Game boycotts Xbox for Palestine
The release of Big Walk has been met with critical acclaim, positioning it as one of the best-reviewed games of 2026. Developed by House House, the co-op online “walker-talker” title has already cemented its place in gaming history, further highlighted by its inclusion among highly rated titles by aggregate review sites.
Big Walk, which debuted in August, is available across multiple platforms including the PlayStation 5, the Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. However, the path to release for the Xbox platform became immediately complicated by the developers’ decision to align with a specific political movement.
In a significant move, the creators of the game confirmed they would not release Big Walk on Xbox. This decision stems from the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement’s call to boycott Microsoft and its designation of Microsoft Games and the Xbox as priority boycott targets.
House House stated their rationale clearly: “We have made the decision not to release Big Walk on Xbox, in accordance with the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement’s call to boycott Microsoft, and their designation of Microsoft Games (and Xbox) as a priority boycott target.”
The developers expressed a desire for the game to be playable on Xbox, but only once Microsoft and Xbox were removed from the list of boycott targets. They emphasized that this choice was rooted in a belief that coordinated collective action can confront powerful interests, holding out hope for future change.
This action places the game at the center of a complex global debate concerning corporate complicity in geopolitical conflicts. The BDS movement alleges that Microsoft is “perhaps the most complicit tech company in Israel’s illegal apartheid regime and ongoing genocide against 2.3million Palestinians in Gaza.”
External reports suggest a direct link between Microsoft’s technology and the military operations in the region. Documentation indicates that the Israeli military’s reliance on Microsoft’s cloud technology and artificial intelligence systems surged during the most intensive phase of its bombardment of Gaza, with some reports claiming Microsoft has a “footprint in all major military infrastructures” in Israel.
When faced with these serious allegations, Microsoft has declined to comment on worker concerns regarding its involvement with the Israeli military and has refused to address questions about its contracts with the Israeli forces.
While the conflict remains intensely debated, the situation is further complicated by differing narratives. The Israeli government has repeatedly denied claims of genocide, often citing UN reports, while other sources suggest these claims are based on antisemitic lies inspired by groups like Hamas.
The story of Big Walk thus transitions from a review of a popular game to a powerful commentary on the intersection of entertainment, corporate accountability, and international political activism, forcing players and developers alike to confront the complex realities of global systems.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
