Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

24 August 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
10 min.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

Summary:

MachineGames and Bethesda Softworks have confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, bringing the acclaimed first-person adventure to a Nintendo system for the first time. The announcement arrived alongside a fresh look at The Order of Giants, a story-driven DLC set in Rome that deepens the main campaign with new locations, puzzles, enemies, and a memorable supporting cast. Launching September 4, 2025 on currently available platforms, the DLC lets us return as Indy to explore the Cloaca Maxima, navigate foreboding crypts, and face the secretive Cult of Mithras while chasing an artifact with ties to ancient legends. Players with the Premium or Collector’s editions already have access included, while others can purchase the DLC separately with the base game required. Originally launched in December 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and later on PS5, the adventure has picked up major awards, underscoring why the Switch 2 release is such a notable crossover moment for Nintendo fans. Below, we break down what’s new, when to play, and why this move matters.

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle  Switch 2 port confirmed for 2026

The headline is simple and exciting: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is officially slated for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. That window gives us a clear target while MachineGames completes the port and optimizes the experience for Nintendo’s newer hardware. For many, this marks the first chance to experience Indy’s globe-spanning mystery on a Nintendo system, and it lands after a strong run on Xbox, PC, and PS5. The confirmation arrived around Gamescom Opening Night Live, pairing the news with fresh footage and details. While platform-specific specs and features aren’t disclosed yet, the 2026 timing suggests a careful approach to performance and controls, especially for handheld play. It also signals continued collaboration across the industry, with an Xbox-published title joining Nintendo’s lineup in a high-profile way that will turn heads among adventure fans.

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Order of Giants DLC launches September 4, 2025 for current platforms

The Order of Giants is a story expansion set in Rome, and it launches on September 4, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. This DLC is built to be approachable whether we’re mid-campaign or returning after the credits. It deepens the central mystery with new areas to explore, new enemies to face, and a suite of puzzles that play to MachineGames’ strengths in cinematic set-pieces and tactile problem solving. Importantly, access is straightforward: those with Premium or Collector’s editions already have the DLC included, and everyone else can purchase it separately with the base game required. That clarity around availability removes friction and keeps the focus on the adventure itself, positioning the DLC as a must-play chapter for anyone who enjoyed the Vatican and Rome beats from the main story.

Gamescom Opening Night Live reveal: the key takeaways

Gamescom’s big stage gave the team a perfect moment to show what’s next. We saw an atmospheric trailer that cut between moody Roman alleyways, underground chambers, and ornate puzzle rooms, all underscored by that unmistakable Indy tone. The beats landed cleanly: a specific DLC date, a return to Rome with meaningful new locations, and confirmation that Switch 2 is in the cards next year. That last note matters beyond this series; it’s a signal that more cross-platform moments could be ahead, and it broadens the audience for a game that already earned its reputation. Trailers can oversell, but here the footage lined up with hands-on impressions pointing to tighter puzzle design, expanded traversal, and a story hook that makes Rome feel dangerous and alive rather than just a gorgeous backdrop.

Rome beneath our feet: Cloaca Maxima, crypts, and the River Tiber

Rome isn’t just a postcard here—it’s a layered playground, and The Order of Giants dives under the city’s skin. We’ll squeeze through foreboding crypts, navigate the ancient sewer network of the Cloaca Maxima, and drift along the River Tiber as the plot tightens. These routes aren’t just set dressing; they feed puzzles, traversal, and combat encounters that force us to read spaces carefully. Expect verticality, water-flow mechanisms, and elaborate chambers that ask us to think before we swing. It’s the kind of environmental storytelling that makes a location feel lived in—where statues, inscriptions, and architecture whisper clues about the people who built them and the secrets they tried to bury. The promise is a Rome that rewards curiosity, where patience and observation are as valuable as a steady aim and a good whip swing.

The Nephilim Order and Cult of Mithras: threats in the shadows

The antagonists step out of rumor and into the torchlight. The DLC explores the Nephilim Order—tied to legends of giants—and the shadowy Cult of Mithras, whose rites and loyalties bleed into every corridor. Rather than one-note heavies, these groups shape the tone and pace of the chapter, tightening pressure with ambushes and ambits that fit the catacomb maze. They’re a reminder that Indy’s foes are often ideological as much as physical; their doctrine informs their traps, and their history informs the puzzles blocking our progress. When those threads intersect—say, in a ritual chamber or a gladiatorial remnant tied to Nero’s vanity—the friction between myth and power creates stakes that feel both pulpy and grounded, exactly where this series thrives when it’s firing on all cylinders.

Father Ricci and returning faces: the people driving the story

At the center of this detour is Father Ricci, a young priest whose discovery of a mysterious artifact drags Indy deeper into Rome’s underbelly. He isn’t a quest marker; he’s a personality with sharp angles, bringing knowledge and complications in equal measure. His presence gives the chapter a human pulse, while familiar faces from the main game help stitch the DLC into the broader arc. That cohesion matters. The best expansions don’t feel like bolt-ons—they feel like a lost reel found between scenes, revealing why a choice was made or how a rumor took root. Ricci’s leads open doors, but he also throws us curveballs, and that push-pull dynamic is where Indy’s humor and grit shine through, keeping the pace brisk even when the path winds through the dark.

Puzzles, traversal, and new enemy types: how play evolves

MachineGames leans into what made the campaign sing. Puzzle design gets more layered without turning obtuse, using waterflow, weight, and orientation tricks that rely on environmental cues rather than obscure logic. Traversal ties it all together—whip points, crumbling ledges, ancient cranes—so moving feels like solving. New enemy types disrupt comfortable rhythms: brawlers that force spacing, cultists that punish tunnel vision, and patrols that coax us to consider stealth as more than a plan B. None of it resets the playbook; it iterates. That’s the sweet spot for a story expansion—fresh enough to surprise, familiar enough to feel like home. When the floor literally shifts during a set-piece and a puzzle becomes a chase, it delivers the rollercoaster energy that made the opening Vatican sequence such a standout.

Difficulty scaling and player-friendly touches in the DLC

The DLC adopts smart scaling so encounters feel appropriate whether we’re early or fully leveled. Enemy toughness and composition adjust based on main-story progress, while puzzle assistance remains opt-in through Indy’s camera hints. Accessibility-minded toggles continue to do quiet, important work—letting us tailor the experience without dulling its edge. That approach respects different play styles and time budgets, making it easy to dip in for a session and still feel like the adventure is meeting us where we are. It also reflects a studio that understands how people actually play: sometimes we want a tussle; other times we want to savor the scenery and let a crypt’s architecture tell its story at our pace.

Where the DLC fits in the main game’s timeline

The Order of Giants unfolds during the events of the base campaign, effectively creating a parallel chapter rather than a postscript. That design means we don’t need to finish the main story to jump in, and it avoids spoilers by treating this as a side path that enriches what we already know. Structurally, it’s a bridge: we start in familiar territory and then peel back new layers in Rome, learning things that reframe motivations without rewriting history. The benefit is twofold. Returning players get fresh context for characters and factions, while newcomers can enjoy a tightly scoped adventure that previews the game’s strengths. It’s a smart way to extend momentum without breaking narrative flow.

Editions and access: who gets the DLC and how to buy it

Access is straightforward. If we already own the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, Collector’s Edition, or Collector’s Bundle on existing platforms, the DLC is included and unlocks on September 4, 2025. Otherwise, we can purchase The Order of Giants separately, with the base game required to play. That clarity matters because it avoids edition confusion that sometimes clouds big expansions. It also lets us plan: if we’re eyeing the Switch 2 version next year but want to experience Rome sooner on another platform, we know exactly how to get in and what’s bundled where. Transparent availability is the kind of small-but-vital detail that keeps focus on discovery instead of store menus.

Premium & Collector’s Edition perks explained clearly

Beyond DLC access, the Premium and Collector’s tiers bundle extras that appeal to series fans—digital art materials, wardrobe nods to the films, and early access windows that historically let players start a few days ahead of the standard launch date. For this chapter, the headline perk is simple: The Order of Giants is part of the package. If we already invested in those editions, there’s nothing more to buy. If not, the standalone DLC route keeps the path open. That flexibility respects different buying habits and ensures that we can engage with the story in a way that matches our interest level, whether we’re all-in collectors or just here for Indy’s latest tangle beneath the Eternal City.

What the Switch 2 version could mean for performance and features

Specifics for Switch 2 aren’t public yet, so the best stance is measured optimism. The base game is built around richly lit interiors, dense geometry, and set-piece transitions that benefit from steady frame pacing. Translating that to a hybrid device will require careful optimization, sensible default settings, and smart upscaling choices. Control feel is just as important; whip traversals and precise platforming ask for responsive input whether we’re docked or handheld. What matters most is consistency: a stable experience that preserves mood and readability in darker spaces where puzzles rely on visual cues. With a 2026 window, there’s time to tune those targets and align with the broader expectations players have developed around modern multi-platform releases.

Visual expectations and handheld play considerations on Switch 2

Handheld play rises or falls on clarity and contrast. In Rome’s underbelly, readable lighting and clean silhouettes will be essential so puzzle elements pop on a smaller screen. If dynamic resolution is in the mix, the priority should be maintaining interface legibility and environmental detail where clues live—statues, inscriptions, water channels. Docked play can stretch its legs a bit, but either mode benefits from stable frame pacing that keeps motion comfortable in first person. Audio also carries surprising weight here; the soundtrack and ambient cues guide our eyes when the path forks. None of these expectations require flashy features—just disciplined execution that lets the story and spaces breathe without distraction.

Why this matters: an Xbox-published adventure arriving on a Nintendo system

Beyond the specific charms of Indy’s latest case, this move lands with symbolic weight: an Xbox-published, award-winning adventure confirmed for Nintendo’s platform. It speaks to a landscape where big stories can reach more players, and where hand-held portability no longer means watering down ambition. For Nintendo fans, it’s a meaningful signpost about the kind of third-party support Switch 2 can attract. For the franchise, it’s an opportunity to build a broader community ahead of whatever MachineGames tackles next. If you’ve been watching the walls between platforms get more porous, this is another brick quietly rearranged—and one that could encourage others to follow, especially for story-driven games that thrive on word-of-mouth across ecosystems.

Getting ready now: how newcomers can jump in on other platforms

If patience isn’t your strong suit, we get it. The base game is already available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PS5 version out as well, and the DLC lands there first on September 4, 2025. That means we can play the main campaign today and treat The Order of Giants as a fall return trip, then circle back on Switch 2 next year for a portable run. It’s a neat way to experience the story twice from different angles: first with maximum fidelity on a living-room setup, then on the go when the Nintendo version arrives. However you choose to pace it, Rome will be waiting—full of whispers, worn stones, and that familiar hat just cresting a torchlit stair.

Conclusion

The path ahead is well marked. A Rome-set DLC drops on September 4, 2025 for current platforms, and a Switch 2 port follows in 2026, bringing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to a new audience without losing what made it special. Between the confident setting, smart puzzle evolution, and a supporting cast that pushes Indy into fresh corners of an old city, The Order of Giants looks like the right kind of expansion. And the Switch 2 confirmation is more than a footnote—it’s a promise that this adventure will be there when Nintendo’s newer hardware hits its stride.

FAQs
  • When does The Order of Giants launch?
    • It releases on September 4, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. A Nintendo Switch 2 release is planned alongside the main game’s 2026 window.
  • Do I need the base game to play the DLC?
    • Yes. The DLC requires the base game. Owners of the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, Collector’s Edition, or Collector’s Bundle have the DLC included; others can buy it separately.
  • Where does the DLC fit in the story?
    • It takes place during the events of the main campaign, focusing on Rome and tying into the Nephilim Order and the Cult of Mithras without spoiling the finale.
  • What platforms is the base game on right now?
    • Xbox Series X|S and PC since December 2024, and a PS5 version followed in 2025. The Switch 2 version is confirmed for 2026.
  • Why is the Switch 2 release notable?
    • It’s a high-profile Xbox-published adventure arriving on Nintendo’s hardware, signaling broader third-party support and giving fans a portable way to play Indy’s latest case.
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