There’s a funny sort of quiet that settles over the gaming world right before a new console launch. It's not silence, not really. It’s more like the low hum of a giant refrigerator about to kick into high gear. The air gets thick with rumors, "leaks" from a cousin's friend who supposedly cleans the offices at Nintendo, and a whole lot of wishful thinking.
We're in that hum right now. Deep in it. The Nintendo Switch is a modern marvel, a device I will defend to my dying day, but let's be honest—it’s getting a little long in the tooth. It groans under the weight of modern games. And so we wait for its successor, the tentatively (and, let's face it, probably) named Switch 2.
And into this humming void drops a bombshell of a rumor, one that feels less like a wish and more like a calculated business decision. A rumor that has me genuinely, deeply excited. It involves a fedora, a whip, and a healthy fear of snakes.
Yeah, we’re talking about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
The Great Circle and the Great Console Wait
When MachineGames—the wizards behind the brilliant modern Wolfenstein series—showed off actual gameplay for The Great Circle, it looked... perfect. First-person whip-cracking? Puzzles that require more than pushing a block? A story set right between Raiders and Last Crusade? Sign me all the way up. It looked like the definitive Indy game we've all been wanting since the days of Fate of Atlantis.
But there was always that little asterisk, wasn't there? It was a Bethesda game, and Bethesda is now a Microsoft property. So, Xbox and PC exclusive. A system-seller. A reason to buy into the Xbox ecosystem. That was the line.
And for a while, we all just accepted it. A bit begrudgingly, perhaps, if you're a Nintendo or PlayStation loyalist, but we accepted it. That's just how the console wars work.
But things are changing. Microsoft's strategy is getting... fluid. We saw it with Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves hopping the fence to PlayStation. The old walls of the console garden are starting to look a little less solid. The conversation is shifting from "selling consoles" to "selling games, wherever people are playing." Which brings us back to that hum.
Switch 2 Will Get Indiana Jones But Not Until Next Year
Here’s the thing, and it’s the crux of this whole conversation. The latest, most credible reports suggest that yes, Indiana Jones is coming to more than just Xbox. A PlayStation 5 version is apparently in the cards, but the truly fascinating part is the other platform on the docket: Nintendo's next-gen console.
This isn’t a launch title, though. Let’s get that straight. The timing is the key. The reports all point to The Great Circle launching on Xbox and PC later this year. The PS5 version would follow after a short period of exclusivity—a few months, maybe. But the Switch 2 version? That’s a 2025 thing. It has to be.
Why? Simple logistics, really. The Switch 2 isn’t even officially announced yet. Most speculation points to a spring 2025 release. You can’t launch a game on a console that doesn’t exist. So, the timeline makes perfect sense: Microsoft gets its timed exclusive win for the holiday season this year, and then, once the Switch 2 has launched and started building an install base, Indy makes the jump.
I initially dismissed this. A technically demanding, first-person adventure game from a top-tier Xbox studio on a Nintendo handheld? It sounded like wishful thinking. But the more you chew on it, the more it becomes the most logical move in the world. It’s the kind of thinking that Bethesda is already familiar with; I mean, look at how they've kept Skyrim and even the original Fallout games relevant for years, a topic that has its own fascinating history.
Why a Port Makes More Sense Than You'd Think
Let's be real for a second. The original Switch couldn't run a game like The Great Circle without bursting into flames. It just couldn't. We've seen "miracle" ports like The Witcher 3 and Doom Eternal, and while they are technical marvels, they come with compromises the size of a boulder trap.
But the Switch 2 is rumored to be a different beast. We're hearing whispers of power that's in the ballpark of a PS4 or Xbox One, but with the modern benefits of Nvidia's DLSS technology for upscaling. Suddenly, a port isn't just possible; it's practical. It might not have the 4K fidelity of the Series X version, but a rock-solid, visually impressive portable version of a massive adventure game?
That's a system-seller for Nintendo's new hardware.
And for Microsoft, it’s a no-brainer. Think about the potential audience. The Switch has sold over 140 million units. Even if the Switch 2 only captures a fraction of that in its first year, you're talking about tens of millions of potential customers who would otherwise never play their game. Selling a game for $70 to 10 million new people is a much bigger win than selling a few extra Xboxes. It's just smart business.
The very idea of a big, cinematic adventure game like this on a handheld is the whole reason the Switch succeeded in the first place. It’s taking experiences we used to be tethered to a TV for and letting us play them anywhere. It's the core of the Nintendo magic. And let’s not forget, sometimes you just want to play something simple, like a quick game of Doodle Cricket between epic sessions.
So when you put it all together, the picture becomes clear. The idea that the Switch 2 will get Indiana Jones but not until next year isn't just a wild rumor. It's the logical conclusion of Microsoft's evolving strategy and Nintendo's hardware ambitions. It’s a future I'm very, very ready for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indy on the Go
Is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle an Xbox exclusive anymore?
Not in the long run, it seems. The most reliable information points to it being a timed exclusive. This means it will launch on Xbox and PC first, enjoying a period where it's only available on those platforms. After that window closes (could be a few months, could be a year), it's expected to come to other consoles, including the PS5 and the Switch 2.
Will the Switch 2 version look as good as the Xbox version?
Almost certainly not, and that's okay! The goal of a port like this isn't 1:1 graphical parity. The Xbox Series X is a powerful home console. The Switch 2 will be a powerful handheld. The goal will be to deliver a smooth, playable, and visually impressive experience that captures the essence of the game, likely at a lower resolution and with some graphical settings turned down. Think performance over pure pixel count.
Why would Microsoft put their big game on a Nintendo console?
Money! And reach. The console war isn't just about selling hardware anymore; it's about selling software and services. The potential audience on a new Nintendo console is enormous. By bringing Indy to the Switch 2, Microsoft can sell millions of extra copies of their game to people who would never buy an Xbox. It's a win-win.
So, the Switch 2 will get Indiana Jones but not until next year, right? What's the likely release date?
That's the million-dollar question. Since the Switch 2 itself is rumored for a March 2025 release, you can bet the game won't arrive before then. A smart guess would be sometime in late 2025. This gives the console time to sell and build an audience, and it gives the developers at MachineGames plenty of time to work on a quality port without rushing it for the console's launch.
