Speculative Agency, developer of the upcoming game All Will Rise, has returned funding from Microsoft as part of the No Games for Genocide boycott. The studio broke its contract signed in 2025 to protest Microsoft's alleged complicity in Israeli actions in Gaza. Microsoft has agreed to the termination, though details remain unresolved.
Speculative Agency announced on March 13, 2026, that it is returning funding received from Microsoft through a developer acceleration programme deal signed in 2025. This decision aligns with the No Games for Genocide movement, described by its organizers as "a group of game workers, activists, union organisers, and journalists who care about the games industry, Palestine, and all people living under the violence of colonialism and imperialism."
The studio's action aims to pressure Microsoft to end its supply of technology to the U.S. government and the Israeli Defense Force, which the boycott highlights as contributing to violence in Gaza. In a statement to outlets including PC Gamer, Speculative Agency expressed hope that collective participation could create a tipping point: "Our small actions and sacrifices can collectively have an unexpectedly powerful impact, and we are hopeful 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."
All Will Rise is a narrative courtroom deck-builder set in a speculative version of Kerala, India, where players take billionaires to court for environmental destruction, blending strategic role-playing and deck-building elements. The game is currently in a Kickstarter campaign that began in February 2026, with a demo available on Steam. The studio noted the financial risks, including forgoing access to Xbox players and needing to cover funding shortfalls amid industry challenges.
Narrative director Meghna Jayanth, known for work on 80 Days and Thirsty Suitors, confirmed in an email to Eurogamer that Microsoft personnel have been understanding: "The people we corresponded with at Microsoft have been very understanding of our decision." She urged others to join: "We are not powerless. Every action matters, and our actions matter immensely when we come together. We have power together."
The studio has removed Xbox from its platforms list, and it remains unclear if All Will Rise will launch there. Speculative Agency debated the move internally, weighing themes of ecocide and corporate greed against commercial viability, but prioritized the boycott's urgency.
