Why Bethesda's Indiana Jones May Lose Out with a December Release

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is bringing a new adventure in the Indiana Jones franchise to life. Indeed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been a highly anticipated release for this year, but its December launch date may not have the desired outcome.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle promises a fresh chapter on the horizon. Since Indiana Jones is such a beloved series, there are high expectations to get the adventure-focused narrative correct. From solving puzzles to diving deeper into the mystery of what the Great Circle is, the game could be a compelling new story to experience. However, the game launching in a surprisingly barren month begs the question of whether this is a calculated move on Machine Games and Bethesda’s part.

December Leaves Much to Be Desired, Making Indiana Jones’ Release Feel Strategic

A Slow Release Month May Not Be Beneficial

There have been some strong releases this year, but December’s schedule is shockingly empty at the moment. As of now, the two biggest releases are Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Marvel Rivals. Despite their release dates only being three days apart, the vast difference in genre between the titles doesn’t really allow for much competition. There is likely to be some overlap, though each game caters to a different audience.

For Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to take on such a big franchise, it’s a little bit surprising that it’s being released in such a barren slot. Of course, this is likely strategic in order to get a chance to be the best-selling game of the month and draw in more players, but it also raises the question if that will help as much as Machine Games and Bethesda are presumably hoping. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being included on Xbox Game Pass already gives it a big advantage, and being such a distinct title may not make it far-reaching.

Many fans of Indiana Jones would be interested in the game whether it was released during a busy month or not. Placing it in a release dead zone doesn’t necessarily mean that gamers will gravitate toward it just because it’s one of the few options for the month. Even if the holiday season was packed with releases, there are very few games that could really compete with the specificity of Indiana Jones. Now that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is also coming to the PS5, it will already be reaching a larger audience than intended later on, and that may have to be enough.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Picking Up a Waning Franchise

Despite the iconic nature of the franchise, the popularity of Indiana Jones has unfortunately been in decline. It’s been a long time since a game based around Indiana Jones was released and, so far, the early looks at the game are promising, capturing the essence of Indy and his adventures. If Machine Games and Bethesda are hoping that the game will fare better in a release desert, they may turn out mistaken.

If anything, the title releasing on Xbox Game Pass will likely do more for its outreach than its release date. Once the game launches on December 9, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will bring action-adventure into the spotlight. Not being up against much competition may not be as beneficial as the launch date hints, but there is also always room for surprises.