Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could be the key to ending Lucasfilm Games' unfortunate track record. There's a lot for fans of the Indiana Jones film series to get excited about as this game hits Xbox and PC on December 9th. Not only will this be the first true Indiana Jones game in years, but it promises players an exciting first-person action-adventure that will fully immerse them in the world of the famous archaeologist. More importantly, The Great Circle could be the smash hit that Lucasfilm Games is in desperate need of.

It's safe to say that games based on Lucasfilm properties have struggled for many years, especially when it comes to titles relating to the studio's most popular franchise, Star Wars. Multiple releases have suffered from a slew of middling reviews and subpar sales, while many titles have yet to see the light of day despite years of development. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could be set to change Lucasfilm Games's fortunes, primarily by improving on the mistakes of previous projects and focusing on providing a thrilling single-player experience.

Lucasfilm Games Have Struggled In The Past

Recent Failures Overshadow Successes

Lucasfilm games have suffered over the past decade thanks in part to the varying quality of experiences. The restructuring of the original LucasArts studio after Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm led to shifts in development, with EA taking up the Star Wars mantle for a while before the license was opened up to other studios as well. EA's tenure of the IP saw releases of inconsistent quality, and some games that started development since the end of EA's exclusivity have been canceled or delayed.

Both Star Wars: Battlefront titles developed by DICE faced heavy criticism upon release, either because of the minimal amount of content upon launch or a heavy reliance on microtransactions that ultimately tainted their legacy. Meanwhile, Star Wars Outlaws's large ambition was brought down by repetitive gameplay that likely contributed to the game's underperformance, which Ubisoft shared when announcing changes to the release plans for Assassin's Creed Shadows. These games are examples of the lack of attention and polish being given as the studio continues to roll out releases at an unfathomable pace.

Lucasfilm Games was established in 2021 as a successor to LucasArts, which had been operating with minimal staff, but it still serves as a licensor rather than a development studio. While the failings of some Star Wars games may not be entirely the fault of Lucasfilm Games itself, it does reflect poorly on the franchises under Lucasfilm's purview. A lack of consistent quality can create dissatisfaction and distrust from players, and the struggling sales of games like Star Wars Outlaws could get worse with each subsequent release.

New Indiana Jones Game Could Turn Things Around

The Game Could Be A Wake-Up Call For Lucasfilm Games

Thankfully, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks to be a possible course correction, as it sets out to improve on the issues that have plagued Lucasfilm Games' previous releases. Developed by MachineGames, the game's immerse the player in the world, engaging in stealth and combat that replicates the same excitement of the films.

Only time will tell whether Indiana Jones and the Great Circle manages to live up to its expectations, but the potential success of The Great Circle would be a great start for future Indiana Jones games. Managing to replicate this approach could be the saving grace for future titles such as Star Wars: Eclipse and the highly-anticipated Knights of the Old Republic remake, and following the lead that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will hopefully set could help keep Lucasfilm Games relevant for years to come.

Source: Ubisoft