Big Walk Is Skipping Xbox While Palestinian-led BDS Boycott Continues
Big Walk, a surprise title from the creators of Untitled Goose Game, arrived on August 4, 2026 and quickly earned a 91‑point Metacritic score, positioning it as a strong Game of the Year contender.
The game launched on PlayStation 5, PC and the newly released Nintendo Switch 2, but it was notably missing from Xbox, a omission that has now been explained by the developer.
In a statement, House House said the decision not to release Big Walk on Xbox aligns with the Palestinian‑led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for a boycott of Microsoft because of its provision of cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli military.
“We have made the decision not to release Big Walk on Xbox, in accordance with the Palestinian-led BDS movement’s call to boycott Microsoft, and their designation of Microsoft Games (and Xbox) as a priority boycott target,” the studio wrote. “It has always been our intention for Big Walk to be played by groups of friends, and we know that keeping the game off Xbox runs counter to those intentions. This decision means that some people will miss out on playing Big Walk with their friends, and we understand the disappointment we’re causing. We are disappointed too.”
“We would love for people to be able to play the game on Xbox, but not until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets.”
The studio added that they believe coordinated collective action can confront powerful interests and that one day Palestine will be free, thanking fans for their understanding.
The boycott has already prompted Microsoft to block Israel’s use of its technology for mass surveillance of Palestinian residents, showing tangible impact.
While smaller titles such as Luck Be a Landlord have pulled from the Xbox store or asked players not to purchase on the platform, Big Walk represents the most high‑profile studio decision to boycott Microsoft during its launch window.
TheGamer has reached out to Xbox for comment, and the story continues to develop.
The situation remains fluid as the BDS movement and Microsoft’s response evolve, and gamers await further news on the title’s availability.
