Gaming Veteran Troy Baker on Stepping into Indiana Jones’s Shoes

Even a world-renowned video game actor might experience imposter syndrome, a sentiment Troy Baker confirms is universal. Baker is most recognized for his portrayal of Joel Miller, the protagonist in the acclaimed post-apocalyptic adventure, The Last of Us, a game frequently lauded for its narrative and performances. His credits also include celebrated franchises such as Bioshock, Uncharted, and Batman: Arkham. However, assuming the lead role in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle presented a distinct challenge. Baker described the task of embodying the character, famously brought to life by Oscar nominee Harrison Ford, as daunting, even for him. Recalling the initial offer, he told BBC Newsbeat, “I turned it down,” explaining, “I was scared. I felt the weight of what this character meant.” Baker stated that the performance capture team at developer MachineGames ultimately convinced him to accept the role. Nevertheless, he still needed to win over Todd Howard, the head of publisher Bethesda, who had long aspired to create an Indiana Jones game and was overseeing the project. Baker recounted that Howard initially “rolled his eyes” at his casting, concerned that his familiar voice would detract from the player experience. Baker remarked, “I never thought that my success would actually work against me.” Instead of being directly cast, Baker explained that he had to audition alongside dozens of other actors. The selection process eventually narrowed down to him and one other performer. The final decision was made by a test audience through a “blind taste test,” where they chose their preferred performance. Baker quoted Todd Howard as saying, “Todd Howard said they picked you every time.” Baker initially perceived this as a compliment, but Howard clarified, “No, it’s a challenge. That’s the standard.” The burden of expectation extends beyond Baker; anticipation for the first Indiana Jones video game in over 15 years is considerable. Microsoft, which acquired Bethesda’s parent company Zenimax in 2020 and Activision-Blizzard last year for a record-breaking $69bn, is relying on Indiana Jones to become an in-house hit this year. Despite the continued success of games like Call of Duty and Warcraft obtained in the Activision-Blizzard deal, Microsoft’s gaming division has yet to release a new internal success this year. Baker detailed the lavish production of the game’s sets, with crews constructing precise replicas of boats, airships, and other environments on expansive motion-capture stages. While such elaborate production is common for a blockbuster video game in 2024, it necessitates strong sales for The Great Circle to recover its development costs. The game is scheduled for an initial release on Xbox and PC. Microsoft recently announced plans to also launch it on the rival platform PlayStation 5. This decision drew criticism from Xbox fans, who accused the company of reneging on promises of exclusivity. However, Microsoft has stated its primary objective is to make its games available on as many devices as possible. Axel Torvenius, creative director at Swedish developer MachineGames, spoke to Newsbeat as the final preparations for The Great Circle’s release are being completed. While he did not delve into the specifics of exclusivity, he expressed being “happy” that the game will have broad availability. Torvenius indicated that his main concern was leveraging the team’s expertise to craft an adventure that authentically captured its inspiration. MachineGames is known for its work on the rebooted Wolfenstein series. Similar to Indiana Jones, the protagonist of the 3D shooter, William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, confronts Nazi adversaries, but he does so using a variety of increasingly powerful firearms. Torvenius noted that this approach would not be suitable for the adventurous archaeologist, stating, “That’s not Indiana Jones, that’s not the brand we’re working with. That’s something else.” Indiana Jones’s gameplay emphasizes stealth over direct confrontation and features numerous puzzles. The game also employs a first-person perspective, a decision Torvenius said was made early in its development. He explained, “We’ve been trying to make you feel like Indiana Jones, like literally stepping into his shoes and seeing the world through his eyes,” adding, “There’s an intimacy you can’t achieve in third-person.” Marios Gavrilis, who portrays Voss, the antagonist in The Great Circle, experienced a smoother path to securing his role. Like Baker, Gavrilis has previous experience in video games, primarily re-voicing characters from English into German. This project marks one of his first roles as part of an original cast, with his character’s appearance modeled after his own. Gavrilis, who also has television credits in Germany, believes there is potential for increased collaboration between actors and video games. Gavrilis informed Newsbeat that despite growing awareness of motion-captured performance—a key issue in a current actors’ strike—not everyone fully appreciates the work involved. He stated, “Very often we’re referred to as voice actors,” clarifying, “What we’re actually doing is full-on acting. This is something people forget, like we’re not just doing the voice. It’s the entire body, it’s the entire performance that’s being captured.” Initial assessments of The Great Circle’s acting have been positive, with many critics commending Baker’s interpretation of Indiana Jones. This will likely bring relief to the actor, who told Newsbeat that he spent his initial days on set concerned about being dismissed following Todd Howard’s early skepticism. However, Baker mentioned that an email from Howard during the recording process helped alleviate his anxiety. “He said: ‘You’re doing a hell of a job’,” Baker recalled. “And I was like: ‘You have no idea how much I needed to hear that right now’.” The ultimate judgment will come from players once they experience the game, and Baker intends to join them. He stated, “I’ve already experienced it one way, as a performer,” but added, “But there is nothing like picking up the controller and now you are Indiana Jones. so that’s what I’m looking forward to.“ He concluded, “If you get to the end of the game and you feel like ‘I was Indiana Jones’, then I’ve done my job.”