Maddy Makes Games has removed Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox digital storefronts. Maddy Thorson announced the decision in a Bluesky post, saying the delistings support the BDS boycott.
Both games were removed from Xbox sales channels, as first reported by PC Gamer. In her post, Thorson said the studio delisted the titles “to support the BDS boycott.”
The decision links game sales to a wider boycott
BDS stands for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. The Palestinian-led campaign advocates economic and institutional pressure related to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Thorson’s statement directly connects the Xbox removals to that campaign. The move does not affect the two games equally across every platform, since Celeste and TowerFall remain available through Steam.
The choice matters because Xbox digital purchases can generate revenue for Microsoft through its platform distribution system. By taking two releases off the console store, Maddy Makes Games has made Microsoft’s role as a distributor part of its boycott action, while Xbox players lose a digital route to buy the games through that storefront.
Steam availability keeps PC sales open
Steam continues to sell both titles, according to the coverage. That leaves PC buyers with access while the developer’s action focuses on Xbox’s digital marketplace rather than removing Celeste and TowerFall from digital retail altogether.
Reports do not specify the exact date of the Xbox removals or how long they will last. They also do not establish whether any physical Xbox editions are affected, if such editions exist, or whether Maddy Makes Games plans to pull additional titles. It is also unclear whether other developers will take similar steps.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
