Big Walk developers exclude Xbox to align with BDS movement guidelines
Australian studio House House decided not to release its co-op game Big Walk on Xbox consoles in August to support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
Developers explain platform exclusion
House House stated that keeping the game off Xbox runs counter to their intention for friends to play together. The studio released the title on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch while leaving out Xbox Series X and S. A blog post explained that meaningful change can be made in the world through this collective action.
BDS movement targets Microsoft
Microsoft was named a priority target by the BDS movement in June over contracts with the Israeli military and government. The boycott specifically calls for exclusion of Xbox consoles, Game Pass subscriptions, and gaming accessories produced by the company. House House noted they would welcome Xbox availability once Microsoft is removed from the boycott list.
Supporters back the decision
The BDS movement released a statement online supporting House House's move to exclude the platform. Employees of Microsoft have also protested the company's involvement with Israel, though some were fired for participating in demonstrations. The developers believe coordinated collective action can confront powerful interests regarding the conflict.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- The Verge
- Middle East Eye
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