Exclusive: Bethesda's Highly-Anticipated Indiana Jones Game Limited to Xbox and PC Platforms

Earlier this year, Bethesda and MachineGames made headlines with their announcement of a brand-new Indiana Jones game. However, new information has emerged during the ongoing hearing regarding Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, revealing that the highly-anticipated game will now be exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC.

Interestingly, the game was initially planned for a multiplatform release by Bethesda. However, the situation took a turn after Microsoft acquired Bethesda a few months later. The decision to make the Indiana Jones game an Xbox console exclusive was made to mitigate risks and gain clarity from Disney, the licensor who granted Bethesda the rights to develop the game.

Pete Hines, the head of publishing at Bethesda, explained that working with a licensor like Disney involves extensive feedback and time-consuming agreements, which imposes scheduling constraints on game development. By streamlining the process and dropping a platform, Bethesda aims to better accommodate Disney's requirements and navigate the development challenges more efficiently.

The Indiana Jones game is not the only title to undergo such a transition following Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda. Redfall, another highly anticipated game developed by Arkane Austin, also became a console exclusive. According to Harvey Smith, the studio head, removing the planned PlayStation 5 version was a strategic decision that eliminated complexities and allowed the team to focus on a single platform.

While console exclusivity is often about showcasing a platform's strengths, Microsoft may prefer to downplay this aspect during the ongoing regulatory hearing. Nonetheless, Xbox boss Phil Spencer highlighted that exclusives work both ways, pointing out that hit Spider-Man games, also under Disney's ownership, remain exclusive to PlayStation consoles.

The shift to Xbox and PC exclusivity for the Indiana Jones game reflects the evolving dynamics of the gaming industry and the complexities involved in multiplatform development. As fans await further updates, the focus remains on how this exclusive release will shape the future of Indiana Jones gaming and Microsoft's gaming ecosystem.