Celeste and Towerfall Removed from Xbox Following Developer Boycott

Celeste and TowerFall are no longer available on Xbox. Developer Maddy Thorson shared the reasoning behind this decision in a social media update, citing support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Microsoft. Thorson, who was at the helm of both games at Maddy Makes Games, announced on Bluesky that her studio has removed both titles from the platform.

Celeste, widely regarded as one of the finest 2D platformers ever, launched in 2018 for PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. TowerFall: Ascension, known for its intense local multiplayer action, has been praised as a benchmark for the resurgence of local multiplayer gaming.

Thorson isn’t alone in her support for the BDS boycott against Microsoft due to its connections with the Israeli military. Recently, the developers of Big Walk, House House, also declared that their game would not be released on Xbox in solidarity with BDS. They acknowledged that this choice might prevent some players from enjoying Big Walk with friends, expressing their shared disappointment.

The studio stated, “We would love for people to be able to play the game on Xbox, but not until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets. We believe that meaningful change can be achieved through coordinated collective action, and we hope for a future where Palestine is free.”

The BDS movement seeks to boycott and divest from Israel, drawing parallels to actions taken against apartheid-era South Africa. According to the BDS website, the movement aims to “impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel until it recognizes the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and complies with international law.”

The movement specifically calls for Israel to: “1. End its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantle the Wall; 2. Recognize the fundamental rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and 3. Respect, protect, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as outlined in UN resolution 194.”

Xbox is a focal point of the boycott because, as stated on the BDS website, “Microsoft is perhaps the most complicit tech company in Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid regime, and ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.” The company provides the Israeli military with Azure cloud and AI services that are integral to its operations.

In 2025, reports revealed that Microsoft had supplied Azure technology to the Israeli military, which was used for mass surveillance of Palestinians, leading to bombings. Following protests and backlash from this coverage, Microsoft withdrew access to certain technologies used for monitoring calls made by Palestinians. However, the company remains a target of BDS due to its ongoing support for the Israeli government.

Other developers have also expressed solidarity with BDS. Origame Digital, the team behind Penguin Colony, included a pointed statement in the game’s credits, criticizing the gaming industry’s silence during the ongoing crisis in Palestine. They have also blocked sales of their game in Israel as a show of support.