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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Developer(s)MachineGames
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Director(s)
  • Jerk Gustafsson
  • Axel Torvenius
Designer(s)Jens Andersson
Artist(s)Mattias Astenvald
Composer(s)Gordy Haab
Engineid Tech
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, Xbox Series X/S
  • 9 December 2024
  • PlayStation 5
  • Q1/Q2 2025
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an upcoming action-adventure game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is based on the Indiana Jones franchise and will feature an original narrative that draws from the film series.[1] Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), the story follows archaeologist Indiana Jones in 1937 as he attempts to thwart various groups who are seeking to harness a power connected to the Great Circle, which refers to mysterious sites around the world that form a perfect circle when connected together on a map. The game spans numerous real-world locales such as Rome, Thailand, Egypt, Shanghai and the Himalayas. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to release for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on December 9, 2024. A PlayStation 5 version is set to release in early 2025.

The Great Circle is primarily played from a first-person perspective with third-person being employed for contextual elements such as environmental interaction. Players control Indy as they navigate through a mix of linear, story-sensitive areas and wider, exploratory landscapes. Combat can either be directly engaged with or circumvented entirely through the use of stealth mechanics, and the character's signature whip can be used as both a weapon, or as a means for traversing across obstacles and solving various puzzles to uncover alternate paths and obscured collectibles.

Bethesda and MachineGames jointly announced the game's development in January 2021, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.[2] Jerk Gustafsson directed the game, composer Gordy Haab contributed original pieces and reinterpretations of classic themes from the films by John Williams. Todd Howard from Bethesda Game Studios conceived the game's story and serves as an executive producer, considering the game a passion project of his. Troy Baker provides the voice and motion capture of the title character, whose likeness is otherwise based off Harrison Ford, who portrays him in the films, providing an authentic experience.[3][4]

Gameplay

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an action-adventure game that also consists of gameplay styles in various other genres.[5][6] As archaeologist Indiana Jones, the player can choose to use stealth or engage in direct combat with enemies. The game also includes various puzzles, many of which are optional.[7] Jones's whip can be used for combat and to traverse through certain areas.[1] The game is played from a first-person perspective, but switches to a third-person view for certain gameplay actions and cutscenes, such as when Jones uses his whip to swing over gaps or when climbing pipes and walls.[8]

Plot

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Characters and setting

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle features an original narrative that draws inspiration from the film series.[2] The story is set in 1937,[9] placing it in between the events of the first film Raiders of the Lost Ark (set in 1936), and the third film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (set in 1938).[10][11] Like both films, the game takes place before the events of World War II, with the Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan) returning as antagonists.[12] Jones (voiced by Troy Baker)[8] will also encounter Blackshirts, members of Italy's National Fascist Party.[13]

The game picks up after Jones has left his fiancée, Marion Ravenwood. Following the theft of an artifact from Marshall College from an imposing man known as Locus (Tony Todd), Jones heads to the Vatican to investigate. He discovers that sites of spiritual significance have been built throughout history, realizing that their locations form a perfectly aligned circle around the globe. Besides Rome, other locations include the Sukhothai temples in Thailand, the Egyptian pyramids, Shanghai in China, and the snowy Himalayas. During his journey, he teams up with Gina Lombardi (Alessandra Mastronardi),[8] an investigative reporter who has an interest in the case. They go up against Emmerich Voss (Marios Gavrilis),[8] who uses psychological manipulation against his enemies.[8][14]

Development

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On January 12, 2021, Lucasfilm Games and Bethesda Softworks announced plans to eventually release a video game based on the Indiana Jones franchise. It would be developed by MachineGames, with Todd Howard serving as executive producer through Bethesda. Both companies are owned by ZeniMax Media.[15][16] Howard considered MachineGames an ideal company to develop the project because of its work on the Wolfenstein series, which involves a battle against Nazis, like the Indiana Jones franchise.[17] Howard conceived the game's story.[18] As executive producer, he occasionally checks in on the game's progress rather than having a hands-on role.[17]

Howard, an Indiana Jones fan, had previously pitched such a game to George Lucas around 2009,[19][20] although the project did not move forward at that time, partly because Bethesda did not have the resources to develop it.[17] In addition, Lucasfilm wanted to publish the game, a role that Bethesda sought to fill, and the two could not come to an agreement.[21][22]

The game's 2021 announcement was accompanied by a teaser trailer which included various Easter eggs and hints about the game's setting.[10][11] As of mid-2021, the game was in a very early state of development.[23] It was developed using the id Tech game engine.[24] Jerk Gustafsson served as the game's director.[18] Jens Andersson joined the project as design director in late 2022, after previously being hired in the same position for the planned 2009 game. Andersson had also served as lead designer on The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004) and The Darkness (2007). The Indiana Jones team includes more than 20 developers who previously worked on The Darkness.[25][26]

The title, story details, and first gameplay footage were unveiled on January 18, 2024, during Microsoft Gaming's Xbox Developer_Direct video presentation.[27] Also announced was the game's first-person perspective, which received a mixed response.[28][29][30] For MachineGames, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle continues a tradition of developing games in the first-person perspective, while also setting it apart from third-person games in the similar Tomb Raider and Uncharted franchises. The first-person viewpoint was also chosen to fully immerse the player in the role of Indiana Jones.[28]

Lucasfilm will have final approval over the game, which will be the company's first non-Star Wars game in years,[31] and the first Indiana Jones game since Indiana Jones Adventure World (2011).[32] The game uses Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford's likeness,[33] while Troy Baker provides voiceover work for the character. Other voice actors included Alessandra Mastronardi as Gina Lombardi, Marios Gavrilis as Emmerich Voss and Tony Todd in his final video game performance as Locus.[8] The soundtrack was composed by Gordy Haab, based on the work of John Williams, who composed the film scores.[8] Haab previously worked on the score for Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (2009).[34] Certain actions were created for the game by stuntmen performing in motion capture suits.[8]

Release

[edit]

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is scheduled for release on December 9, 2024 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S as a timed console exclusive. A PlayStation 5 version is slated to launch in Spring 2025.[35] It will be available from launch on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass before being added to the Standard tier for console at a later date.[36][33][37] A cosmetics pack inspired by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) will be available as a general pre-order bonus or for pre-loading the game on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Alongside the standard release, a Premium Edition and Collector's Edition will also be distributed. Both editions enable a 3-day early access period to play the game from December 6, 2024, an extra outfit for Indy inspired by his appearance in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and instant access to the game's story expansion The Order of Giants from release, in addition to a Digital Art Book.[38] The Collector's Edition also comes with a steelbook display case, a physical replica of the Allmaker Relic displaying a download code for the digital game, a journal resembling the one belonging to Indy, and an 11-inch globe marking key locations in the game's story, with space for hidden storage.[39][40][41]

The original contract between Bethesda and Lucasfilm parent Disney stipulated that the game launch as a multiplatform title, but said terms were initially amended to exclude a PlayStation 5 version when Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media in March 2021, thereby receiving ownership of Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames.[42][43] Disney felt that Windows and Xbox Series X/S made up a large-enough marketplace to justify exclusivity as originally planned.[44] By February 2024 as Microsoft Gaming was preparing to ship some of its first-party software onto non-Xbox platforms, Bethesda was reported to be internally considering a PlayStation 5 version of The Great Circle for launch following the Xbox and PC versions, which it confirmed as in development in August 2024.[45][46] On the decision to pursue a PlayStation 5 version of the game after initially announcing it as an Xbox console exclusive, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer cited the strong reception to prior Xbox titles Pentiment, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, which launched on PlayStation and Nintendo systems earlier in 2024. Furthermore, he described the necessity to provide returns to Microsoft to receive support on game development, and the desire to maintain strong interest in their franchises while growing the Xbox ecosystem across console, PC and cloud, calling multiplatform development "a strategy that works for us."[47][48]

Downloadable content

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The Great Circle is set to receive a story expansion titled The Order of Giants following the game's launch. The expansion will be instantly available from release for owners of the game's Premium and Collector's Edition on Xbox and PC.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b Valentine, Rebekah (January 18, 2024). "MachineGames Unveils First Look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Xbox Direct 2024". IGN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Romano, Nick (January 12, 2021). "New Indiana Jones video game with 'original story' in the works". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Yang, George (October 30, 2024). "How the New 'Indiana Jones' Video Game Got Its Star". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "How Harrison Ford's face looks so real in the Indiana Jones game | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
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  7. ^ Gerblick, Jordan (January 18, 2024). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is out this year, and looks like first-person Uncharted with Wolfenstein combat and more Nazis". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
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  9. ^ Stewart, Marcus (January 18, 2024). "Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Launches This Year, First Gameplay Footage Revealed". Game Informer. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
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  21. ^ Good, Owen S. (November 30, 2022). "Indiana Jones game is a 'bucket list' dream for Bethesda director". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
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  26. ^ Wales, Matt (December 1, 2022). "The Darkness and Chronicles of Riddick lead designer joins MachineGames' Indiana Jones". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  27. ^ Borthwick, Ben (January 18, 2024). "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is the official name of MachineGames' Indy game". VideoGamer. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (January 19, 2024). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Dev Explains Decision to Go First-Person Over Third-Person". IGN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  29. ^ Tassi, Paul (January 19, 2024). "The 'Indiana Jones And The Great Circle' First Versus Third Person Debate Is Pointless". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.[better source needed]
  30. ^ Fenlon, Wes (January 19, 2024). "Thank god Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is first-person". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Ravenscraft, Eric (January 13, 2021). "Lucasfilm Games' New Partnerships Mean the Galaxy's the Limit". Wired. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Jones, Rebecca (January 13, 2021). "Bethesda's Indiana Jones has some real gaming classics to live up to". VG247. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  33. ^ a b Scullion, Chris (January 18, 2024). "MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle uses Harrison Ford's likeness". Video Game Chronicles. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  34. ^ Ehrhardt, Michelle (January 18, 2024). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Comes to Xbox and PC Later This Year". The Messenger. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  35. ^ Warren, Tom (August 20, 2024). "Microsoft confirms Indiana Jones is coming to PS5 after its Xbox debut". The Verge. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  36. ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (June 22, 2023). "Bethesda's Indiana Jones Game Will Be Exclusive To Xbox And PC". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  37. ^ Cripe, Michael (August 20, 2024). "Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Will Have to Wait 12 Months or More for Some Of Ultimate's Biggest Releases". IGN. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  38. ^ "Pre-Order Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - Premium Edition". Bethesda. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  39. ^ Middler, Jordan (August 20, 2024). "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle's Collector's Edition includes an 11-inch globe". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  40. ^ Petite, Steven; Hesse, Brendan (August 20, 2024). "Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Preorders Are Live - Three Editions, Bonuses, And More Details". GameSpot. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  41. ^ Lewis, Anne (August 20, 2024). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™ Coming December 9". Bethesda. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  42. ^ Warren, Tom (June 22, 2023). "Bethesda's Indiana Jones game is exclusive to Xbox and PC". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  43. ^ Plant, Logan (June 22, 2023). "MachineGames' Indiana Jones Game Was Originally Planned for Release on PS5". IGN. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
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  45. ^ Warren, Tom (February 4, 2024). "Microsoft weighs launching Indiana Jones on the PS5". The Verge. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  46. ^ Marshall, Cass (August 20, 2024). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released on PS5, too". Polygon. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
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  49. ^ "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Coming to Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass December 9". Lucasfilm. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
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