Developer MachineGames’ upcoming video game “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” is scheduled to release in 2024, featuring the return of the legendary explorer Indiana Jones. The goal of this Microsoft exclusive game for Xbox and PC is to bring to life the exciting action and international mysteries that fans adore about the venerable series.
The reveal has already sparked debate, though, because of its first-person viewpoint and the studio’s history of making politically charged artistic decisions. Unfortunately, with previous releases such as Wolfenstein, MachineGames has already shown signs of overindulging in biased political commentary. Some have expressed concern that Indiana Jones might also contain comparable messaging as a result of this.
Game director Todd Howard explained his passion for finally bringing his vision of an Indiana Jones game to life after years of waiting for the right development partner. Set in 1937 after the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the story follows Indy on a quest for an ancient relic that takes him through exotic locales like the Vatican, Egypt, and the Himalayas. Along the way he’ll face countless traps, puzzles, and of course, Nazi foes to punch, whip, and shoot his way through.
“I’ve wanted to make an Indiana Jones game forever,” says Howard, now executive producer of the MachineGames game. “I’d had this idea for what it would be like, and the story, what Indy was going after, what period of his life it was in, what kind of arc he was going to have. And as the years went on, I thought, ‘Who would be the best studio in the world to make this?’ And it was my friends at MachineGames.”
Industry hype for the project has reportedly been sky-high, with former Bethesda executive Pete Hines even claiming “anyone who has seen the pitch for the game has immediately said, ‘Oh my god, I have to play that game right now.’”
Another big revelation in the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle reveal; examining the trailer, (though it is only partially visible for a few seconds) it’s easily identifiable: the Quake logo is sketched on a whiteboard. The parent company of MachineGames and id Software/Bethesda hasn’t acknowledged it; not everything gets inadvertently written on whiteboards and ends up in big reveal videos. In this instance, it is very clear that the error was deliberate, as evidenced by comments made on ResetEra, Reddit, and other sites.
While this sounds like a blockbuster adventure worthy of Indiana Jones’ cinematic pedigree, the decision to utilize a first-person view has upset some fans. Unlike the third-person camera of obvious inspirations like Tomb Raider and Uncharted, players will never directly see the iconic hero or his trademark outfit during gameplay. This arguably reduces opportunities for fan service moments and dampens the game’s visual flair.
This also comes after an underwhelming 2023 for Indy. According to reports, the production of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny cost $300 million (£236 million). If you include in other costs like global marketing, it would have needed to make at least twice that amount to break even. However, it only brought in $383 million (£301 million) worldwide—a sum that, while not insignificant, is much less than what was expected for a franchise of this magnitude.
However much the first-person perspective poses an inherent challenge for showcasing Indiana Jones himself, it’s MachineGames’ political track record that raises red flags. There have been reservations about the usual ESG/DEI hiring pool for these large game dev companies to soak their accounting books in; and MachineGames appears no different.
Previous releases like Wolfenstein are smothered in political pandering for left-leaning ideas. MachineGames comes off playing footsies with the ESG crowd by showcasing hires that obviously live with their ill-informed politics on the outside; raising gamers’ fears that “The Message” will be, once again, pandered down our throats. Given the disastrous financial impacts of going “woke”, tampering with such a globally beloved IP could be catastrophic.
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The keys to success seem clear – focus on delivering an exciting action-adventure true to the Indiana Jones legacy first and foremost. Iconic exotic locales, death-defying traps and set pieces, globe-trotting mystery, and most importantly a charming, whip-cracking Indy as the anchor. Lean too heavily into politics or preaching and they risk not only financial disaster but also tarnishing a beloved pop culture icon.
With development ongoing, only time will tell if MachineGames can walk that delicate tightrope. But for now, fans remain cautiously optimistic that Indy’s long-awaited console comeback can live up to its franchise’s renowned history.
Will you play a first-person Indiana Jones game? What do you think about MachineGames and the agendas they seem to push in their games? Leave a comment below!
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