Xbox's Phil Spencer Explains the PlayStation 5 Port of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

At Gamescom 2024, Bethesda surprised attendees by announcing that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, initially slated as an Xbox and PC exclusive, will also launch on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025. Xbox head Phil Spencer shed light on this strategic decision, emphasizing its alignment with Xbox's broader business objectives.

Spencer clarified that Xbox operates as a business, accountable to Microsoft for strong performance. The company's focus, he stated, is on learning from past experiences and adapting to industry changes. He cited the multiplatform releases of four games last spring (two on Switch, four on PlayStation) as a learning experience that informed this decision. He emphasized that despite this move, Xbox's console player base is at an all-time high, and its franchises remain strong.

"Our franchises are getting stronger. Our Xbox console players are as high this year as they've ever been," Spencer asserted. "Our player numbers are going up for the console platform. Our franchises are as strong as they've ever been. And we run a business."

He highlighted the dynamic nature of the gaming industry and the need for adaptability. The ultimate goal, he stressed, is to deliver exceptional games accessible to a wider audience. Prioritizing the health of the Xbox platform and its growing games remains paramount.

The decision to bring Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to PlayStation isn't entirely unexpected. Rumors of this and other Xbox exclusives going multiplatform have circulated. Furthermore, the FTC trial last year revealed that Disney initially intended the game for multiple platforms before the acquisition of Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, by Microsoft in 2020. Internal emails from 2021 show Xbox executives debating the exclusivity, acknowledging potential benefits and drawbacks.

This move follows the multiplatform release of Doom: The Dark Ages in June, suggesting a potential trend of major Xbox titles making their way to PlayStation 5. The shift reflects a strategic recalibration for Xbox, prioritizing broader reach and the creation of compelling games for a wider player base.