Big Walk developer House House has stated the popular co-op game will not be released on Xbox, and likely never will be, until Microsoft and Xbox are no longer targets of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. The studio confirmed this decision via a social media post, explaining their stance aligns with the Palestinian-led BDS movement's call to boycott Microsoft.
This decision means that some players will be unable to experience Big Walk with their friends on Xbox. House House acknowledged the disappointment this may cause, stating, "We are disappointed too. 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 developer directed curious players to the BDS campaign's explainer on why Xbox and Microsoft are being targeted. They also highlighted past successes of similar pressure campaigns against Microsoft and pointed to an introductory video by People Makes Games.
The reasoning behind the boycott stems from a report detailing the Israeli military's use of Microsoft Azure services to store data from intercepted telecommunications in Gaza and the West Bank. This led to protests from Microsoft employees and resulted in Xbox being added to the BDS boycott targets.
"We've made this decision with the belief that meaningful change can be made in the world," House House added. "That coordinated collective action can confront even the most powerful interests, and that one day, Palestine will be free."
Big Walk has seen significant success since its launch, with over a million players purchasing the game in its first week. Despite its popularity and the developer's stated intention for the game to be played by groups of friends, the stance on Xbox remains firm.