Big Walk, one of the best-reviewed games of 2026, won’t be released on Xbox due to the Palestinian-led BDS movement alleging that Microsoft are “complicit in Israel’s apartheid and genocide against 2.3million Palestinians in Gaza”.
Big Walk is a co-op online “walker-talker” game from the creators of viral hit Untitled Goose Game. The House House-developed game was released in August and remains one of the best-reviewed titles of 2026, according to review aggregate site Metacritic. Only Sektori and remasters of Resident Evil 2 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthave been rated higher.
Earlier this year, House House announced that Big Walk would be available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. In a new statement, the game developers have confirmed that they’re deliberately boycotting Xbox.
“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,” reads a statement from House House.
An explanation on why Big Walk isn't available on Xbox.https://t.co/XYv772bLejpic.twitter.com/R0jGds8dRv
— House House (@house_house_) October 15, 2026
“We would love for people to be able to play the game on Xbox, but not until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets,” continued House House. “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.”
According to the BDS, Microsoft is “perhaps the most complicit tech company in Israel’s illegal apartheid regime and ongoing genocide against 2.3million Palestinians in Gaza.” The organisation alleges that Microsoft knowingly provides Israel with technology, including artificial intelligence, that is deployed to facilitate grave human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity, as well as genocide.”
“The Palestinian-led BDS movement, supported by Microsoft workers, calls on people of conscious to pressure Microsoft to end its complicity in Israeli apartheid and AI-powered genocide,” explains the BDS. “To pressure Microsoft, boycott Microsoft’s consumer products whenever possible (including Microsoft gaming services), demand your institutions divest from Microsoft and exclude the company from contracts.”
According to a report by The Guardian, 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” and +972 Magazine has claimed Microsoft has a “footprint in all major military infrastructures” in Israel.
Microsoft has refused to address worker concerns about their involvement with Israel and have declined to comment on the company’s contracts with the Israeli military.
Meanwhile Israel has repeatedly denied all allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza and has justified its actions as self-defence. The Israeli government has claimed a UN report saying otherwise is nothing but antisemitic lies inspired by Hamas (via the BBC).
The post One of the best-reviewed games of 2026 is boycotting Xbox in support of Palestine appeared first on NME.
