Big Walk skips Xbox release to join boycott of Microsoft over Israel ties
Indie developer House House announced that its multiplayer game Big Walk will not launch on Xbox, citing the BDS movement’s call to boycott Microsoft because of its Israeli contracts.
The co-op walking game Big Walk, popular since its August debut, will not be released for Xbox consoles, according to a statement from its creator, House House. The studio said the move follows the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement’s directive to avoid Microsoft products due to the company’s contracts with the Israeli military and government. While acknowledging that Xbox users will miss out, House House expressed belief that collective action can drive change and that the boycott will continue until Microsoft’s involvement in Israel ends.
The game can still be downloaded for Windows through Steam, and the developers have not explained why the Windows version is not also excluded. The decision reflects broader protests against Microsoft, including employee actions and firings related to pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Why it matters
The boycott highlights how political activism can influence game distribution decisions and corporate practices.
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