Indiana Jones Game Balances Cultural Responsibility

Kate Edwards discusses the meticulous research behind Indiana Jones: The Great Circle to ensure cultural accuracy and sensitivity.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:18pm

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In a GDC 2026 panel, veteran game developer Kate Edwards detailed the extensive cultural research and sensitivity that went into the development of the new Indiana Jones video game, Indiana Jones: The Great Circle. Edwards, a self-described "huge Indiana Jones geek," emphasized the importance of treating real-world locations, cultures, and histories with care and intentionality when creating games with a low "allegorical distance" from reality. The team consulted experts, conducted deep interdisciplinary research, and made deliberate creative decisions to ensure the game was the "most culturally accurate Indiana Jones project ever made."

Why it matters

As video games become a dominant cultural force, Edwards argued that developers have a responsibility to approach projects set in the real world with empathy and precision. Inaccuracies and misrepresentations can carry real weight, especially for franchises like Indiana Jones that are deeply rooted in recognizable geography, history, and living cultures. Edwards' approach highlights the evolving standards of cultural sensitivity in the games industry.

The details

Edwards described her role as "exploring the interaction between what is real, what is represented and what is perceived." The team operated with the guiding principle of making Indiana Jones: The Great Circle the most culturally accurate Indiana Jones project ever. This shaped every system, from the game's maps and geography to the design of artifacts and NPCs. Egyptologists were consulted on the Giza Plateau location, while geologists helped evaluate the plausibility of fictional minerals and materials. Even narrative text was reviewed, translated, and reconstructed to preserve meaning rather than literal phrasing.

  • The GDC 2026 panel where Edwards presented this information took place in March 2026.

The players

Kate Edwards

A 33-year veteran of the games industry who spent over a decade at Microsoft, Edwards has worked across 317 video games and is known for her expertise in cultural sensitivity and responsibility in game development.

Indiana Jones: The Great Circle

The new Indiana Jones video game that the panel discussion focused on, which aimed to be the most culturally accurate Indiana Jones project ever made.

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What they’re saying

“The closer you get to the real world, the more intentional your creation must become.”

— Kate Edwards, Game Developer

“No Indiana Jones property is anything without a flyover map.”

— Kate Edwards, Game Developer

What’s next

The release date for Indiana Jones: The Great Circle has not been announced, but the game is expected to undergo further cultural review and testing before its launch.

The takeaway

Kate Edwards' approach to Indiana Jones: The Great Circle demonstrates the evolving standards of cultural sensitivity in the games industry. As video games become a dominant cultural force, developers have a responsibility to treat real-world locations, cultures, and histories with care and intentionality, going beyond surface-level aesthetics to build empathy and respect.