In an era where mass layoffs have become a grim routine across the gaming industry, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle stands out—not just for its cinematic thrills and nostalgic action, but as a testament to the power of long-term development teams.
Developed by MachineGames—the studio behind the Wolfenstein reboots—and supported by key talent from Bethesda Softworks, The Great Circle has become a shining example of what can be achieved when studios retain experienced teams over decades instead of disbanding and rebuilding with each new project.
🛠️ The Value of Stability in a Shaky Industry
While headlines continue to roll in about layoffs at major publishers like Embracer Group, Riot Games, Ubisoft, and even Microsoft, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was made by a studio that’s largely kept its core talent intact for over a decade.
That cohesion shows. From world design and narrative pacing to seamless combat mechanics and tight exploration, the game radiates the kind of polish that’s rarely achieved without years of team chemistry and creative trust.
MachineGames’ lead producer noted in a recent interview:
“We’ve had the privilege of building The Great Circle with a team that understands each other—how we work, what we’re passionate about, and where we want to push boundaries. That kind of synergy doesn’t come from constant turnover.”
💔 Layoffs Are Undermining Craftsmanship
Across the industry, talented developers are being laid off shortly after shipping successful projects, with entire teams dissolved as cost-cutting measures—often before they’ve even had a chance to iterate on their work.
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343 Industries saw layoffs after Halo Infinite
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CD Projekt Red reduced staff even after Cyberpunk 2077‘s redemption arc
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Embracer Group shut down multiple studios regardless of past success
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Smaller indie devs are being squeezed out of publishing deals mid-cycle
These cuts not only affect livelihoods—they erode the creative momentum and institutional knowledge that lead to great games like The Great Circle.
🧭 The Great Circle’s Success Is No Accident
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn’t just good because it has the Indiana Jones IP—it’s good because it was built by a team with a shared history, aligned vision, and time to refine their craft.
The game’s cinematic design, puzzle-focused exploration, and thoughtful pacing feel like the result of a studio that wasn’t rushing to meet quarterly targets or rebuilding its tech pipeline from scratch.
“You can’t outsource creative trust,” said one former Bethesda developer on social media. “What MachineGames pulled off here only happens when people stick together.”
🎮 A Lesson the Industry Should Learn
As The Great Circle wins praise from critics and players alike, it also sends a loud message to publishers: invest in your teams—not just your IPs.
In a year where layoffs have reached record highs in the game industry, the success of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is more than a feel-good story—it’s a case study in why talent retention matters, and why treating developers as disposable assets is both short-sighted and creatively destructive.
