Phil Spencer Praises PS5 Port of Indiana Jones Game

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has provided deeper insights into the company's strategic decision to bring Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a title previously exclusive to Xbox platforms, to Sony's PlayStation 5 console.

Xbox Explains Decision to Release Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5

Multiplatform Release Aligns with Xbox's Goals

During the Gamescom 2024 showcase, Bethesda announced that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, initially set to be exclusive to Xbox and PC, will also launch on the PlayStation 5 in spring 2025. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, discussed this move during a press conference, highlighting that expanding to multiple platforms is a strategic decision that aligns with Xbox's broader business objectives.

In an interview, Spencer emphasized that Xbox operates as a business with high expectations from its parent company, Microsoft. "It's definitely true inside of Microsoft, the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company, 'cause we get a level of support from the company that's just amazing, what we're able to go do." He also mentioned Xbox's commitment to learning and adapting from past experiences.

"Following our announcement last spring where we released four games across different platforms, including two on the Switch and four on PlayStation, we stated we would learn from these moves," Spencer said. "We promised to observe and adapt. At the Showcase, I hinted that based on our learnings, we would do more." Despite the shift to multiplatform releases, Spencer reassured that the Xbox platform remains robust, with player numbers at all-time highs and franchises continuing to grow.

"What I see when I look at our data is: our franchises are getting stronger. Our Xbox console players are as high this year as they've ever been. I look at it, and I say, okay: 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 stated.

Spencer also stressed the importance of adaptability in the gaming industry. "There’s a lot of pressure on the industry. It’s been growing for a long time, and now people are looking for ways to grow. I think us, as fans and players of games, we have to anticipate more change, and how some of the traditional ways that games are built and distributed - that's gonna change." He further explained that the ultimate goal "has to be better games that more people can play," and if Xbox isn't focused on this, then they are "focused on the wrong things." "So for us at Xbox - the health of Xbox, the health of our platform, and our growing games are the most important things," Spencer concluded.

FTC Findings Indicate Indy Originally Planned for Multiplatform Release

Speculation about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle heading to a competitor's platform had been circulating well before the official announcement. Earlier this year, rumors of first-party Xbox games going multiplatform surfaced, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle marks the first confirmed major title to make this transition. Previously, Spencer had stated that major titles like Indiana Jones and Starfield would not be among the Xbox exclusives moving to PlayStation. Now, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle joins a growing list of major Xbox titles slated for the PS5, following announcements like Doom: The Dark Ages in June.

The decision to shift Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from an Xbox exclusive to a multiplatform release can be traced back to Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, in 2020. During last year’s FTC trial concerning Xbox’s acquisition of Activision, Bethesda’s Pete Hines disclosed that Disney had originally agreed with ZeniMax to develop the game for multiple consoles. Post-acquisition, the deal was revised to make the game exclusive to Xbox and PC. However, the recent move to PS5 reflects a strategic shift by Xbox.

Internal emails from 2021 show discussions among Xbox executives, including Spencer, about the implications of making Indiana Jones an exclusive title. Spencer reportedly acknowledged that while exclusivity could benefit Xbox in certain ways, it might also restrict the broader impact of Bethesda’s work.