This week, Microsoft announced that its highly anticipated title, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will be a timed-exclusive for Xbox consoles. The action-adventure game is set to debut on Xbox Series S/X, Game Pass, and PC in December, with a PlayStation 5 release following in early 2025, according to Bethesda’s announcement at Gamescom on Tuesday. Following this confirmation, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, addressed the company’s strategy regarding first-party games on competing platforms.
In a recent interview on the Xbox On YouTube channel alongside Xbox president Sarah Bond, Spencer was posed a question about the decision to release Indiana Jones on the PS5. He emphasized that the company is focused on expanding its gaming portfolio.
“Reflecting on the PlayStation announcement from last spring, we launched four games — two on Switch, four on PlayStation — and we committed to learning from that experience,” Spencer noted. He referenced Microsoft’s earlier announcement regarding the release of several exclusive games on PlayStation and Switch, indicating a desire to grow from these strategic choices.
Although Spencer did not explicitly link the cross-platform launch to business objectives, he acknowledged that the gaming division is accountable to its parent company, Microsoft.
“Looking at our current position, our franchises are becoming stronger, and our Xbox console player base is at a record high this year. I reflect on how our player numbers are increasing for the console platform, and our franchises are stronger than ever… and we must operate as a business,” he commented.
He also mentioned the high expectations within Microsoft regarding their performance, recognizing the extensive support the gaming division receives from the larger company.
“My focus is on enhancing the quality of our games while ensuring our platform continues to grow across console, PC, and cloud. I believe this strategy will be effective for us,” he added.
While Spencer did not elaborate on bringing a significant first-party release like Indiana Jones to PlayStation, nor did he specify if additional Xbox exclusives might also transition to other platforms, industry experts suggest that more Microsoft titles could become multi-platform releases. Notably, another Bethesda title, Doom: The Dark Ages, was confirmed to launch on PS5, as well as Xbox Series S/X and PC.
Spencer acknowledged a mounting “pressure” on the gaming industry, highlighting the stagnant growth of the sector and suggesting that “more change” is forthcoming.
“Currently, I think there’s significant pressure within the industry. It has experienced growth for a lengthy period, and now there’s a demand for new avenues of expansion,” he stated. “For fans and players, we should prepare for changes in the traditional models of game development and distribution, which will affect us all.”
“Ultimately, our goal must be to provide better games that are accessible to a wider audience. If that’s not our focus, then we’re not prioritizing the right aspects,” Spencer concluded.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda, is expected to launch on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and Game Pass on December 9, with a PS5 release scheduled for Spring 2025. Following Bethesda’s announcement, game director Jerk Gustafsson expressed a desire for all players to experience this new adventure.
