Industry Newsindie gamesmicrosoftboycottindustry ethics
Speculative Agency Returns Microsoft Funding, Leaves Xbox Platforms
6.1
Speculative Agency, creators of indie deckbuilder All Will Rise, say they will return Microsoft funding and will not release the game on Microsoft platforms in 2025 after joining the No Games For Genocide boycott. The developers cite Microsoft's business ties to the Israeli military amid the 2023–present Gaza war. The decision reduces their access to Xbox audiences and raises financial risk for the studio.
Key Points
- 1Return funding: Speculative Agency will return Microsoft accelerator funds and avoid Microsoft platforms in 2025
- 2Protest motive: Move responds to No Games For Genocide boycott over Microsoft's sales to Israel and alleged abuses
- 3Practitioner implication: Indie developers face increased financial risk and reduced audience by joining the boycott
Scoring Rationale
Official developer statement provides credible, timely news; limited novelty and impact confined to indie-games segment.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
Practice interview problems based on real data
1,625 SQL & Python problems across 15 industry datasets — the exact type of data you work with.
Try 250 free problems
