‘Big Walk’ Developer Explains Why It Skipped Xbox

House House has explained why its cooperative adventure Big Walk launched without an Xbox version. The Australian studio said it deliberately excluded Microsoft’s console in support of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which has designated Microsoft’s gaming business as a priority boycott target.

The decision is not a technical delay or an undisclosed exclusivity agreement. House House said an Xbox release will remain off the table unless Microsoft or Xbox is removed from that boycott list. The developer acknowledged that the choice prevents some groups of friends from playing together and said it shares their disappointment.

The platform gap is intentional

Big Walk was announced for computers, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in June before arriving in August. Xbox players continued asking whether a version for Series X and Series S might follow, prompting the studio to publish a direct explanation on the game’s website.

The title is built around social exploration and cooperative problem-solving, making the missing platform especially noticeable. It comes from the creators of Untitled Goose Game and asks groups to navigate an open environment together, using communication and improvised teamwork rather than a traditional competitive structure.

A gaming decision tied to a wider campaign

House House framed the move as coordinated consumer pressure rather than a judgment about Xbox players. The BDS campaign has cited Microsoft’s contracts and technology relationships with the Israeli government and military while urging consumers and developers to avoid Xbox hardware, Game Pass and Microsoft-owned gaming franchises.

Microsoft has faced internal protests and public scrutiny over those relationships. The company has previously said an internal review found no evidence that its Azure and artificial-intelligence technologies were used to harm people, while acknowledging that it did not have full visibility into how customers use software on private systems.

The studio’s statement leaves a clear path for its position to change, but it does not offer a timetable. For now, Big Walk remains available on its three launch platforms, and the absence of an Xbox edition is a continuing policy choice rather than an unfinished port.