Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Changing Landscape for Xbox Exclusives

by John Nowacky
in $$$, Adventure, PC, Playstation, Release, XBOX, xEL
on 2 September 2024

The highly anticipated game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which was initially expected to be an Xbox and Disney collaboration, has certainly taken an unexpected turn. While it will debut on the Xbox Series S/X, it seems that PlayStation stands to benefit the most from this release.

After its release on Xbox on December 6, the game will make its way to the PlayStation 5 by Spring, specifically around late March. Interestingly, it appears that the best way to experience this Xbox exclusive will be on the yet-to-be-revealed PlayStation 5 Pro, rather than the Xbox Series X.

Creative Director Axel Torvenius expressed his excitement about bringing the game to a wider audience, mentioning that the game’s utilization of the latest version of the iD-Tech engine will facilitate its availability on the PS5 and PS5 Pro without any issues. This, however, poses potential challenges for the Xbox brand.

Microsoft’s video game division has faced criticism lately for becoming a third-party publisher and losing out on best-selling multi-platform titles. Now, with one of its most anticipated titles making its way to the PS5, where the superior version will be available, this could be detrimental to the Xbox brand.

Despite Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being built using the Xbox Series X|S development kit and benefiting from unparalleled load times, visuals, responsiveness, and framerates up to 120FPS, it is important to note that achieving such high frame rates on current-gen consoles generally means compromising on visual fidelity. On the other hand, the PS5 Pro is expected to deliver premium performance and visuals, providing gamers with the best possible experience.

While the Xbox Series X and even the Xbox Series S will still be capable of running the game well, the availability of a better version on the PS5 Pro might raise questions about the appeal of the Xbox consoles. Coupled with the fact that many Xbox-exclusive titles end up on PlayStation soon after release, it seems the value proposition of owning an Xbox in this generation is diminishing.

Perhaps, Microsoft is counting on a potential price hike for the PS5 in order to position itself as the more affordable console alternative, similar to how the Xbox 360 succeeded against the PlayStation. But as the list of Xbox exclusives running better or best on PlayStation grows longer, it begs the question of whether owning an Xbox is truly worth it in this changing landscape.

Additional facts about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and related topics:

1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is being developed by MachineGames, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Wolfenstein series.

2. The game is a collaboration between Xbox and Lucasfilm Games, with Bethesda Softworks (owned by Microsoft) as the publisher.

3. The storyline of the game is set in the 1930s and follows renowned archaeologist Indiana Jones on a globe-trotting adventure.

4. As an Xbox exclusive, the game will be available on Xbox Series X/S and PC, utilizing the power and features of the next-gen consoles.

5. The iD-Tech engine, developed by id Software (owned by Bethesda), is known for its capabilities in delivering impressive visuals and performance in games like Doom Eternal.

Key Questions and Answers:
1. What platforms will Indiana Jones and the Great Circle be available on?
– The game will initially release on Xbox Series X/S and PC, with a later release on PlayStation 5.

2. When will the game be released on PlayStation 5?
– The game is expected to arrive on PlayStation 5 in late March.

3. What challenges does the Xbox brand face with this release?
– The arrival of the game on PlayStation 5, with potential advantages in performance and visuals, may impact the appeal of Xbox consoles and raise questions about their value proposition.

Advantages:
– Xbox Series X/S and PC players will have the opportunity to play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle before PlayStation users.
– The game takes advantage of the technological capabilities of the Xbox Series X/S, offering enhanced load times, visuals, responsiveness, and framerates.

Disadvantages:
– The game will be available on PlayStation 5, potentially offering better performance and visuals with the PS5 Pro.
– The perception that Xbox exclusives often end up on PlayStation soon after release may diminish the appeal of owning an Xbox console.