Big Walk Developers Confirm Game Will Not Launch on Xbox Due to BDS Boycott

Big Walk, the cooperative puzzler from House House that emphasizes proximity chat and encourages players to explore an island at their own pace, has emerged as one of the standout games of the year. However, it notably launched without an Xbox version in August, which, while not unusual, leaves many Xbox players wondering if they’ll ever get to experience it on their consoles. House House has now clarified its decision to skip the Xbox platform, citing the ongoing BDS boycott in protest of Microsoft’s involvement in the situation in Israel and its impact on the Palestinian people.

The company shared a statement on its social media and the official Big Walk website, providing resources for those unfamiliar with the BDS movement. This includes links to the movement’s website, which details claims about how Microsoft technology has allegedly been utilized by the Israeli military for surveillance purposes, as well as the goals of the boycott, which includes urging consumers to refrain from purchasing Microsoft products, including Xbox.

House House expressed that it always intended for Big Walk to be enjoyed by groups of friends, acknowledging that not releasing the game on Xbox contradicts that vision. They recognize that this decision may disappoint some players who want to enjoy the game with their friends, and they share in that disappointment.

While they would love for Big Walk to be available on Xbox, they will not release it on that platform until Microsoft and/or Xbox are no longer targets of the BDS boycott.

The team believes in the potential for meaningful change through collective action and holds hope for a future where Palestine is free.

The BDS movement has seen some successes in its boycott of Microsoft, including last year when the company disabled the Israeli government’s access to its cloud storage and AI systems, which were reportedly used for surveillance of Palestinians. Additionally, in May, it was reported that Microsoft was cutting ties with employees in Israel. However, the boycott continues, supported by various factions within the gaming industry that have united under the banner of No Games for Genocide.