Hey Xbox Insiders, the holidays are in full swing around here and we couldn’t wait to give you a present. Let’s unwrap it together!
Last month, we announced Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own through TVs and browser on supported devices like smartphones, PCs, and tablets, in all 28 countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. We also said players would be able to stream on Xbox consoles starting next year.
Starting today, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings can preview this feature on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
Stream Your Own Game on Your Xbox Console
Xbox Insiders who are also Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own beyond the Game Pass catalog on their consoles in the 28 supported countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. You can see the full list of games here.
With the “Stream your own game” feature on Xbox consoles, you can stream select games you own on your Xbox console without needing to install them. This allows you to play games through streaming, saving you time and hard drive space, and offers access to your games with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
To start streaming from your Xbox console, go to My games & apps > Full library > Owned Games.
If you own a cloud playable game, you’ll see a cloud badge on the game.
You can also use filters to find games quickly. Choose Filter > Ready to play > Cloud gaming.
To start playing, select the game and then choose Play with Cloud Gaming.
Support for launching directly from the Store app and streaming in the Xbox app on Windows PC will be coming in the future.
How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your Feedback
We want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. Your feedback is a key part of our process. If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on the Xbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!
If you aren’t part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC.
For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news.
Experience the exhilarating platforming speeds of Sonic Frontiers, the magical and nimble traversal of Forspoken, the delightful chaos of Rabbids, and the realistic rally simulation of WRC Generations. These games and more form December’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup* and are available to play from December 17.
Joining that lineup on PlayStation Plus Premium is immersive PS VR2 experience Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. Three timeless classics have also joined PlayStation Plus Premium just yesterday: Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves and Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy.
Finally, in case you missed it, PlayStation Portal released a system update that allows PlayStation Plus Premium members to test Cloud Streaming (Beta) for select PS5 games on Game Catalog. Learn more here.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog
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Sonic Frontiers | PS4, PS5
Worlds are colliding in Sonic the Hedgehog’s newest high-speed adventure. Uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilisation plagued by robotic hordes. In search of the missing Chaos emeralds, Sonic becomes stranded on an island teeming with unusual creatures. Battle hordes of powerful enemies as you explore a breath-taking world of action, adventure and mystery. Accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high-velocity, open-zone platforming freedom as you race across the five massive Starfall Islands.
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Forspoken | PS5
Forspoken is an action RPG that follows the journey of Frey, a young New Yorker transported to the beautiful and cruel land of Athia. In search of a way home, Frey must use her newfound magical abilities to traverse sprawling landscapes, battle monstrous creatures and defeat powerful matriarchs known as Tantas. Explore the vibrant realms of Athia, a striking land of remarkable vistas and otherworldly creatures brought to life through stunning graphics and cutting-edge technology. Scale walls, vault across canyons, leap from dizzying heights, and dash through vast landscapes. Frey’s unique abilities allow her to fluidly traverse the open world with ease. Take on twisted monsters in magical combat with numerous types of powerful abilities catering to a variety of playstyles – from fast-paced and exhilarating to strategic and methodical.
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Rabbids: Party of Legends | PS4
Embark on a legendary journey filled with colorful characters with the Rabbids in this uproarious party game. Gather with friends and family and jump into multiplayer mayhem with up to four players locally, sometimes partnering up and at other times, going head-to-head in a multitude of ridiculously fun mini-games. Anyone can get in on the action with customizable difficulty levels and intuitive controls.
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WRC Generations | PS4, PS5
Rise to the challenges of the most comprehensive, realistic and demanding rally simulation ever developed. Dive into the heart of the action and drive the cars from the WRC championship, including the new hybrid models. The hybrid era is a revolution for the rally world, significantly affecting performance, changing strategies and making drivers and teams adapt. In terms of gameplay, new mechanics have been integrated to represent the demands of the hybrid engines. In order to win, you have to carefully manage your battery by adapting your engine mapping throughout the special stages you take part in. For fans of competition, Leagues mode lets players challenge opponents with a similar level online. Finish ahead of your competitors to move up the ladder in the Legends category.
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F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch | PS4, PS5
Diesel-punk exploratory platformer F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is filled with intense combat, challenging puzzles and an anthropomorphic cast of vibrant characters. After the animals of Torch City were defeated by the invading Robotic Legion in the Resistance War six years ago, former Resistance fighter Rayton the rabbit has kept a low profile. The arrest of a friend meant he had no choice but to put on his giant metal fist and fight against those oppressing him. Little did he know that he would soon be caught up in a maelstrom of conspiracies involving the Legion, the Resistance, and the Rat Gang.
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Jurassic World Evolution 2 | PS4, PS5
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Frontier’s ground-breaking 2018 management simulation. Experience exciting new features, four engaging game modes and an expanded roster of awe-inspiring dinosaurs. Immerse yourself in a compelling and original Jurassic World narrative set after the earth-shattering events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Work alongside iconic characters from the films, including Dr. Ian Malcolm (voiced by Jeff Goldblum) and Claire Dearing (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard) and lead the efforts to control, conserve and contain wild dinosaurs now rampaging across the USA. Avoid the mistakes of the past and build your own Jurassic World for dinosaurs and visitors alike.
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Coffee Talk | PS4, PS5
Coffee Talk is a game where you listen to people’s problems and help them by serving warm drinks made from the ingredients you have in stock. Immerse yourself in the stories of alternative-Seattle inhabitants, ranging from a dramatic love story between an elf and a succubus, an alien trying to understand humans’ lives, and many others modern readers will find strongly echo the world around them.
It’s time to revisit your favorite late-night coffee shop and reconnect with your fantasy friends over a warm drink or two. Set in an alternate present-day Seattle where humans, orcs, elves, and other races have been coexisting since the beginning of time, you are a barista who listens to their stories and influences their hearts with a warm cup of coffee or two. It’s raining outside, brew yourself a warm drink, play some lo-fi chillhop beats, and listen to the coffee talk. In a time where people are isolated from each other, Coffee Talk is a place where we can reconnect over a cup of warm drink.
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A Space for the Unbound | PS4, PS5
A Space for the Unbound is a slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in the late 90s rural Indonesia that tells a story about overcoming anxiety, depression, and the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers. Follow two high school sweethearts, Atma and Raya, on a journey of self-discovery at the end of their high school years. When a mysteriously supernatural power is suddenly unleashed threatening their existence, they must explore and investigate their town to uncover hidden secrets, face the end of the world, and perhaps learn more about each other.
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PHOGS | PS4
Play as a duo of dogs linked by a stretchy belly in a captivating, puzzle-filled adventure. You’ll need to bark, bite and bounce your way through obstacles set across the themed worlds of Food, Sleep and Play. Supporting single-player and shared-controller gameplay, plus local and online co-op, Red and Blue are always ready to play!
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Biped | PS4, PS5
Biped is a co-op action-adventure game that emphasizes real-time collaboration between two players. Guide Aku and Sila, two charming bipedal robots, through intricate paths leading to planetary beacons. Using two sticks to control each robot’s legs, you can perform a variety of moves—from walking and sliding to operating machinery and cutting wood. Communicate and coordinate to overcome challenges together and discover how well you work as a team.
PlayStation Plus Premium
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Sly 2: Band of Thieves | PS4, PS5
Sly and the gang are back! Originally released in 2004 on PlayStation 2, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is now enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. They’re ready to pull off the biggest job of their lives, yet! Journey around the world and beat the Klaww Gang at their own game.
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Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves | PS4, PS5
Set one year after the events of Band of Thieves, and releasing on PS2 the following year, Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves brings the thieving gang back together for its greatest heist ever! Your favorite characters return as well as new playable specialists like Carmelita Fox and the Guru.
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Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | PS4, PS5
Naughty Dog’s iconic duo started in 2001 with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy on PlayStation 2. Here’s the deal: Daxter’s had a bit of an accident. He’s now much smaller, cuter, furrier and mouthier. In short, he’s now an Ottsel. When Daxter turns to best pal Jak for help – the daring double act sets off to find a cure, and winds up on an adventure packed with cool combat, radical vehicles and loads of cheeky humor. But fixing Daxter’s “problem” will be far from easy – especially with an army of baddies, evil masterminds and world-ending plots in the way…
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Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge | PS VR2
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is a VR FPS experience where you step into the role of a Droid Repair Technician. After an emergency crash landing, you’ll embark on thrilling missions in the Batuu wilds, confront the Guavian Death Gang, infiltrate a First Order facility and journey through different eras of the galaxy. Become a Jedi in the Temple of Darkness, train with your padawan in The Sacred Garden, or even take on a bounty as assassin droid IG-88 in The Bounty of Boggs Triff… all in your own unforgettable Star Wars story.
*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.
Update 12/11/24: A new collector’s edition of the game is now available for preorder. It’s a hefty box that comes with a ton of stuff and packs a hefty price of $249.99. It’s set to release sometime next year. Read on to see what comes with it.
This package may be late to release, but it comes with a whole lot of rad stuff.
Here’s what’s included:
Sonic & Shadow Dreamcast Statue
Full game in physical form
Reversible Cover, Legacy Skin for Modern Sonic (Pre-order Bonus),
Gerald Robotnik’s Journal – a 28-page logbook chronicling Gerald’s innermost thoughts and drawings while he created Shadow the Hedgehog and the Ark Space Station
The Art of Sonic x Shadow Generations Art Book
Official Soundtrack
Commemorative Dreamcast Jewel Case
SteelBook
Chao Figurines
Sonic, Shadow, & Classic Sonic Shoes Keychain
Individually Numbered Certificate of Authenticity (Digital Content Codes are region locked to North America)
Original article follows.
Sonic X Shadow Generations came out out on October 25 on all consoles, or, if you buy the more expensive deluxe edition, it’s out today. It was first revealed during Sony’s January State of Play earlier in the year, but we have since seen a full trailer during Summer Game Fest. While the game is an enhanced remaster of 2011’s Sonic Generations, it also promises new levels featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. Preorders are available now, with some opportunity to play the game three days early, alongside a Sonic Adventure skin preorder bonus to consider. Head to the links below to secure your copy ahead of its release.
Sonic X Shadow Generations on PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC
Preorders for Sonic X Shadow Generations are now available for Xbox, Switch and PS5. The game will be released on October 25, and preorder bonuses include ‘Gerald Robotnik’s Journal Detailing Shadow’s Creation’ alongside a ‘Sonic Adventure Legacy Skin’.
Sonic X Shadow Generations Digital Deluxe Edition Preorders (Play 3 Days Early on October 22)
If you’re looking to play Sonic X Shadow Generations as soon as possible then you’ll need to be checking out the Digital Deluxe Edition. It costs $59.99, and will grant you 3-days early access, alongside Digital Deluxe Season Pass an additional character skin and level for Shadow (releasing Holiday 2024), Terios Skin, Extra BGM Pack, Digital Art Book + Soundtrack, and Skill Points (Sonic Generations).
If you want to see what other games are available to preorder right now, have a look at our various preorder guides below. These cover everything from spooky horror games to highly-anticipated expansions like Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree.
See the full list of upcoming Switch games for the everything coming in 2024 and beyond.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Back when I played Path Of Exile 2 at Summer Games Fest, I fought a cave-dwelling boss who summoned hordes of grotty subterranean wildlife to swamp me. Fortunately, I was rolling a Witch – perhaps the best beginner POE2 class – so I could summon an army of skeletons in response. A similar horde vs horde encounter is underway at POE 2 developers Grinding Gear Games. The game launched in early access over the weekend, and has already drawn so many players that the developers are emergency-hiring additional staff to cope with the waves of support emails.
The director of Marvel Rivals has discussed the difficulty of successfully entering the packed hero shooter market, pointing to failures like Concord as evidence of the increasing need to have a strong hook that helps convince players to ditch the game they’re already invested in for something new.
Sony’s Concord is one of the biggest video game disasters in PlayStation history, lasting just a couple of weeks before it was brought offline amid eye-wateringly low player numbers. Sony later decided to kill the game entirely, and shut its developer.
Concord was the latest in a string of recent hero shooter flops, which includes Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Post-launch content for that game comes to an end early 2025, just a year after launch, having left a $200 million hole in publisher Warner Bros.’ finances.
NetEase’s Marvel Rivals, however, appears to have avoided a similar fate. It is a free-to-play live service hero shooter in the Overwatch style and benefits from the power of the Marvel brand, but it clearly clicked with the audience, hitting an impressive 10 million players in just three days.
Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser said Concord “didn’t bring any unique value proposition,” which contributed to its failure. But speaking more generally about the hero shooter market, Sasser said live service games need a hook to convince players of already successful hero shooters to jump ship having already invested their time and money in those games.
“There’s a switching cost,” Sasser said. “I’ve already invested in Overwatch, I’ve got 15 skins for Pharah, I’m not going anywhere.”
Ultimately, Sasser said, the market is incredibly difficult to predict, and game developers never know how popular their game will be until it’s actually out.
“As a game developer you’re always worried until the audience has responded,” Sasser continued. “The truth is that I don’t think anybody can accurately predict this or the game industry would be radically different today. There’s a lot of games that come out that people are like, ‘It’s going to do well,’ then it flops or people come out and go, ‘It’s going to flop,’ and it succeeds amazingly. So, I think it’s really hard to tell ahead of time and you’re always worried about that.”
As for Marvel Rivals, Sasser suggested its superhero factor is the reason fans are willing to leave their favorite games behind to give it a shot.
“I don’t know about you, but when I heard the concept of the game I was like, ‘Oh my God I want to go be Storm in a game, I want to go be Doctor Strange in a game. I want to be those heroes in the game, that sounds awesome.’ And of course my mind immediately leapt to all the cool possibilities you could have with that. That’s what I think will pull people in as well too. If we’ve done our jobs well, they’ll love what they play and they’ll want to play some more.”
For NetEase, it will be hoping not only to keep Marvel Rivals’ player count as high as possible for as long as possible (something that’s proved particularly tricky for live service games of late), but to make enough money from players to meet the company’s internal revenue projections. To that end, Marvel Rivals sells a battle pass and premium skins, but are they convincing players to open their wallets? Early signs suggest they are — Marvel Rivals is the second top-selling game on Steam by revenue, behind only Grinding Gear Games’ action RPG Path of Exile 2.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Sony has revealed that PlayStation 5 exclusive Astro Bot is getting a free expansion tomorrow, December 12, which adds a whole new level called Winter Wonder to the beloved platformer.
A PlayStation Blog post revealed the expansion arrives at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern, meaning 2am on December 13 in the UK. It’s available at no extra cost to anyone who owns Astro Bot but requires completion of the base game to play.
“Since releasing Astro Bot earlier this year on PlayStation 5, we have been submerged by lovely comments from you and the PlayStation community, and we are delighted with the critical response to the game all over the world,” said Nicolas Doucet, studio director of developer Team Asobi.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for showing your appreciation. It truly means a lot to us. As our way of saying thank you, it is my pleasure to announce that a whole new piece of free additional content is coming to Astro Bot. Indeed, the little robotic elves of Team Asobi have been very busy preparing a whole new level called Winter Wonder.”
Doucet didn’t share much on what fans can expect of the new level, though a single screenshot shows a festive world with a large Christmas tree at its centre.
“Since we want it to remain a little surprise, we will not say too much, but you should expect a fun-filled level with shiny presents, a good dose of jingle bells, and brand-new special bots to add to your crew,” Doucet said.
Nintendo isn’t holding back on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD details this week, with a second trailer drop arriving… today!
The ‘barrelful of details’ trailer (below) is essentially just an overview trailer, just like every other Nintendo first-party game gets. This runs down all of the things you need to know about the HD rerelease of Retro Studio’s Wii platformer.
Hi everyone, this is Yosuke Futami, producer for Synduality Echo of Ada. We can’t wait for all the Drifters to begin exploring Amasia in their Cradlecoffin mech with their trusty Magus partner by their side when the Open Network Test starts tomorrow!
If you’re new to Synduality, the game takes place in the year 2222. Toxic rain wiped out most of humanity and gave birth to horrible, deformed monsters called Enders. The remnants of humanity are forced to live underground, scavenging the surface for resources in the safety of a Cradlecoffin – a bipedal mech around 20 feet tall. Of course, the mechs are incredibly difficult for humans alone to pilot, so each Drifter is paired with an AI companion called a Magus. In the game, the Magus will be both a physical companion and a digital projection to help you out during combat. Explore the ruins of Amasia for important resources to help upgrade your base facilities, buy or craft stronger Cradlecoffin parts, and help humanity survive.
Just like in the anime, your Magus partner will be your most important companion and the only one you can truly trust in the world of Amasia. Your AI companion will learn and grow with you, helping you identify important parts on the map if you’re hunting resources, or with ideal ambush points if you’re hunting other Drifters. Part of the fun with Synduality is not knowing what kind of Drifters will be exploring the surface at the same time as you – maybe you’ll get lucky, and everyone decides to cooperate to harvest valuable resources and bring down difficult enemies together. Or perhaps one of the top bounties will show up looking to clean up other Cradlecoffins and take their hard-earned resources for themselves. During the Closed Network Test earlier this year, we saw a few Drifters safely make it to the extraction elevator only to have one turn on the group and take his former companions’ loot for his own. I’d like to reiterate my point that your Magus is the only person you can truly trust in Synduality Echo of Ada.
Speaking of the previous Closed Network Test, our development team has been hard at work making improvements to the game. As an extraction shooter, there are some important core gameplay mechanics newcomers might not be aware of, so we’ve included a robust tutorial for players when they first start the game. And because Synduality Echo of Ada is an online game, reducing player lag during raids was our chief concern. We’ve been working hard on weapon balancing and PvE balancing as well, so please join us in the Open Network Test to be able to provide your own feedback! We had a lot of interesting user feedback from our previous Closed Network Test and survey responses from participants that were incredibly helpful to us as developers making sure that Synduality Echo of Ada launches in its best form.
One other thing that was revealed today is the game’s solo missions. We included a PvE element for players to be able to learn more about the backstory of Synduality – why the underground city of Amasia collapsed, and the Drifter and Magus that were involved. The single player missions won’t put any player equipment at risk, but likewise you won’t be able to keep any weapons you find. Players will also encounter special enemies and have to manage their resources more in these missions. Find logs and records that together will tell the story of Amasia through cut scenes, audio logs, and more in the full game at launch.
This time around in the Open Network Test (starting tomorrow!) there are more garage options, Magus options and costumes, and weapons and equipment to experiment with. So, whether you’ve been to the wastelands before or if this is your first sortie to Amasia, we hope you join us. Good luck out there, Drifter!
Prepare for the Open Network Test early and download the game now on PS5.
When Steven Spielberg and George Lucas first brought Indiana Jones to the screen with Raiders of The Lost Ark in 1981, they would scarcely have believed the cultural impact their character and franchise would have over the next 40-plus years. Since Harrison Ford initially hung up his fedora following 1989’s The Last Crusade, we’ve had a string of imitators that have met varying degrees of success. Fascinatingly, Jones’ influence can most keenly be felt not in movies but in video games, with the most obvious examples being the Tomb Raider and Uncharted games. Of course, both of these franchises have also been translated into Hollywoodblockbusters, and both experienced middling success – perhaps a sign that Indy’s signature style of adventure has a more promising future in the realm of video games than it does on the silver screen.
But it isn’t just Lara Croft and Nathan Drake who have struggled at the cinema. The Last Crusade was not the ride off into the sunset for Dr. Jones that its story promised, and close to 20 years later Harrison Ford made a much-anticipated return with The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull. A 1950s-set Cold War adventure that switched the Nazis out for the Soviet Union, it attempted to explore the interesting ground of an older Indy who was still graverobbing and globetrotting in his 60s. But it wasn’t enough: questionable CGI and an overreliance on old man jokes aside, the choice to eschew the mystical and mythological storylines of the first three films for a sci-fi approach felt out of place for both the character and franchise. As a result, The Crystal Skull was so poorly received by fans that it seemingly buried the Indiana Jones franchise.
15 years and a Disney buyout of Lucasfilm later, Indy was exhumed for another crack at the whip. Despite featuring a typically committed performance from Harrison Ford, The Dial of Destiny stretched audience disbelief with an Indy pushing 80 forced to fight his way through scrapes and a lacklustre storyline involving Archimedes’ dial. Just as Disney had done with Star Wars, it attempted to recapture nostalgia for the original films with the return of the Nazis, but this entry felt more tired than Dr. Jones did, not to mention wasting the likes of Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s talents. But it wasn’t just long-time fans who were let down – this lackluster effort failed to capture the imagination of a new generation. Box office performance showed audiences didn’t connect with the film, and it ultimately made just half of Kingdom of The Crystal Skull’s total. The franchise, it seemed, was beyond repair.
One year later, with the bad taste of Dial of Destiny barely washed out, MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven that there is still life in Henry Jones Jr. yet. IGN’s own glowing 9/10 review is just one of many claiming that the former Wolfenstein developer has not only made a fantastic game that rethinks the rules and structure of the action-adventure genre, but that The Great Circle is also the most enjoyable the franchise has been since Spielberg and Lucas’ heyday. It has breathed new life into what was fast threatening to become a franchise as cobwebbed as the tombs Indy encounters.
The Great Circle is able to return the series to its 1930s roots, free from the constraints of an aging lead actor.
While The Great Circle’s achievements in video game design are a significant part of its success, its real triumph is in the way it works in conversation with both Indiana Jones as an idea and a franchise. It uses the natural strength of video games to extract the very best from the series. For instance, The Great Circle is able to return the series to its 1930s roots thanks to being free from the constraints of an aging lead actor. We play as Indy in his prime, with the story not having to justify why a senior citizen is still leading a double life as a professor of archaeology and ass-kicking archaeologist. This feels like a true representation of the character fans fell in love with, aided in part by Troy Baker’s pitch-perfect take on the character and Gordy Haab’s score, which effortlessly captures the escapism of John Williams’ classic themes.
Set within the small timeline gap between Raiders of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game sees Indy crossing paths with an excellent foil, Nazi archaeologist Emmerich Voss, as well as Japanese and Italian forces in 1937. The setting feels like a natural continuation for both the character and story, fleshing out his story and veering away from the sci-fi trappings the latter two films fell into. This all creates a feeling of nostalgia for fans, especially when it comes to Indy interacting with Marcus Brody, originally played by the late Denholm Elliott but brought to life here just as you remember him. It’s through this authentic return to Indy’s past, rather than the legacy approach of the recent films enforced by the realities of aging stars, where The Great Circle succeeds.
But, more important than that, this return to Indy’s prime taps into so much of what made the early films feel so fresh. While the fanbase of the original films felt obliged to see the past two films, the younger generations haven’t had an opportunity to experience the franchise at its best. Now, for the first time in decades, Indiana Jones feels relevant: he’s a classic hero for a modern-day video game.
The deeper you explore Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the more obvious it becomes that the video game medium is perfect for continuing the franchise. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been tapped into with greater success previously, despite a myriad of attempts including beloved Lucasarts adventure games and the delightful Lego adaptation. But MachineGames’ vision is unlike that used for any prior Indy game, and it feels perfectly suited to offering a whole new interactive future for Dr. Jones.
The Great Circle’s emphasis on stealth and actual archeology leans into the more curious spirit of the original trilogy.
The level design evokes the exploration and adventure of the original films, offering an immersive and engaging experience that shows why this character and world were so appealing in the first place. It is the perfect modern vehicle for Indy’s archaeology and tomb-solving adventures, taking us from Marshall College to the Himalayas via Egypt, The Vatican and Shanghai. Unique environments and challenges in each location not only keep players constantly engaged, but also replicate the shifting opportunities offered to Indy in each act of the original films.
Also evoking the movies is the game’s approach to violence. While notably light on action compared to the combat-heavy approaches of Uncharted and Tomb Raider, The Great Circle’s emphasis on stealth and actual archeology leans into the more curious spirit of the original trilogy. That’s emphasised by the first-person perspective, which offers a distinctive lens on Indy’s amazing discoveries. Through this approach, Machine Games ensures The Great Circle feels an authentic continuation of the films that came before it, as well as making the franchise stand apart from its video game peers.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle feels like the continuation for the franchise fans have been asking for since 1989. It tells an organic story that deftly slots in between the original films, making the most of its pre-war setting and adding extra elements that feel natural and work within this timeframe. The globe-trotting locations suit the franchise’s history and the aesthetic and design of each adds something different for fans to explore. The fact that it’s a video game may have previously seemed an odd method to provide an authentic next chapter, but in 2024 it feels like the right – and perhaps only – way forward.
And so The Great Circle raises a broader question: are video games the way forward for franchises that have struggled to survive in cinemas? Last year’s RoboCop: Rogue City breathed new life into the dormant series, and felt right at home thanks to the ultra-violent nature of a first-person shooter. With that in mind, it’s easy to imagine a number of resting franchises that could find exciting new life in video games. Die Hard, Terminator, Escape From New York – there are so many former movie titans that have potential.
But for now, we have Indiana Jones back where he should be. While the past two films have their fans and moments to savour, they fall considerably short of the standards set by Spielberg and Lucas. The Great Circle shows that there is still a future for the franchise that can be fun and remind fans of the franchise’s heyday while also offering something fresh. It’s not just about revisiting Indiana Jones in its prime, it’s about living his experience. That’s the element that helps keep it forward-facing. MachineGames has certainly chosen wisely, and it’d be hard to bet against further gaming outings for Dr Jones if they’re anything like this one.
Chris Connor is a coffee and whisky driven culture wordsmith, with work published at NME, Radio Times, Yahoo, and others.
