Celeste and TowerFall have been unexpectedly delisted from the Xbox marketplace, according to developer Maddy Thorson. In a post on Bluesky, Thorson stated the decision was made to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which protests companies involved with or supporting the Israeli government.
Thorson clarified the action in a Bluesky post, saying, "We did this to support the BDS boycott." Xbox's inclusion on the BDS list stems from Microsoft's partnerships with Israel, specifically its provision of Azure Cloud and AI systems. According to BDS, these technologies have been utilized in the ongoing subjugation of Palestinians. The movement has called for boycotts of Microsoft gaming products, including Game Pass subscriptions and major franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush.
This action follows similar decisions by other developers. House House, the developer of Big Walk, previously stated its game would not be available on Xbox due to Microsoft's ties to Israel. In 2025, the developer of Tenderfoot Tactics also removed their game from Xbox for comparable reasons, expressing a belief in collective action to effect change and a hope for a free Palestine.
Microsoft has previously acknowledged supplying AI technology to Israel's Ministry of Defense but claimed there was no evidence of its use in targeting or harming individuals in the Gaza conflict, a claim contested by various reports. Celeste and TowerFall remain available for purchase on PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch platforms.