After having showcased the likes of Avowed and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Microsoft chose to close its second Xbox Developer_Direct presentation with our first official look at MachineGames’ Indiana Jones title, as previously confirmed, revealing a host of new details on the highly anticipated title.
During the Developer_Direct showcase, members of the MachineGames development team were joined by executive producer Todd Howard to speak about the action-adventure title. For starters, as had been suggested by recent trademark filings, it’s been officially confirmed that the game is called Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The game is set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.
The likeness of Harrison Ford is indeed being used for the game, the way some had assumed it would be, with the trailer showcased for the game offering glimpses of the titular hero in a variety of environments, from temple ruins to Nazi bases, from overgrown forests to deserts. Who he’s being played by, however, hasn’t been confirmed.
In addition to Indy himself, the game will also see other central characters coming into play in the form of Gina, the secondary protagonist who will accompany Indiana Jones on his adventure, and Emmerich Voss, who is the game’s primary antagonist.
It’s also been confirmed that the game is primarily going to be a first-person experience – something that MachineGames is more than a little familiar with – with elements of third-person also sprinkled in. To be more specific, though the game will be third-person in cutscenes and during environmental navigation, otherwise, it’s going to be primarily first-person.
Gameplay footage showcased during the event shows the famous archaeologist using his whip, solving puzzles, engaging enemies in combat and stealth, and even jumping from one moving plane to another. According to MachineGames, the game will also allow players to explore diverse environments, with its globe-trotting story taking players from the Vatican City to the desert of Egypt and more.
As you might expect, plenty of emphasis is also being placed on puzzles, with players being rewarded for their curiosity through hidden and optional puzzles. The iconic whip, too, will have a major role to play, and can be used in a variety of different ways, whether that’s as a distraction during stealth, as a weapon during combat, or as a tool for traversal.
True to leaks, it’s also been confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will indeed release this year, though a specific release date hasn’t been announced. The game will be available for Xbox Series X/S and PC.