Developer House House has stated that its co-operative puzzle game, Big Walk, will not be released on Xbox consoles. The studio explained this decision is a direct result of Microsoft's inclusion on the target list of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In a statement shared on its social media accounts, House House acknowledged the disappointment this decision may cause. "It has always been our intention for Big Walk to be played by groups of friends, and we know that keeping the game off Xbox runs counter to those intentions," the studio wrote. "This decision means that some people will miss out on playing Big Walk with their friends, and we understand the disappointment we’re causing. We are disappointed too."
The developer expressed a desire for the game to eventually be available on Xbox, but only "until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets." The studio further elaborated on its reasoning: "We’ve made this decision with the 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."
The BDS movement targets companies it claims have supported Israel's government. According to BDS, Xbox is on this list due to Microsoft's partnerships with Israel, including the provision of Azure Cloud and AI systems that the movement states have been used in the "ongoing subjugation of Palestinians." BDS has encouraged actions such as canceling Game Pass subscriptions and boycotting Microsoft gaming products.
Big Walk, which was released on August 4, has achieved significant popularity. The game sold over one million copies in its first week. It is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.