House House, the development studio behind the popular puzzle adventure game 'Big Walk', has confirmed its decision to withhold the game from Xbox consoles. The Australian studio, also known for 'Untitled Goose Game', released 'Big Walk' earlier this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, but notably excluded Xbox Series X and S platforms.
The critically acclaimed title received a Metacritic score of 91 and was frequently cited as a contender for Game of the Year awards. IGN's review awarded 'Big Walk' a 9/10, praising its rewarding co-op experience, emergent moments, and cleverly designed puzzles within its expansive open world.
In a statement posted on its website, House House detailed that the exclusion from Xbox is a direct consequence of its support for the campaign group Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS). BDS describes itself as a "Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality."
The BDS movement has identified Xbox as a "priority" target and has actively encouraged gamers, streamers, and developers to boycott Microsoft's gaming endeavors. This action stems from controversies surrounding Microsoft's business dealings with the Israeli government, which have reportedly led to internal protests among Microsoft employees.
House House has stated that 'Big Walk' will not be released on Xbox until Microsoft and/or Xbox are no longer listed as BDS boycott targets. The studio's full statement was republished in its entirety on the company website.