Celeste and TowerFall are no longer available for purchase on Xbox. Developer Maddy Thorson confirmed the decision to remove the beloved titles from the platform, citing a boycott of Microsoft due to its investments and involvement with the Israeli government.
Thorson stated on the social platform Bluesky that the removal aligns with the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates for freedom, justice, and equality. The BDS movement targets companies perceived to be complicit in actions related to the Israeli government amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This action follows a similar decision by the developers of "Big Walk," who also opted not to release their game on Xbox earlier this fall, referencing the BDS movement's designation of Microsoft Games and Xbox as a priority boycott target. The developers of "Big Walk" indicated that they would consider releasing on Xbox if Microsoft divested from its Israeli ties.
Celeste was originally released in 2018, and TowerFall launched in 2013. Both games remain accessible for purchase on other platforms, including PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.