Game-Breaking Bug Persists in Indiana Jones and The Great Circle Six Weeks Post-Launch

A troubling bug in "Indiana Jones and the Last Circle" is holding players back from completing key achievements in this otherwise stellar Xbox action-adventure title from MachineGames. Released just over six weeks ago, the game has unfortunately been plagued by a significant bug that halts player progress.

The Problem with The Blessed Pearl Mission

Gamers have been running into a serious issue during the "The Blessed Pearl" mission within "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle." The crux of the problem is that Indiana Jones can’t climb ladders, scale vines, or crawl through tight spaces. MachineGames appears to be aware of this frustrating glitch.

Despite the game’s excellence, this bug has made what was one of my favorite titles from last year quite a headache. Many other players are stuck, unable to move past this part of the game. The glitch bizarrely prevents Indy from performing key actions like blocking, climbing, or navigating narrow passages—occurring only in the Sukhothai level and during a specific part of The Blessed Pearl mission. Without the ability to get through a small cave passageway, the level essentially becomes a trap. While fast travel is an option, the glitch persists wherever you go, making climbing and squeezing through gaps impossible.

This glitch is a real letdown, and until MachineGames patches it, I’ve had no choice but to put the game on hold. Although there’s an option to roll back and load a previous save, two out of my three files are affected, and reverting to the third would mean sacrificing several hard-earned hours, including all the collectibles found beneath the Vatican.

According to a Reddit post, the issue is tied to the character Sunan and might be related to the "Lost in the Past" side quest. After completing fieldwork and handing over the golden hook to Sunan, there’s an easy-to-miss prompt to interact with him one last time. Following this prompt allows Indy to retain his climbing abilities. If missed, however, players find themselves trapped during "The Blessed Pearl."

If you’ve hit this snag, you might be in luck if you have a save file that lets you revisit Sunan and properly finish "Lost in the Past." If you’re like me and don’t have such a save without losing significant progress, you’re at MachineGames’ mercy until they roll out a patch.

Since its launch, "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" has had its share of issues beyond this game-stopping bug. Players are also having trouble with radio frequencies, puzzles, and certain collectibles. I understand the development team might have been slowed by the holiday season, but hopeful anticipation remains for a timely fix.

Are you one of the players caught by this bug? Struggling with other puzzles or achievements in "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle"? Join the conversation and share your experiences in the comments.