Bethesda’s highly anticipated Indiana Jones game, titled “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” may be making its way to the PlayStation 5 (PS5) months after its initial launch on Xbox. The game was unveiled during Microsoft’s Xbox Developer Direct event, where it was announced for Xbox and PC. However, sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans have revealed that Bethesda is considering bringing the game to the PS5 as well.
Microsoft seems to be adopting a new multi-platform approach for certain Xbox games, with the company weighing the decision of which titles will remain exclusive to Xbox and which ones will be available on other platforms such as the Nintendo Switch or PS5. Indiana Jones appears to be part of this new wave of multi-platform games.
While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will initially be an Xbox console exclusive, it is expected to have a relatively short period of exclusivity. Bethesda is tentatively targeting a December 2024 release for the Xbox and PC versions, with a potential release for PS5 to follow a few months later. However, it’s important to note that the exact timing and platform availability may change as Microsoft’s multi-platform approach for Xbox games is still being finalized.
This shift towards multi-platform releases is not limited to Indiana Jones. Microsoft has been evaluating the possibility of bringing other Xbox exclusives, such as Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush, to rival consoles. In fact, an announcement for Hi-Fi Rush on non-Xbox platforms is expected in the coming weeks, as datamined game assets have hinted at a release for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
Furthermore, there are reports that Microsoft is planning to bring its highly anticipated game Starfield to PS5 as well. This comes after the release of the game’s “Shattered Space” expansion for Xbox and PC. It seems that Microsoft is recognizing the potential benefits of expanding its reach beyond the Xbox ecosystem.
The decision to make Indiana Jones and potentially other Xbox games available on rival consoles is not without controversy. Last year, during the FTC v. Microsoft case, it was revealed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was originally planned for multiple consoles. However, after Microsoft acquired Bethesda, the deal was amended to make it an Xbox console exclusive. This change was attributed to potential delays in bringing the game to multiple consoles, as dealing with a licensor like Disney can add significant time to the development schedule.
Bringing Indiana Jones to the PS5 would certainly be a surprise, but it seems that Microsoft is engaged in an intense internal debate over which Xbox games should be made available on rival consoles. While it appears that some Xbox titles will indeed make their way to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, the specifics of these arrangements are still being worked out.
In conclusion, the possibility of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launching on the PS5 months after its Xbox release is generating excitement among fans. Microsoft’s new multi-platform approach for Xbox games indicates a willingness to expand beyond the Xbox ecosystem and reach a wider audience. However, the details of these arrangements are still being finalized, and fans will have to wait for official announcements to get a clearer picture of which games will be available on rival consoles.