One of the greatest triumphs for Xbox's first-party ventures in the last year was coming to PlayStation 5 on April 17.

In an interview with Variety, Spencer said, "We're really happy with 'Indy' and the players and the reception. We do think there's life in that franchise, and I'm just gonna leave it at that." While that's a bit of a non-answer, it certainly seems like the idea of developing a sequel to The Great Circle has at least been considered. Spencer went on to make it clear that things are still up in the air:

"Going forward, I also want to give the teams the ability to do our own games and our own franchises. We have a lot of room to tell new stories, as well. And I want to make sure that’s an option for us."

Indiana Jones & The Great Circle's Widespread Success May Help Green-Light A Sequel

High Sales Are Expected On PS5

Indy pre-orders topped PlayStation Store charts, and sales are ultimately a major factor when publishers consider going forward with a sequel. Spencer thinking "there's life" in the Indiana Jones franchise, as it pertains to video games, is likely referencing its sales and its, hopefully, continued success with a wider audience.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is arguably the first blockbuster first-party Xbox game to come to PlayStation, with previous transfers – Pentiment, Grounded, Sea of Thieves, and Hi-Fi Rush – being relatively small. As such, The Great Circle may end up being something of a barometer for Xbox's strategy going forward, alongside Forza Horizon 5, which is set for its PS5 debut on April 29. If the wider Indy release can show promise, it may convince Xbox to go ahead with a sequel.

A Great Circle Sequel Could Be Tricky, But Also An Interesting Option For The Franchise's Future

Harrison Ford Is Done With The Character

Following The Great Circle and 2023's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the franchise is at something of an ime. Harrison Ford is done with the character, yet there's clearly room for Dr. Jones' story to continue. MachineGames has proven that the character can live on authentically in an interactive medium, and The Great Circle's story left the door open for more, particularly regarding Indy's relationship with Gina. Ford even praised Troy Baker's performance as the leading archaeologist, and globe-trotting as Indy between the films is an enticing way to see the character live on.

The character's long history is exactly what makes more games difficult, though. There's only so much time between each movie, and it's always difficult to insert a new story into an existing canon without brushing up against established material too heavily. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle struck this balance very well, but it's understandable that Phil Spencer and Xbox seem to be weighing a sequel's potential carefully.

Source: Variety