Due to boycott of Israel: Australian company refuses to release game for Xbox

The Australian game studio House House announced it will not release its game Big Walk on Xbox consoles due to Microsoft's support for Israel. The developers justified the decision by complying with the BDS movement's call, while expressing disappointment over the step. The game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement sparked criticism on social media.

The independent Australian game studio House House, known for developing the viral game Untitled Goose Game, published an open letter announcing that its new cooperative game, Big Walk, will not be released on Microsoft's Xbox consoles. The developers justified the decision by complying with the Palestinian BDS movement's call to boycott Microsoft, defining Microsoft Games and Xbox as a high-priority boycott target. In the letter, the developers expressed disappointment over the step they themselves took, noting that their intention was for the game to be played by groups of friends. They stated they would agree to launch the title on the console only if the boycott movement instructs them to do so. The letter was signed with a statement wishing for the 'liberation of Palestine.' However, the company will launch the game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement sparked a wave of widespread criticism on social media and Reddit from gamers who attacked the turning of video games into a tool for political grandstanding. Players pointed out the absurdity of choosing to punish innocent players based on the type of console they own.