The latest news isn’t exactly what Indiana Jones enthusiasts were hoping for. A recent report regarding Bethesda and Xbox brings disappointing tidings for fans of the iconic archaeologist. On December 9, 2024, MachineGames launched "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle," which turned out to be a surprisingly strong contender in the gaming world for that year, boasting a commendable score of 87 on Metacritic. However, despite its favorable reception and decent sales figures—though these were somewhat affected by the prevalence of Xbox Game Pass—the game didn’t create the buzz one might expect from such a beloved franchise. Thus, it may come as a letdown to Indiana Jones supporters, but it’s not entirely unexpected that MachineGames will not be pursuing a sequel at this time. Instead, they are redirecting their focus back to their flagship series: Wolfenstein.
In light of a new report, it seems that after much anticipation, MachineGames and Bethesda are set to unveil "Wolfenstein 3" later this year. This news is particularly disheartening for followers of "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle," as traditionally, MachineGames has not operated as a studio that develops multiple games simultaneously. Unless there have been significant changes in their operational strategy, it appears that a sequel is not currently under development, and the situation is unlikely to evolve in the near future.
When it comes to the financial aspects of licensing, fans of the 2024 title should prepare for the possibility that a sequel may never see the light of day. The cost of acquiring the Indiana Jones intellectual property is considerable, and producing a high-quality AAA game based on this license would also demand substantial investment. Combine these two factors, and you have a project that poses formidable challenges for approval, especially given Xbox’s current business model that heavily leans on Xbox Game Pass, which thrives on more affordable productions and a consistent stream of releases. Therefore, it wouldn’t be shocking if "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle" turns out to be a standalone title.
At this point, all of this remains speculative. What is evident, though, is that even if a sequel were to happen, it won’t materialize in the immediate future, with several years likely needed before any developments could occur. If and when a sequel does arrive, it will probably be designed for next-generation consoles like the PS6 and Xbox's upcoming models, which are anticipated to launch around 2028, according to leaked documents from Microsoft.
With all that in mind, we invite you to share your thoughts! Do you think there’s still hope for a sequel to "Indiana Jones and The Great Circle," or do you believe MachineGames should concentrate on expanding the Wolfenstein universe instead? Join the discussion in the comments or head over to the ComicBook Forum to share your opinions.
