{
  "id": 14672657,
  "title": "Big Walk skipped Xbox to boycott Microsoft’s involvement with Israel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/big-walk-skipped-xbox-to-boycott-microsofts-involvement-with-israel",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-15T10:05:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Verge",
    "slug": "the-verge",
    "url": "https://www.theverge.com/games/1011785/big-walk-house-house-microsoft-xbox-bds-boycott"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Big Walk, a popular co-op multiplayer walking adventure released in August, has been intentionally omitted from Xbox consoles due to Microsoft's involvement with Israel, according to the game's developers, House House. The decision aligns with the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, which has called for a boycott of Microsoft due to its contracts with the Israeli military and government. Microsoft was designated a priority BDS target in June, prompting the boycott of Xbox consoles, Game Pass subscriptions, and gaming franchises owned by the company. House House explained that their intention was for the game to be played by groups of friends, but releasing it on Xbox contradicts this goal. They understand the disappointment caused by the decision to exclude Xbox players and hope that Microsoft and/or Xbox will be removed as BDS boycott targets before the game becomes available on the platform. The game is currently playable on Windows via Steam, and House House has requested an update on the Windows availability.",
  "summary": "Big Walk's co-op multiplayer walking adventure has proved popular since launching in August, but Xbox players have been excluded from the fun - and now the game's creators have explained why. Developer House House said in a blog post that it decided not to release Big Walk on Xbox consoles in accordance with the Palestinian-led […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Rock Paper Shotgun",
        "title": "Big Walk devs House House announce support for BDS Microsoft boycott, say the co-op puzzler isn't coming to Xbox",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/big-walk-devs-house-house-announce-support-for-bds-microsoft-boycott",
        "published": "2026-10-15T10:27:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "GamesIndustry",
        "title": "House House will not release Big Walk on Xbox in support of pro-Palestinian BDS campaign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/house-house-will-not-release-big-walk-on-xbox-in-support-of-pro",
        "published": "2026-10-15T11:08:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PC Gamer",
        "title": "Big Walk devs explain why it isn't on Xbox and likely never will be, 'not until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/big-walk-devs-explain-why-it-isnt-on-xbox-and-likely-never-will-be",
        "published": "2026-10-15T11:36:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}