House House, the independent studio behind the co-op puzzle game Big Walk and the critically acclaimed Untitled Goose Game, has announced that Big Walk will not be released on Xbox platforms. The decision stems from the studio's support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and its ongoing boycott of Microsoft.
In a statement, House House explained that they have been observing the boycott, which targets Microsoft due to its business ties with the Israeli military, since its inception in 2025. This has directly impacted the availability of Big Walk, which launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. The studio acknowledged that this decision runs counter to their intention for Big Walk to be a game played by groups of friends, and they understand the disappointment this may cause.
"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," the developers stated. They expressed their belief that "meaningful change can be made in the world, that coordinated collective action can confront even the most powerful interests, and that one day, Palestine will be free."
This move by House House places them alongside other developers who have publicly divested from Xbox in protest of Microsoft's actions. Speculative Agency, creators of All Will Rise, and the independent developer behind Tenderfoot Tactics have also withdrawn their games from Xbox platforms. Reports indicate that many Microsoft employees, including developers at the MS-owned Arkane Studios, have voiced opposition to the company's ongoing business relationships with Israel.
House House, based in Melbourne, has previously shown support for Palestine since at least 2023. The studio is also an advocate for the Pay the Rent movement, pledging a portion of their income to Indigenous groups as restitution for developing games on stolen Wurundjeri land.