The full story behind 2024’s most surprising gaming triumph has finally been revealed. “The Making of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” a comprehensive documentary released September 24, 2025, during PlayStation’s State of Play, pulls back the curtain on one of the most challenging development projects in recent memory. MachineGames, known primarily for their first-person shooter expertise with Wolfenstein, had to completely reinvent themselves to create an authentic Indiana Jones experience that honors both gaming traditions and cinematic legacy.
The documentary, available through multiple sources including a detailed Noclip production, reveals the extraordinary pressure the Swedish studio faced in translating Harrison Ford’s iconic adventurer into interactive form. With Todd Howard as executive producer and Troy Baker stepping into Jones’ fedora, the project represented a massive creative and technical leap that could have either revitalized the Indiana Jones brand or destroyed it entirely.
Todd Howard’s Years-Long Obsession
Perhaps the documentary’s most fascinating revelation involves Todd Howard’s persistent campaign to create an Indiana Jones game. According to development team interviews, Howard had been pitching the concept “for years” before the project finally received approval. However, even the MachineGames developers aren’t certain whether Howard initially envisioned directing the game himself at Bethesda Game Studios.
“I don’t think he felt that the studio was the right studio for it,” revealed one team member, suggesting Howard recognized that Bethesda’s RPG-focused approach might not suit the cinematic action-adventure experience that Indiana Jones demanded. This insight led to partnering with MachineGames, whose first-person expertise and narrative sensibilities made them ideal candidates for the challenge.
The decision to entrust the franchise to MachineGames proved crucial, as the team’s background in creating immersive first-person experiences while maintaining strong narrative focus aligned perfectly with what an Indiana Jones game required. Howard’s role as executive producer allowed him to guide the project’s vision while letting MachineGames handle the intricate development challenges.
The First-Person Perspective Challenge
The documentary extensively covers what director Jerk Gustafsson describes as the project’s most significant hurdle: making Indiana Jones work in first-person perspective. “There was some concerns, of course, about first-person, and how can we make this feel like Indy?” explained Jakob Mikkelsen, highlighting the team’s early uncertainty about the approach.
MachineGames created a specialized development group mixing Animation and Programming departments, dedicated exclusively to solving first-person challenges. This team spent months iterating on how players could embody Indiana Jones without losing the character’s distinctive personality and mannerisms that define him in the films.
The solution involved revolutionary hand interaction systems. Lead engineer Jim Ward dedicated his entire project tenure to developing holding and manipulation mechanics, working closely with designers to perfect how players interact with objects. The team ultimately created seven primitive hand poses that accommodate every object interaction in the game, ensuring consistent and believable physical presence.
Recreating the Boulder Scene
One of the documentary’s most compelling segments focuses on recreating the iconic boulder escape sequence from Raiders of the Lost Ark. This scene serves as the game’s opening dream sequence, representing Indiana Jones’ ongoing obsession with the golden idol he lost in the film.
“One of our most important keywords that we had, when we started to build the story, was ‘obsession,'” Gustafsson explained. The boulder sequence isn’t just nostalgic fan service – it establishes the character’s psychological state and provides narrative justification for the adventure that follows. The scene showcases how the team approached every element of the game with deep respect for the source material while finding ways to expand and develop the established character.
The technical achievement of recreating this famous sequence in first-person perspective while maintaining its cinematic impact demonstrates MachineGames’ mastery of translating film language into interactive experiences. Players experience the tension and excitement of the escape while maintaining agency over their actions.
The Whip That Almost Wasn’t
The documentary reveals surprising challenges in creating Indiana Jones’ signature whip sound effects. The development team initially attempted to record their own whip cracks using various whips, but quickly discovered the complexity of authentic whip acoustics.
“It turns out that whip cracking needs quite a lot of space and practice,” Ward noted. The solution involved hiring a Swedish expert whip maker who understood exactly how to achieve the sounds the team needed. This attention to audio detail reflects MachineGames’ commitment to authenticity in every aspect of the Indiana Jones experience.
The whip’s implementation as both weapon and traversal tool required extensive engineering work. The team had to solve physics challenges involving rope dynamics, environmental interaction, and player control that satisfied both gameplay functionality and cinematic authenticity. The result seamlessly integrates the whip into first-person perspective without losing its iconic visual and tactical identity.
John Williams’ Musical Legacy
Composer Gordy Haab faced the monumental task of honoring John Williams’ legendary Indiana Jones score while creating new music that serves the game’s interactive needs. The documentary reveals that Haab assembled an orchestra matching the size of Williams’ original recording sessions, working at Abbey Road Studios where the Raiders score was recorded.
The production even featured session musicians who had performed on the original film recordings, creating direct connections between the game’s soundtrack and the iconic themes that defined the franchise. This approach ensures musical continuity while allowing for new compositions that enhance gameplay moments and emotional beats.
Haab’s work demonstrates how game music can respectfully build upon cinematic foundations while serving the unique needs of interactive entertainment. The score adapts dynamically to player actions while maintaining the adventurous spirit that makes Indiana Jones music instantly recognizable.
Troy Baker’s Performance Capture Revolution
The documentary extensively covers Troy Baker’s approach to embodying Indiana Jones, both vocally and physically. Baker’s performance represents more than voice acting – he provided motion capture for the character while working within the constraints of Harrison Ford’s established portrayal.
The team faced unique challenges in balancing Baker’s interpretation with Ford’s iconic performance. They needed to create a Jones that felt authentic to longtime fans while allowing Baker’s skills to enhance the character’s interactive presence. The process involved extensive collaboration with Lucasfilm to ensure character consistency across different media.
Baker’s work included not just dialogue delivery but physical performance that would translate effectively into first-person gameplay. His understanding of both voice acting and motion capture proved essential in creating a Jones that feels natural in interactive contexts while maintaining the character’s established personality.
The Studio Shoot Innovation
Creative Director Marcus Surukfist highlighted the team’s “extravagances” in employing physical stage shooting with multiple cameras – an approach that enhanced both performance capture and cinematic quality. This technique, typically reserved for high-budget film productions, demonstrates MachineGames’ commitment to achieving authentic cinematic results.
The combination of traditional film techniques with modern game development represents an evolution in how developers approach narrative sequences. Rather than relying solely on digital techniques, the team embraced hybrid approaches that leverage both film and game production expertise.
These techniques will likely influence MachineGames’ future projects, suggesting that The Great Circle’s success has established new development methodologies that could benefit other narrative-focused games.
Collaboration with Lucasfilm Games
The documentary emphasizes the crucial role of Lucasfilm Games in maintaining franchise authenticity throughout development. The collaboration went beyond simple licensing approval to active participation in creative decisions, ensuring that every element respected the Indiana Jones legacy.
Lucasfilm’s involvement proved “extremely helpful” in finding ways to further develop the character while respecting established boundaries. This partnership model demonstrates how successful licensed games require genuine collaboration rather than hands-off licensing arrangements.
The relationship between MachineGames and Lucasfilm created space for creative expansion while maintaining character integrity – a balance that many licensed properties struggle to achieve.
Technical Achievements and Innovations
Beyond narrative and character work, the documentary showcases significant technical innovations developed specifically for The Great Circle. The first-person interaction systems, environmental puzzle mechanics, and seamless perspective switching represent substantial engineering achievements.
The team developed “huge systems for one-off stuff” – complex technical solutions that serve specific gameplay moments rather than recurring mechanics. This approach prioritizes experiential quality over development efficiency, resulting in memorable sequences that couldn’t be achieved through standardized systems.
These technical innovations extend beyond The Great Circle, with team members noting that techniques developed for the project will benefit future MachineGames productions regardless of franchise or genre.
The Order of Giants Connection
The documentary’s release timing coincides with The Order of Giants DLC, which launched September 4, 2025, adding substantial content to the base game. This expansion explores Rome’s underground secrets and introduces new characters like Father Ricci while expanding on the Nephilim Order mythology.
The DLC represents continued commitment to the Great Circle’s world and characters, suggesting that MachineGames’ investment in Indiana Jones extends beyond a single project. The expansion’s quality and scope demonstrate how successful the original game’s development techniques proved.
Industry Impact and Future Implications
The documentary positions The Great Circle as a potential template for how licensed properties can successfully transition to interactive media. The project’s critical acclaim and commercial success validate MachineGames’ approach to balancing authenticity with innovation.
While MachineGames hasn’t confirmed future Indiana Jones projects, the documentary suggests the team would bring lessons learned from The Great Circle to whatever comes next. The development techniques, collaboration methods, and creative approaches pioneered for this project could influence both the studio’s future work and the broader industry’s approach to licensed game development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch “The Making of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle”?
The documentary is available through PlayStation’s State of Play broadcast from September 24, 2025, with additional comprehensive coverage from Noclip released September 28, 2025.
Who directed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle?
Jerk Gustafsson served as game director, with Todd Howard as executive producer. MachineGames developed the game in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games and Bethesda Softworks.
Why did MachineGames choose first-person perspective?
The team believed first-person perspective would create more immersive experiences for players embodying Indiana Jones, though this decision required extensive development work to maintain character authenticity.
How involved was Lucasfilm in development?
Lucasfilm Games was extremely collaborative, helping with creative decisions and ensuring character development respected established franchise boundaries while allowing for meaningful expansion.
Will MachineGames make another Indiana Jones game?
While not confirmed, the documentary suggests the team would apply techniques learned from The Great Circle to future projects, and the game’s success makes additional Indiana Jones content likely.
What makes Troy Baker’s performance special?
Baker provided both voice acting and motion capture while working within Harrison Ford’s established portrayal, creating an authentic Jones that works in interactive contexts.
How long was The Great Circle in development?
While specific timelines aren’t detailed in the documentary, the project involved years of development following Todd Howard’s extended efforts to pitch the concept.
Conclusion
“The Making of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” reveals a development story that’s almost as thrilling as the adventures it created. MachineGames’ transformation from Wolfenstein specialists to Indiana Jones masters represents one of gaming’s most successful creative pivots, achieved through technical innovation, authentic collaboration, and unwavering respect for source material.
The documentary demonstrates how licensed games can transcend their origins to become legitimate artistic achievements when developers approach them with proper resources, creative freedom, and genuine passion for the source material. Todd Howard’s years-long advocacy, MachineGames’ technical mastery, and Lucasfilm’s collaborative involvement created conditions for success that few licensed projects enjoy.
As The Order of Giants DLC continues expanding the Great Circle universe and speculation grows about future Indiana Jones games, this documentary serves as both celebration of achievement and blueprint for how beloved properties can successfully evolve into interactive entertainment. The techniques pioneered for The Great Circle will likely influence game development for years to come, proving that sometimes the greatest adventures happen not on screen, but behind the scenes in the hands of passionate developers who refuse to settle for anything less than extraordinary.