Entertainment · Gaming · 1 hr ago
Celeste and TowerFall removed from Xbox in support of BDS boycott
Developer Maddy Thorson removed Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
The two games are no longer available to buy through Xbox, but remain on PlayStation, PC and Switch.
BDS calls for a boycott of Microsoft and Xbox over Microsoft's ties to Israel's government.
The movement says Microsoft services, including cloud and AI tools, have been provided to Israel.
Microsoft has acknowledged supplying AI technology to Israel's Ministry of Defense, but says it has found no evidence that it was used to target or harm people in Gaza.
Other indie developers have also acted against Xbox in support of the boycott, including House House, which said its game Big Walk would not launch on the platform.
The games remain available on other platforms, and the statements in the sources give no date for a possible return to Xbox.
Developer Maddy Thorson says Celeste and TowerFall were removed from Xbox to support the BDS boycott of Microsoft.
Both games are no longer available to purchase in the Xbox ecosystem.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement targets companies it considers linked to or supportive of the Israeli government.
The games remain available for purchase on PlayStation, PC and Switch.
The decision follows House House’s announcement that its game Big Walk would not be released on Xbox in line with the boycott.
- Who
- Maddy Thorson and her team removed Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox.
- What
- The two games were delisted in support of the BDS boycott of Microsoft.
- When
- The removal was reported on October 29, 2026; Eurogamer reported it on October 30.
- Where
- The games were removed from the Xbox store and are unavailable to purchase in the Xbox ecosystem.
- Why
- Thorson said the move was to support the BDS boycott, which targets Microsoft over its ties to Israel.
BDS boycott supporters and participating developers
Microsoft
Reason for action
BDS boycott supporters and participating developers
Thorson removed Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox to support the BDS boycott. House House also said Big Walk would not come to Xbox in accordance with the movement’s call to boycott Microsoft.
Microsoft
Microsoft has acknowledged supplying AI technology to Israel’s Ministry of Defense, but says there is no evidence it was used to target or harm people in Gaza.
House House said Big Walk would not be released on Xbox in support of the BDS boycott.
Celeste and TowerFall were reported removed from the Xbox store, and Thorson confirmed the games had been delisted.
Eurogamer reported that the games had been removed from sale on Xbox.
- Games delisted
- Celeste and TowerFall
- Developer
- Maddy Thorson
- Xbox status
- No longer available to purchase
- Other platforms
- PlayStation, PC and Switch
- Related game
- Big Walk, developed by House House, will not be released on Xbox
5 sources
Maddy Makes Games removes Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox in support of pro-Palestinian BDS boycott
Celeste and TowerFall dev explains why both games were suddenly delisted from Xbox
Celeste and TowerFall Developer Explains Why Games Were Abruptly Delisted from Xbox
Celeste and TowerFall have been removed from the Xbox store in a move to "support the BDS boycott" against Microsoft
Indie Game Of The Year Winner Pulled From Xbox Over BDS Boycott
What people are saying
We did this to support the BDS boycott.
no evidence