Celeste and TowerFall Delisted from Xbox in Support of BDS Boycott

Indie gaming darlings Celeste and TowerFall have officially been pulled from the Xbox digital storefront. The developers, Maddy Makes Games, confirmed that the decision to have their titles Celeste and TowerFall delisted was a calculated move to support the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. This action reflects a growing trend among independent developers who are reevaluating their partnerships with major tech conglomerates.

Why Developers Are Leaving Xbox

The core motivation behind this move is the BDS movement’s campaign, which targets companies deemed to be complicit in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Microsoft, as a major tech giant, has been named as a primary pressure target by the organization. When a game is sold on the Xbox digital store, Microsoft takes a percentage of the revenue, effectively profiting from every transaction.

• Financial Impact: By removing their games, developers ensure that Microsoft no longer receives a revenue cut from their titles.
• Political Stance: It serves as a public declaration of solidarity with the BDS movement’s goals.
• Platform Precedence: Maddy Makes Games joins other studios, such as the creators of Big Walk, in distancing their products from the Xbox ecosystem.

What This Means for Xbox Players

If you are an Xbox owner, you can no longer purchase digital copies of these titles directly through the console. However, this development does not render the games unplayable for those who already own them, nor does it impact other platforms.

For those who’re asking, yes, we delisted Celeste and TowerFall on Xbox. We did this to support the BDS boycott.

For gamers still looking to experience these titles, several alternatives remain:

• Other Digital Storefronts: Both games remain widely available on PC platforms like Steam, as well as other consoles like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation.
• Physical Copies: For collectors and those wishing to bypass digital storefronts, buying used physical copies remains a viable option where available.
• Platform Flexibility: The boycott is specific to the revenue streams of the Xbox digital store, meaning the games themselves are not ‘banned’—they are simply no longer being distributed via that specific channel.

As the gaming industry continues to navigate the intersection of entertainment and global politics, moves like this highlight the increasing influence individual developers have in shaping the digital landscape. Whether this trend will expand to other platforms or major publishers remains to be seen.

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