When the untitled Indiana Jones game was announced at the beginning of 2021, Xbox fans were exhilarated to learn that the adventure hero would once again return to the video game medium. Although there had been very little information about the title since its reveal, the initial details were enough to maintain the excitement. MachineGames, Bethesda Softworks, and Lucasfilm Games will all be part of the development, it’s an Xbox Series X/S exclusive, and Todd Howard is attached as an executive producer.
Now, after three years of waiting, the Xbox Developer Direct event which was held on January 18, 2024, has finally given gamers a preview of what is to come. Viewers were not only shown gameplay video for the upcoming title, we were also treated to ten minutes of the development process.
What was Included in the Indiana Jones Xbox Developer Direct Footage?
The first thing Indiana Jones fans were treated to was a preview from MachineGames including a few words from the developers. Todd Howard was then featured and talked about how this studio was be the best to create an Indiana Jones title, explaining how the excitement from the devs has bled through to the project.
Then viewers were given a first look, which began with Indiana Jones buried in the sand, surrounded by enemies in Africa. It was clear from the the gameplay footage that followed, just how important the environment will be in the upcoming title. The footage showcases new enemies, a variety of explorable locations, and the classic hero modeled after Harrison Ford.
There will be plenty of styles of combat. Players can use stealth, hand to hand melee fighting, and of course the classic whip. When the gameplay portion of the trailer ended, the title was revealed as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. This game is set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crucade, and will see the protagonist investigating the theft of an artifact he suspects has incredible significance.
Once the in-game footage was shown, the developers returned to discuss exactly what to expect in the title. Players will get to control Indiana Jones from a first person perspective, because they felt “all of these moments are much more intense in first person.”
It was important to the development team to put the player in the shoes of Indiana Jones, so they can be completely immersed in the experience. As the conclusion neared, those at MachineGames revealed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released in 2024. This is exciting news for fans who worried they would be waiting a few more years before launch.
A Brief History of Indiana Jones in Video Games
Indiana Jones has been featured in films, television, comics, novels, amusement park attractions, and much more. However, if you were to say Indiana Jones has had a presence in gaming, it would almost be an understatement. The titular professor of archeology has been featured in more than 20 titles, when you include the various PC, mobile, console, and social gaming installments.
The first time Indiana Jones was featured in the medium was long before the creation of the Xbox. His video game debut was Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1982, which was in response to the success of the 1981 film of the same name. It was designed by Howard Scott Warshaw for the Atari 2600, and met with a mostly positive reception despite some noticeable flaws.
Since 1982, Indiana Jones has been prominently featured in side-scrollers, text adventures, third person action-adventures, and even a couple of LEGO games. While some titles have received a fair share of negative attention, there seems to always be a demand for Indy in the gaming industry. In fact, Todd Howard has even previously stated that working on such a game was a “bucket list” item for him.
As we turn to the present day, the Xbox Developer Direct has given players an exciting taste of what is to come for the next title. When Indiana Jones returns to gaming once again, it is likely the community will welcome the hero with open arms, as we prepare for the next great journey that lies ahead.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
