Microsoft Xbox is a priority BDS target because of Microsoft’s deep complicity with the Israeli genocide in Palestine. Microsoft provides Azure Cloud services and AI to the IDF, and enables the occupation and genocide in a myriad of ways.
The All Will Rise team became aware of the No Games For Genocide campaign late last year. We had a team discussion about whether it was possible for us to participate in the boycott. This was not an easy decision. We are a small indie studio making anticapitalist and political work. We were at that point self-funded, and are currently running a Kickstarter. We are – like so many other indies – eager and hungry for funding opportunities.
We had received some funding from Microsoft as part of a developer acceleration programme deal, which we signed in 2025, so we would have to ask Microsoft to let us break our contract and somehow make up the shortfall of funds at a time when funding is extremely difficult to come by in the industry. Also, we would be giving up the opportunity to reach the large audience of players on Xbox, increasing our financial risk and decreasing our potential player pool.
We also debated whether this boycott made political sense for us. Our game is also about ecocide and corporate greed – should we refuse to participate in corporate platforms that are currently destroying the planet? How do we strike the balance between our themes, integrity, consistency and, frankly, our interest in making a commercial indie game?
The urgency of No Games for Genocide won out. We believe that this boycott is a growing movement that has real potential to pressure Microsoft to cease its complicity with Israeli genocide. We wrote to Microsoft and asked them to break our contract, and they agreed. We do want to thank the individuals at Microsoft with whom we have corresponded for their understanding. Many people are working inside complicit organisations who disagree with leadership decisions. We hope our public action as a potential external partner will help provide them further leverage to speak up internally.
We encourage others in the industry to join us and take a stand in pledging No Games For Genocide. Our small actions and sacrifices can collectively have an unexpectedly powerful impact, and we are hopeful that if enough developers and studios are moved to participate, this could be a genuine tipping point. We refuse the idea that commercial success is worth the price of our consciences.