Celeste and TowerFall Delisted from Xbox in Support of BDS Movement
- Celeste and TowerFall have been removed from Xbox as part of a boycott against Israel.
- Developer Maddy Thorson confirmed the delisting supports the BDS movement.
- The games remain available on other platforms, including PlayStation and Switch.
Earlier this week, the games Celeste and TowerFall were suddenly delisted from Xbox. According to a post by developer Maddy Thorson on Bluesky, this action was a deliberate move to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which protests companies perceived to be linked to or supportive of Israel’s government during the genocide in Palestine.
Thorson stated, “For those who’re asking, yes we delisted Celeste and TowerFall on Xbox. We did this to support the BDS boycott,” in a BlueSky post.
The BDS movement has singled out Microsoft’s partnership with Israel and its prison system as a reason for Xbox’s inclusion on its boycott list. Microsoft has provided Israel with access to its Azure Cloud and AI systems, purportedly used in the ongoing subjugation of Palestinians. The BDS movement has called for individuals to cancel their Game Pass subscriptions, boycott major Xbox franchises—such as Call of Duty and Candy Crush—and avoid purchasing Microsoft gaming products. As it stands, Celeste and TowerFall are no longer available for purchase within the Xbox ecosystem.
This action is not the first instance of developers opting out of Xbox sales due to the BDS movement. Recently, House House, developer of Big Walk, announced its game was absent from Xbox for similar reasons regarding Microsoft’s ties to Israel. Additionally, the developer of Tenderfoot Tactics made a similar statement in 2025.
At that time, an Australian developer remarked, “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.” They expressed their hope that collective action could lead to meaningful change and the liberation of Palestine.
In response to the BDS boycott, Microsoft acknowledged its provision of AI technology to Israel’s Ministry of Defense but claims there is “no evidence” that it has been used to harm individuals in the conflict in Gaza. Various reports contradict this assertion.
Both Celeste and TowerFall remain available for purchase on other platforms, including PlayStation, PC, and Switch.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
