Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has quickly become one of the year’s most anticipated titles, attracting the attention of many gamers and longtime fans. With the beginning of the holiday season, many gamers are already looking to the biggest titles, deals, and releases. Fortunately, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass has much to offer. At the beginning of December, Xbox announced that The Great Circle would helm the roster for the month. Here is a breakdown of how Indiana Jones could return through gaming.
Indiana Jones Helms Xbox
According to Eurogamer, the new Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will have an excellent start to its run. At its release date on December 9th, the game will be at the front of the Xbox Game Pass and PC Pass’s December roster. This means those with the Game Pass can play the game and even purchase it at a discount. This game, in particular, was one of the most anticipated titles of the year, making it the perfect centerpiece of this month’s roster. Furthermore, The Great Circle comes from Bethesda, one of Microsoft’s many subsidiaries. As such, they made a good choice for the flagship of their roster.
Other games for the December wave will be added, including Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled and Forza Motorsport on the 4th, Wildfrost on the 10th, and many more. However, as the Game Pass is a “streaming service,” other games, including Forza Horizon 4 and The Quarry, will leave on the 15th. Therefore, players should plan accordingly.
The Great Circle Reboot
While the game is still a week away from release, early reviews and reactions praised The Great Circle as an addition to the Indiana Jones franchise. Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Last Crusade, the game follows the adventurer as he uncovers a plot to uncover the titular circle of sites scattered around the globe. It will have first-person gameplay with a healthy combination of stealth and puzzle-solving. Legendary voice actor Troy Baker (Persona 4, The Last of Us) will voice Indy.
Furthermore, The Great Circle could be a chance for the franchise to redeem itself. Over the years, Indy starred in numerous cult classic video games, such as the point-and-click classic Fate of Atlantis and the nostalgic Lego video game. However, after Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny, the franchise’s reputation was soured for many. Fortunately, this upcoming game takes many cues from the original series’ tone and tropes. Furthermore, the game was made by MachineGames, the developers of the Wolfenstein series.
The Game Pass: The Future
The Xbox Game Pass/PC Pass can be called the “Netflix” of gaming. Users pay a monthly subscription for access to a vast, rotating library. However, unlike regular streaming services, players can permanently purchase their games at a discount, download them, and take advantage of several other bonuses. Given the system’s success, it could become the future of gaming. Furthermore, this Game Pass includes major AAA releases like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle alongside classic games.
Recently, Microsoft has purchased other large corporations, such as Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard, so their library could expand further. However, as other streaming services have demonstrated, this model has its pitfalls. These include constantly rotating libraries, killing off physical media, price hikes, and advertisements. As these models become popular, players must wait to see if they improve or make the same mistakes.
Conclusion
The release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for the Xbox Game Pass shows the impressiveness of the service’s library. The game could be the acclaimed series’ needed return to its adventurous roots. Furthermore, many other classic titles will join Indy on his quest to give players amazing deals this season. Additionally, the Xbox Game Pass’s use of such a massive release to headline its monthly roster further establishes how its model could shape the future of game distribution.
