Bethesda will finally show off Indiana Jones gameplay at the Developer Direct showcase happening later this month

In a recent interview, game director Jerk Gustafsson discussed the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. He explained the meaning behind the game’s title, MachineGame’s inspiration for its story, and what the studio hopes to accomplish with gameplay.

The upcoming video game tosses the intrepid archaeologist into a deadly adventure once more, and that journey looks like it will face him up against foes who are as dastardly as ever. Starting with rival archaeologist René Belloq and the army of Nazis on his side in, villains tend to be memorable parts of stories that are full of set pieces and surprises galore. Indiana always triumphs, of course, but his enemies are often done in by their hubris as much as they are by his wits.

Three years after it was first teased by Bethesda Softworks, , developed by Machine Games(makers of the modern series), has had a full reveal at the 2024 Developer_Direct from Xbox, revealing many of the game's major characters. As a game set in the same continuity as the movies, includes a number of returning characters, but also includes some additions that are completely new to the game.

Fans who were eagerly awaiting new information to emerge on the MachineGames Indiana Jones title were finally treated to a deep dive yesterday. We got our first look into the upcoming title during the Xbox Developer Direct. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle had a decent showcase where we got our first look into the gameplay and even some narrative storyline premise. While we’re still waiting for the official release date to be finalized, the new website hosted under Bethesda unveils more details on what we can expect from this game. 

MachineGames revealed the first look at its upcoming title, at Xbox's Developer Direct 2024 showcase. The Xbox Series S/X and PC exclusive title was announced back in January 2021, but the showcase finally gave players their first look at gameplay and provided some insight into the story, and when it takes place on the wider timeline.

We should know by now never to count out Indiana Jones. First The Last Crusade was proven to be a misnomer when it was followed up by 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and then even that was replaced as Indy’s final adventure with 2023’s Dial of Destiny.

Microsoft’s second (hopefully annual?) Xbox Developer Direct went, like the first, exceptionally well. While we didn’t get a shadow-dropped killer exclusive – and let’s be honest, that’s not an expectation that Team Xbox probably wants to set – we did still get the surprise of a behind-the-scenes look at Square Enix’s upcoming Visions of Mana. Better yet, we got a good look at gameplay from Obsidian’s upcoming first-person RPG Avowed, we got the Hellblade 2 release date we’ve been waiting for, and best of all, we got the proper reveal of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the new first-person (!) action/adventure/puzzler/whip-simulator that’s being executive produced by Elder Scrolls and Fallout director Todd Howard. I’m extremely pleased with Microsoft’s showing, and it helps set the tone for what should be a very good year of Xbox exclusives.

As part of the latest Xbox Developer_Direct stream, MachineGames has shared a look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with behind the scenes developer chat and a first gameplay reveal. It’s confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2024, with a day one release straight into Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox kicked off its 2024 with a jam-packed Developer Direct showcase, bringing reveals and updates on four upcoming releases from four studios, plus a bonus update from Square Enix. The 45-minute presentation, streamed live on YouTube and Xbox's other social channels late Thursday, took the covers off MachineGames' upcoming Indiana Jones game, provided a release date for the highly anticipated Senua's Saga, and revealed a release window for Avowed, Obsidian's next big fantasy RPG.

From its hand-to-hand combat and its fully simulated whip to its focus on cinematic set pieces and the fact that it’s going to be a primarily first-person experience, there’s plenty about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that has been revealed by developer MachineGames, though some questions have still yet to be answered. For instance, how is the game going to be structured? Is it going to be a linear experience, as you’d expect from a cinematic action-adventure game such as this one, or will it afford room for open-ended exploration?

The upcoming features a digital recreation of the eponymous character that looks and sounds a lot like Harrison Ford, allowing players to immerse themselves in a new adventure with the iconic archaeologist. The game will occur between the events of the movies and while presenting yet another dangerous worldwide quest that Indy is drawn into. As well-known as this hero of archeology is, nothing created in the franchise would be the same without the image and voice of Harrison Ford.

The upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will see veteran voice actor Troy Baker play the titular treasure hunter. Bethesda revealed that it is working on an Indiana Jones video game back in 2021, with subsidiary Wolfenstein studio MachineGames on developmental duties. There has been very little official information in the years since the Indiana Jones game’s first 30-second teaser trailer was shown, save that it is being produced exclusively for PC and Xbox consoles following Microsoft’s buyout of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media in 2021.