Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a hit! Could Lucasfilm take this as a sign the video games are the next step for our favorite adventurer?

The Indiana Jones franchise has been a cultural icon for over four decades, blending history, adventure, and action. But last year‘s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny received mixed reviews and struggled financially, leaving Lucasfilm at a crossroads. So where does the franchise go from here?

We might not see Indy on the big screen again anytime soon | Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

With Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the iconic archaeologist definitively concluded, is Indy’s story officially over? Not necessarily. With the release and positive reception of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, the video game industry might be the next frontier for our favorite archaeologist’s stories.

Indiana Jones Could Have a Future in Video Games

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Dial of Destiny was a bittersweet farewell to Harrison Ford as the iconic archaeologist. Director James Mangold recently talked to Deadline about how audiences were hesitant to embrace an older version of the character. The movie grossed $384 million globally but failed to recoup its massive budget.

I love what INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY wants to be: a rousing, elegiac reflection of an aging pulp hero, and a surprising caution to nostalgia. But man, Mangold’s direction is the dullest, ugliest, least kinetic in series history. It’s just a huge missed opportunity. pic.twitter.com/kEXQTU8kwM

— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) June 16, 2023

With Harrison Ford’s confirmation that it would be his last time playing the character, Lucasfilm might shift its priorities elsewhere. Video games could be the next step and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has already kickstarted this potential move.

Developed by MachineGames, the game has been praised for its faithful adaptation of the franchise’s adventurous spirit. It brings together clever puzzles, adventurous exploration, and action-packed sequences. Moreover, it has gotten over 12,000 concurrent players at its peak on Steam. It’s a smaller number but the game’s availability as a Day 1 title on Xbox Game Pass suggests that the majority of players won’t be on Steam anyway.

Indiana Jones and the Great reviews 😉

Experience it all yourself by playing now: https://t.co/7tZGyohnyg pic.twitter.com/FBhmgAemfy

— Xbox (@Xbox) December 9, 2024

Video games offer unique storytelling opportunities that films cannot. Without the constraints of casting or runtime, developers have more room to dive deeper into the character’s universe. Lucasfilm Games’ Vice President Douglas Reilly recently spoke to Variety and hinted at the possibility of sequels for The Great Circle.

Lucasfilm Games Has a Lot of Mistakes to Learn From

Image Credit: Ubisoft

Lucasfilm’s track record with games, however, has been uneven. The company has faced challenges, particularly with its Star Wars titles. Games like Battlefront II received criticism for prioritizing microtransactions over gameplay quality, and others, like Star Wars Outlaws this year also struggled. These missteps have tainted the reputation of the studio. But let’s see if that can change.

The Great Circle seems like it is a new strategy that focuses on quality-driven, narrative-focused games, and it could pave the way for the future success of Lucasfilm. MachineGames’ has embraced this new direction with The Great Circle. The studio applied its expertise in first-person gameplay, blending stealth, combat, and exploration into a classic Indy adventure.

The pivot to video games isn’t unseen in the industry either. Franchises like Tomb Raider and the Spider-Man have seen a lot of success in this medium. These successful franchises have proven that beloved characters can continue to captivate audiences through interactive experiences.

The success and reception of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will determine the viability of this new direction. Its strong critical reception and promising player engagement suggest that Lucasfilm is on the right track. Especially with the opportunity it presents to introduce newer generations to the character.

Do you see Indy’s adventures continuing in the video game industry? Let us know in the comments!