryan Dechart, who played Connor in Detroit: Become Human, noted that acting out multiple story paths actually enhanced his performance by forcing him to explore different facets of his character.
Dispatch features an impressive cast beyond Paul. Jeffrey Wright, known for Westworld and The Batman, and Laura Bailey, one of gaming’s most acclaimed voice actors with credits including The Last of Us Part II and Critical Role, both star in the game. The project also includes appearances from gaming personalities like Alanah Pearce and Jacksepticeye.
A playable demo is currently available. The full game will roll out episodically over roughly a month, a compressed schedule compared to traditional episodic releases. Telltale Games popularized the episodic model in the 2010s, though those games often stretched across months with unpredictable gaps between chapters. Dispatch‘s rapid-fire cadence aims to maintain momentum and weekly conversation without long waits.
The project represents a growing trend of high-profile film and TV actors headlining narrative games. Keanu Reeves appeared in Cyberpunk 2077, while directors like Hideo Kojima have recruited actors such as Elle Fanning for upcoming titles. The gap between traditional acting and interactive performance keeps shrinking as game budgets and production values rise.
