Celeste & TowerFall Pulled From Xbox Over BDS Boycott

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Celeste & TowerFall Pulled From Xbox Over BDS Boycott.

Celeste and TowerFall are no longer available on Xbox. This primarily affects players who have already purchased either of the two indie games through the platform or are still considering buying an Xbox title. Kotaku reports that Maddy Thorson confirmed the withdrawal, citing a BDS boycott as the reason.

What has happened is therefore clear: Xbox no longer offers either game. However, the available information does not clarify the exact timing of the change or whether previously purchased titles will remain available.

What Maddy Thorson’s Confirmation Establishes

The confirmed key point

According to Kotaku, Maddy Thorson confirmed that both Celeste and TowerFall are no longer available on Xbox. The confirmation therefore refers explicitly to both titles, not just one of the two games.

Concretely, this means the previous Xbox lineup for these two indie games no longer exists. Anyone now deciding whether buying through Xbox is worthwhile can no longer purchase either game on the platform.

The report does not name a specific cutoff date in its summary. You should therefore not assume that a purchase process started today will automatically be completed.

The BDS Boycott as the Link Between the Two Games

Why both games are affected together

Kotaku explicitly connects the withdrawal of Celeste and TowerFall to an BDS boycott. Both titles are thus part of the same reported conflict, even though the report provides no further details on its scope or course.

Importantly for context: Thorson’s confirmation and the connection to the boycott come from the same report. They therefore do not constitute independent confirmation from multiple sources, but rather a consolidated report based on the statement cited there.

There is no way to draw any further conclusions with certainty from the available facts. The report does not specifically identify either a general boycott of the Xbox platform or the consequences for other games.

What the Change Means for Xbox Players

Availability, not just visibility

Unlike a mere change to how games are displayed in the catalog, “no longer available” represents a significant cut: According to Kotaku, both games are no longer offered. Xbox players can no longer find or, where applicable, purchase these titles through the platform.

It is unclear from the available information whether games that have already been purchased can still be downloaded or launched. The report also does not mention any refund or goodwill policy. Anyone with related questions must check the current status with Xbox rather than rely on a promise that has not been established here.

A Clear Withdrawal, but No Complete Timeline

What is certain—and what is missing

The central facts can be summarized briefly: Maddy Thorson confirms that Celeste and TowerFall have been removed from Xbox. Kotaku attributes this decision to an BDS boycott. However, the report does not provide a complete timeline or disclose any further technical or contractual details.

The report is therefore clear enough to assess their current availability. More details—such as those concerning previously purchased versions or a possible future return—would require an additional source. The report does not allow for these more extensive conclusions.

Read Kotaku’s full report.