Big Walk Will Not Release on Xbox Due to Pro-Palestinian BDS Boycott

Australian indie developer House House has shared that its popular co-op adventure, Big Walk, has not been released on Xbox due to its alignment with the goals of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, which advocates for Palestinian human rights.

Microsoft, the owner of Xbox, is identified as a primary target for the BDS movement, which labels it as “perhaps the most complicit tech company in Israel’s illegal apartheid regime and ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.”

House House stated, “It has always been our intention for Big Walk to be enjoyed by groups of friends, and we recognize that keeping the game off Xbox contradicts that goal. This decision means some players will miss out on experiencing Big Walk with their friends, and we empathize with the disappointment this causes. We feel it too.”

The developer added, “We would love for people to be able to play the game on Xbox, but not until Microsoft and/or Xbox are no longer targets of the BDS boycott. We believe that meaningful change is possible, that collective action can challenge even the most powerful interests, and that one day, Palestine will be free.”

Despite these statements, the BDS movement’s boycott remains in effect.

Microsoft provides various services to the Israeli government and military, including AI and cloud services, which have been reported to include “combat and intelligence services.” The BDS movement has seen some success in pressuring Microsoft; in September 2025, the company reportedly restricted Israel’s access to cloud technology used for mass surveillance of Palestinians.

Big Walk, a follow-up to the beloved Untitled Goose Game, is a multiplayer adventure where players take on the roles of stick figures, exploring a natural landscape and solving puzzles together. It has received high praise and is considered one of the standout indie games of 2026, especially as the awards season approaches. It stands out as the most notable game not to have an Xbox version due to the ongoing boycott.