Big Walk Dev Explains Xbox Boycott: 'We're Disappointed Too'

Ever wondered why Big Walk never made it to Xbox? You're not alone. House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game, has finally addressed the elephant in the room: their critically acclaimed co-op puzzler Big Walk is skipping Microsoft's consoles entirely, and it's not an accident.

Big Walk launched earlier this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, earning a stellar 91 on Metacritic and landing on multiple Game of the Year contender lists. Our own review gave it a 9/10, praising its "rewarding co-op adventure full of beautiful emergent moments." But Xbox Series X and S players were left out in the cold, and fans have been asking why ever since.

In a statement on their website, House House explained that the decision is part of their support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a Palestinian-led group that lists Xbox as a "priority" boycott target. The studio says it won't release Big Walk on Xbox "until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets." The BDS campaign has called on gamers, streamers, and developers to boycott Microsoft's gaming efforts.

Microsoft's work with the Israeli government has been a controversial issue, even within the company itself, prompting protests by some employees, according to the BBC. House House acknowledged that keeping the game off Xbox runs counter to their intention for Big Walk to be played by groups of friends. "This decision means that some people will miss out on playing Big Walk with their friends, and we understand the disappointment we're causing," the studio wrote. "We are disappointed too."

The developer also pointed fans to resources explaining why Microsoft is a BDS priority target and highlighted past successes of similar pressure campaigns, recommending an introductory piece by People Make Games. Despite the disappointment, House House remains hopeful: "We've made this decision with the belief that meaningful change can be made in the world, that coordinated collective action can confront even the most powerful interests, and that one day, Palestine will be free."

For now, Big Walk remains available on PC, PS5, and Switch 2. IGN has reached out to Microsoft for comment, but there's no word yet on whether the boycott will ever be lifted. The studio's stance is clear: no Xbox release until the BDS movement removes Microsoft as a target.

What do you think about House House's decision? Will you be picking up Big Walk on another platform, or does this change how you view the studio? Let us know in the comments.