Full Breakdown
House House Boycotts Xbox Release of *Big Walk* Over BDS Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
The Decision Not to Release on Xbox
In June 2026 Melbourne studio House House announced *Big Walk* would launch on PC, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, but not on Xbox. The studio said it is following the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement’s call to boycott Microsoft’s Xbox division, which BDS lists as a “priority boycott target.”
Background: BDS Campaign and Microsoft’s Role
BDS, founded in 2005, seeks “freedom, justice and equality” for Palestinians and pressures companies it deems complicit in Israel’s actions. BDS alleges Microsoft provides Azure cloud and AI services to the Israeli military, fueling the conflict. The campaign urges gamers to cancel Xbox Game Pass, avoid Microsoft-published titles, and skip Xbox hardware.
Timeline of Key Developments
- August 4 2026 – *Big Walk* releases on PC, PS5 and Switch 2, selling over 1 million copies in six days.
- June 2026 – House House announces the limited-platform launch and fields Xbox inquiries.
- October 15 2026 – The studio issues a statement reiterating its boycott stance and linking the decision to BDS’s designation of Microsoft Games and Xbox as targets.
Sales and Reception
*Big Walk* became a breakout indie hit, moving more than one million units within a week, earning a 91 Metacritic score and a 9/10 rating from IGN. The strong performance highlights the market loss from excluding Xbox players.
Official Statement from House House
The studio said the move “runs counter to” its goal of enabling friends to play together, expressing disappointment that “some people will miss out” and noting it would reconsider an Xbox release only if Microsoft were removed from the BDS target list.
Verbatim Quote
- “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,” — House House
Potential Impact on Gaming and Activism
House House’s stance shows how geopolitical activism can shape platform decisions. By refusing an Xbox launch, the studio forgoes Microsoft’s console user base and may influence other developers weighing politics against market reach. The move also raises BDS’s visibility in gaming circles, sparking debate over corporate responsibility and consumer choice.
Related Developer Actions
Other indie studios have taken similar steps. Ice Water Games removed *Tenderfoot Tactics* from Xbox in 2025, and developer Dan Dilorio pledged to donate $10,000 to The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund rather than sell his title on the platform.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources agree House House’s refusal stems from the BDS campaign. No alternative explanations have been reported, leaving internal deliberations and any future negotiations with Microsoft undocumented.