We have an interesting new rumor connected to the recent Microsoft leak.
First, let’s go back to what part of this leak is involved here. Last week we reported on Bethesda’s pipeline for upcoming games. Bethesda’s projects were part of the discussions between Microsoft and the FTC, and that material also got leaked with zero redactions.
So we know about some projects but not all of them. What’s relevant here is that two of those games were not revealed even to the FTC. Instead, Microsoft identified them under the codenames Project Kestrel and Project Platinum.
“Shpeshal” Nick Baker, on the latest episode of XboxEra, revealed some key information about one of these two games that are still under the wraps. As he described it, one of those games falls under the Disney banner. You can catch him talking about this rumor on this timestamp.
So let’s be clear about this. This game is definitely not the untitled Indiana Jones game that Machine Games is making. Nick made sure to make it clear that this is an entirely different project.
As his cohosts in XboxEra have also pointed out, his announcement doesn’t really narrow down what game this could possibly be. Disney’s oldest IPs are, of course, the ones they made themselves. Many of their most famous animated movies have become classic video games, from Aladdin to The Lion King. Disney’s mascot Mickey, and his cast, have also been in many games and game franchises. Everyone remembers Kingdom Hearts here, but Epic Mickey and the Mickey games on the Sega Genesis were all noteworthy games as well.
But of course, the big money here is probably going to be in the other big name properties that Disney owns. Without a doubt, at the front of the line there is the Marvel property and Star Wars.
Between the two, Star Wars has seen more considerable success, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor recently coming out as one of 2023’s highlights, and Star Wars Outlaws promising to wow us in the future. A new Star Wars game from Bethesda, that may or may not be Xbox exclusive, would be a gem project for the platform.
On the other hand, Marvel hasn’t done as well recently. Marvel’s Avengers in particular has so marred the license, that even the more critically received Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has fallen under the radar.
Of course, Sony has been doing better in this account, making their PlayStation exclusive Marvel’s Spider-Man games, and with Marvel’s Wolverine coming in the future. If Microsoft convinced Disney to give them the reigns to some Marvel characters of their own, that could place them in a considerably better competitive position against Sony.
So, we don’t know much about this now, but the possibilities are brimming with this rumor.
