One of the greatest triumphs for Xbox’s first-party ventures in the last year wasIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, MachineGames' adaptation of the classic Harrison Ford character. The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, was recently asked about its success, and cleverly danced around a question about whether it would spark a new game series for the iconic archaeologist. After its initial release in December,Indiana Jones and the Great Circleiscoming to PlayStation 5 on April 17.
In an interview withVariety, Spencer said, “We’re really happy with ‘Indy’ and the players and the reception.We do think there’s life in that franchise, and I’m just gonna leave it at that.” While that’s a bit of a non-answer, it certainly seems like the idea of developing a sequel toThe Great Circlehas at least been considered. Spencer went on to make it clear that things are still up in the air:
“Going forward, I also want to give the teams the ability to do our own games and our own franchises. We have a lot of room to tell new stories, as well. And I want to ensure that’s an option for us.”
High Sales Are Expected On PS5
The Great Circle’s glowing reviewsset it up for success on its initial platforms, Xbox Series X/S and PC (where it was available through Game Pass), butit’s very likely to reach new heights once it becomes playable on PS5.Indypre-orders topped PlayStation Store charts, and sales are ultimately a major factor when publishers consider going forward with a sequel. Spencer thinking “there’s life” in theIndiana Jonesfranchise, as it pertains to video games, is likely referencing its sales and its, hopefully, continued success with a wider audience.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis arguably the first blockbuster first-party Xbox game to come to PlayStation, with previous transfers –Pentiment,Grounded,Sea of Thieves, andHi-Fi Rush– being relatively small. As such,The Great Circlemay end up being something of a barometer for Xbox’s strategy going forward, alongsideForza Horizon 5, which is set for its PS5 debut on April 29. If the widerIndyrelease can show promise, it may convince Xbox to go ahead with a sequel.
A Great Circle Sequel Could Be Tricky, But Also An Interesting Option For The Franchise’s Future
Harrison Ford Is Done With The Character
FollowingThe Great Circleand 2023’sIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the franchise is at something of an impasse. Harrison Ford is done with the character, yetthere’s clearly room for Dr. Jones' story to continue. MachineGames has proven that the character can live on authentically in an interactive medium, andThe Great Circle’s story left the door open for more, particularly regarding Indy’s relationship with Gina.Ford even praised Troy Baker’s performanceas the leading archaeologist, and globe-trotting as Indy between the films is an enticing way to see the character live on.
The character’s long history is exactly what makes more games difficult, though. There’s only so much time between each movie, and it’s always difficult to insert a new story into an existing canon without brushing up against established material too heavily.Indiana Jones and the Great Circlestruck this balance very well, but it’s understandable that Phil Spencer and Xbox seem to be weighing a sequel’s potential carefully.
