Big Walk will not come to Xbox while Microsoft remains a target of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. For those who are still unaware of the BDS movement, this campaign calls for boycotts of companies that are believed to be in support of Israel’s actions against Palestinians. Microsoft has faced criticism over its work with the Israeli government and military. Developer House House said it would consider an Xbox release only if Microsoft and/or Xbox are removed from the BDS boycott list.
According to the official statement, “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.” It further stated, “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.”
The game is planned for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. House House knows that skipping Xbox could leave some players out. In its statement, the studio said it understood that some people would be upset because they could not play with friends on other systems. Still, it believes that taking a stand can help push large companies to change. The studio has not shared a date for a possible Xbox release.
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Big Walk is a co-op game where players explore, solve puzzles, and work together. Playing a co-op game with friends has always been one of the most enjoyable experiences, but friends do not always own the same console or gaming PC. Here comes the importance of cross-platform play, which can help players join the same game, even when they use different systems.
However, that only works if the game is available on their platform. When one version is missing, some friends may need to buy new hardware, which can be costly. Others may have to pick a different game.
House House’s decision puts its beliefs ahead of reaching every Xbox player. For now, those who want to play Big Walk will need to use one of its planned platforms other than Xbox.