Australian Game Studio Boycotts Xbox Over Microsoft's Support for Israel
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Australian game studio House House will not release its new game "Big Walk" on Xbox consoles due to the Palestinian BDS movement's call to boycott Microsoft. The developers expressed disappointment in their own decision but stated they would only release the game on Xbox if Microsoft is removed from the BDS boycott list. The game will still be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, sparking criticism from gamers who view the decision as politicizing entertainment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Australian studio House House is withholding its game "Big Walk" from Xbox consoles.
- The decision is attributed to the Palestinian BDS movement's boycott of Microsoft.
- Developers expressed disappointment with their own choice to boycott Xbox.
- The game will still be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
- The move has led to widespread criticism from gamers on social media.
The Australian game studio House House, known for the viral hit "Untitled Goose Game," has announced it will not release its new cooperative game, "Big Walk," on Microsoft's Xbox consoles. The independent studio cited the Palestinian BDS movement's call to boycott Microsoft, designating Xbox and Microsoft Games as top boycott targets, as the reason for its decision.
In a public letter to gamers, the developers stated their intention was for the game to be played by groups of friends, acknowledging that withholding it from Xbox contradicts this goal. They expressed disappointment in their own decision, stating, "We understand the disappointment we are causing. We are disappointed too." The studio also set a condition for releasing the game on Xbox: only if the BDS movement removes Microsoft or Xbox from its boycott list. The letter concluded with a political statement wishing for the "liberation of Palestine."
However, the studio plans to release "Big Walk" on PC, which runs on Microsoft's Windows operating system, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. This move has drawn widespread criticism on social media and Reddit, with many gamers accusing the studio of turning social video games into a political tool. Critics pointed out the absurdity of a studio making a colorful nature-themed game punishing innocent players based solely on their console ownership and directing audiences to propaganda videos online. Some users mocked the studio's self-pitying language, blaming the boycott for distress the studio itself is creating for its fanbase.