Bethesda’s Indiana Jones game has stirred up excitement and speculation with recent leaks surrounding its title and exclusivity. It seems the game will be an exclusive for Xbox and PC, leaving PlayStation gamers expecting the latest adventure of the iconic archaeologist out in the cold.
Earlier this week, the vigilant eyes of X user Kurakasis spotted a series of domain registrations by Lucasfilm, titling the game as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. This discovery adds fuel to the hype surrounding the game, with Lucasfilm having filed a trademark in Europe two years ago for The Great Circle, specifically mentioning its intended use for video games.
The game, developed by the Swedish studio MachineGames, creators of the modern Wolfenstein titles, is set to be unveiled on January 18 during an Xbox and Bethesda presentation. Microsoft has promised a comprehensive look, providing more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting, story, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
Originally intended for release on both PlayStation and Xbox, the exclusivity bombshell dropped recently, indicating that it will be available solely on Xbox and PC, with a day-one release on Game Pass. This shift in exclusivity came in the wake of Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of MachineGames.
Bethesda’s game director Todd Howard, serving as the executive producer on the project, shed some light on the game’s unique genre, describing it as a mash-up that intentionally defies categorisation, promising a diverse and engaging gaming experience.
In response to the exclusivity decision, Disney’s head of gaming, Sean Shoptaw, explained that the deal made financial and strategic sense after the renegotiation of terms following Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media. Shoptaw emphasised that excluding PlayStation did not feel overly exclusionary as Xbox remains a major gaming marketplace, ensuring the game’s broad accessibility to a wide audience.
As the gaming community eagerly awaits the unveiling of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the exclusivity deal adds a layer of intrigue to the gaming landscape, sparking discussions about the evolving dynamics between major studios and console platforms.