Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Early Access Launch Lacks Full Ray Tracing—Here’s What to Expect

The early access period for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is here, but there’s a caveat: full ray tracing won’t be available initially. Fans who opt for the Premium Edition or Collector’s Edition, starting at $99.99, can access the game starting today at 7 PM ET on PC. However, they’ll have to wait until December 9th for full ray tracing to be implemented via a much-anticipated update.

According to Nvidia, this update will transform the game’s visual fidelity. Shadows, reflections, and global illumination will all be meticulously rendered using full ray tracing, significantly enhancing the image quality. Additionally, DLSS Ray Reconstruction is also on its way, as noted in an official media alert.

Why the Delay in Full Ray Tracing?

The absence of full ray tracing at launch might frustrate early adopters, especially given the higher price tag. Premium Edition buyers pay $30 more than the standard edition’s $69.99 price. Despite this, the game sets high standards for hardware. Even the minimum PC specifications demand GPU hardware capable of ray tracing.

Jim Kjellin, CTO of MachineGames, the studio behind Great Circle, explained the rationale behind this requirement:

“Indiana Jones and the Great Circle leverages global illumination to bring life to its environments and characters. Our proprietary engine, MOTOR, relies on hardware ray tracing to perform these calculations effectively. While this might differ from traditional perceptions of ‘ray tracing,’ the compatible hardware ensures high fidelity and seamless performance.”

What Players Can Expect

Once the update is released on December 9th, players will experience a leap in visual quality. The advanced rendering will elevate immersion, making the in-game world even more vibrant and realistic. However, it’s worth noting that this enhanced feature set will only be available to players with hardware that meets the game’s hefty requirements.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to launch on Xbox Series X/S as well, with a PlayStation 5 version scheduled for spring 2025.