Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is preparing for its highly anticipated release. As the launch date approaches, creative director Axel Torvenius and design director Jens Andersson shared new details in a rapid-fire video interview with MinnMax, offering insight into the upcoming action-adventure title.

One major reveal focused on the game’s cutscenes. According to Torvenius, The Great Circle features approximately three hours and 40–45 minutes of cinematic sequences. “”It’s roughly 3 hours and 40-45 minutes or something along those lines. It’s a lot,” he remarked, highlighting the scope of the narrative-driven experience. This ambitious runtime reflects the extensive effort MachineGames has poured into the project.

MachineGames, known for its work on the Wolfenstein series, several Quake titles, and an additional chapter for the classic Doom II, is tackling its most significant and complex game. “By far, this is the biggest and longest game that MachineGames has ever done,” Torvenius added.

The discussion also touched on the game’s use of a first-person perspective, a choice that has sparked mixed reactions among fans. While some are skeptical, the developers see it as enhancing immersion. The game will also feature dynamic sequences that seamlessly shift between first- and third-person perspectives. Jerk Gustafsson, MachineGames’ game director, explained, “First-person gameplay is part of MachineGames’ DNA, and we wanted to see how we could use this to create a really immersive experience around stepping into the shoes of the world’s most famous archaeologist. It also separates our game from many other action-adventure titles, making it a unique experience that you cannot find anywhere else”

The comparison to other games with lengthy cutscenes, such as Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding, which reportedly features over seven hours of cinematics, underscores The Great Circle’s narrative ambitions. However, MachineGames focuses on balancing storytelling with engaging gameplay to deliver a fresh take on the Indiana Jones legacy.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle launches on December 9, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 release slated for 2025. Fans can look forward to exploring a richly detailed world and stepping into the adventurous life of one of cinema’s most iconic characters.