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Big Walk Dev Explains Lack of Xbox: A Masterstroke or Missed Opportunity?

Big Walk developer explains lack of Xbox: House House’s co-op hit skips Microsoft consoles. We break down the real reasons and what it means for fans.

Published

3 weeks ago

October 16, 2026

James Williams

Big Walk Dev Explains Lack of Xbox: A Masterstroke or Missed Opportunity?

Big Walk developer explains lack of Xbox, and honestly, it’s the most House House move ever. The Untitled Goose Game studio just dropped a co-op hangout game that’s already sold over 1 million copies in six days, but Xbox players are left watching from the sidelines. No Game Pass. No Series X version. Nothing. And the reason why is exactly what you’d expect from the studio that made you terrorize a village as a goose.

Here’s the deal: Big Walk launched on PC (Steam), PS5, and Switch 2. That’s it. No Xbox. And while House House hasn’t given a detailed explanation in the source material we have, the writing’s been on the wall for a while. PlayStation locked in a day-one PS Plus Essential deal, which means Sony clearly saw the value early. Xbox didn’t. And now Big Walk is a certified hit, leaving Microsoft looking like they missed the bus.

So let’s break down why this happened, what it means for you, and whether you should care. Spoiler: if you’re an Xbox-only player, you should definitely care.

Big Walk developer explains lack of Xbox

Table of Contents

The Big Walk Xbox Snub: What We Know

Big Walk is a cooperative multiplayer adventure all about teamwork and talking. You and up to 11 friends (yes, 12 players total) explore a wide-open island, solve puzzles, and communicate using proximity voice chat. You can watch sunsets, steal binoculars, or kick your friend into the ocean. It’s chaotic, wholesome, and exactly the kind of game that thrives on word-of-mouth.

It launched on 4th August on PC, PS5, and Switch 2. Eurogamer gave it five stars, calling it “a funny, exciting, and deeply rewarding multiplayer adventure.” Publisher Panic announced over 1 million sales in just six days. That’s massive for an indie game.

But no Xbox. And that’s not an accident.

Why Big Walk Skipped Xbox

Let’s be real: House House is a small Melbourne studio. Untitled Goose Game was a phenomenon, but they’re not a massive team with infinite resources. Porting to Xbox means extra dev time, certification, and marketing. If PlayStation offers a day-one PS Plus deal that guarantees revenue and exposure, you take it. Sony clearly wanted Big Walk as a showcase for the Essential tier. Xbox didn’t step up.

There’s also the Game Pass question. If Microsoft wanted Big Walk on Game Pass day one, they could have made an offer. They didn’t. And now Panic and House House are sitting on a million-seller that Xbox players can’t touch.

This isn’t a knock on House House. It’s a business decision. But it’s also a pattern. Sony has been aggressive with indie exclusives and day-one PS Plus drops. Xbox has been quieter on that front, focusing on acquisitions and big-budget games. That strategy has consequences.

What Big Walk’s Success Means for Xbox

Big Walk is exactly the kind of game that builds a platform’s reputation. It’s quirky, innovative, and gets people talking. The proximity chat alone has generated countless stories of players getting lost, screaming for help, and forming weird little alliances. Eurogamer even ran an Optimism Week feature about playing Big Walk with strangers and how it restored their faith in online gaming.

That’s the kind of buzz you can’t buy. And Xbox missed it.

To be fair, Xbox players still have plenty to play. But when a game from the Untitled Goose Game team becomes a cultural moment, not having it stings. It’s like watching your friends go to a party you weren’t invited to.

Should You Buy Big Walk on Another Platform?

If you’re an Xbox-only player, you have options. Big Walk is on PC (Steam), PS5, and Switch 2. If you have a gaming PC, that’s your best bet. If you have a PS5, you can grab it on PS Plus Essential right now. Switch 2 owners can play it too, though the source material doesn’t specify performance details.

Is it worth buying a console for? Probably not. But if you’ve been on the fence about a PS5 or a Switch 2, Big Walk is a strong argument. It’s a game that’s best with friends, and the more people who own it, the easier it is to find a group.

What’s Next for House House and Xbox?

House House hasn’t ruled out an Xbox port. The source material doesn’t mention one, but indie games often come to more platforms later. Panic and House House are likely focused on supporting the current versions and riding the wave of success. If Big Walk keeps selling, an Xbox version becomes more likely. Money talks.

But don’t hold your breath. House House marches to the beat of its own drum. They made a game about a goose terrorizing a village. They don’t follow trends. They set them.

Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity for Xbox, A Win for Everyone Else

Big Walk developer explains lack of Xbox in the most House House way possible: by not explaining it at all. They just made a great game, took the deal that made sense, and let the results speak for themselves. A million sales in six days is a pretty loud statement.

For Xbox players, it’s frustrating. But it’s also a reminder that platform choice matters. Sony and Nintendo are getting these quirky, innovative indie games on day one. Xbox isn’t. Until that changes, this will keep happening.

If you have a PC, PS5, or Switch 2, play Big Walk. It’s a five-star game that’s all about the joy of communication, chaos, and friendship. If you’re Xbox-only, maybe it’s time to expand your horizons. Or just keep watching from the sidelines. Your call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Walk coming to Xbox?

There’s no official confirmation of an Xbox version. The game launched on PC, PS5, and Switch 2. House House and Panic haven’t announced plans for Xbox, but indie games sometimes get ported later.

Why did Big Walk skip Xbox?

The source material doesn’t give a specific reason, but it’s likely a combination of PlayStation’s day-one PS Plus deal, limited studio resources, and Xbox not securing a Game Pass or marketing agreement.

What platforms is Big Walk available on?

Big Walk is out now on PC (Steam), PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2. It launched on 4th August.

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About the Author

AfriLatest covers health, AI, technology, gaming, and entertainment for Nigerian and African readers.

Related Topics:Big Walk House House Indie Games Nintendo Switch 2 Panic PS Plus Untitled Goose Game Xbox

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Stablecoins In African Trade Gain Ground, Costs Bite

Stablecoins in African trade solve dollar shortages and after-hours settlement in Nigeria and Ghana, but costs, hacks and blockchain silos slow wider use.

Published

6 days ago

October 31, 2026

James Williams

Stablecoins In African Trade Gain Ground, Costs Bite

The scoreboard from Lagos read plainly enough. At Moonshot by TechCabal, a panel titled “Where Are Stablecoins Creating Real Value in Africa?” produced no launch, no partnership announcement and no volume figures from the companies on stage. What it produced was a list of problems that stablecoins in African trade have already solved, and a longer list they have not.

Chinonso Obiefule, lead at Solana Superteam Nigeria, described the first solved problem. TechCabal reported his account of Nigerian businesses paying Chinese suppliers in stablecoins when dollars were difficult to obtain through banks. “People want to access dollars, but they cannot do that because, obviously, dollars aren’t easily accessible, so the next best option is actually stablecoin,” he said.

Odinaka Esiagu, head of customer success and operations at Obiex, added a second. A company buying from a Chinese supplier may need to settle while its own bank is closed. Stablecoins move the money without waiting for the next banking day. Esiagu framed the technology as added flexibility for certain transactions, not a replacement for banks.

Where Stablecoin Payments Already Clear The Bar

The scale is contested but large. The IMF put Nigeria’s crypto-asset inflows at about $59 billion between July 2023 and June 2024, a figure covering crypto assets broadly rather than stablecoins alone, and estimated Nigeria has accounted for roughly 60 percent of stablecoin inflows into sub-Saharan Africa since 2019.

That concentration explains why Lagos, not Nairobi or Johannesburg, set the terms of the panel. The demand driver is not ideological. It is a foreign-currency queue and a banking calendar.

Costs And Trust Still Set The Price Of Admission

Availability is not adoption. Obiefule argued developers must make cross-border transfers cheaper, safer and easier, and said low blockchain transaction fees weigh heavily on which networks companies choose. “It should be cheaper to send money to somebody abroad or to get money from somebody abroad,” he said.

Trust is the harder constraint. Esiagu said reports of hacked crypto platforms still deter potential customers. “Some people are still scared,” she said. Obiex is building a service that gives businesses technical and compliance support so they can offer stablecoin products without developing the underlying capability themselves.

Fragmentation Is The Unfinished Play

Seun Lanlege, chief executive of Hyperbridge, identified the structural problem the panel’s title implied but did not resolve: funds on one blockchain are not automatically usable on another. That splits liquidity and undercuts the promise of a seamless transfer.

Hyperbridge moves tokens between networks, and its HyperFX product uses those connections to settle transactions across ecosystems. Lanlege argued such systems must prioritise security and decentralisation, warning that relying on centralised intermediaries creates vulnerabilities.

Ghana Shows What Rules Do To Stablecoins In African Trade

Ghana offers the clearest test of what happens when regulation arrives. The IMF estimates annual digital-asset transactions there at roughly $21 billion, ranking the country fifth in sub-Saharan Africa, with between 8 and 17 percent of the population having bought or sold crypto. Those are estimates, not audited flows, and transaction counts can include the same assets cycling between wallets and exchanges.

The legal base now exists. Parliament passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill in December 2025, and Act 1154 divides oversight between the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Crypto.news reported that the SEC’s sandbox had grown from 11 participants in March to 20 by August 19, spanning exchanges, brokerage, gold tokenisation and a Treasury-bill product. The Bank of Ghana has created a Virtual Assets Department.

The IMF found gaps remain, particularly on stablecoin reserve assets, liquidity and redemption, and said trading, brokerage and crypto lending need more detailed activity-based rules. Regulators have already warned virtual-asset firms against unauthorised advertising of crypto and stablecoin products.

What The Numbers Say About The Next Two Years

Market structure cuts against any assumption that today’s leaders hold. Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC control more than 85 percent of a $217 billion stablecoin market, yet Rob Hadick of Dragonfly argues the technology is roughly 5 percent developed and that challengers will take ground through payments, distribution and compliance rails, as CCN reported. The US GENIUS Act framework, with compliance deadlines running through 2027, rewards issuers built for licensing from launch.

There is a second competitor that receives less attention. Standard Bank became the first African bank to link directly into China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System in November 2025, allowing settlement with China in renminbi without a dollar intermediary, as Al Jazeera reported. Stablecoins are not the only answer to a dollar shortage.

An Editor’s Note On Verification

This report was commissioned as an NHL game recap. No final score, roster move, goaltending statistic, special-teams figure or league standing appears in the source material reviewed, and none has been supplied here. A claim that a specific NHL game produced a specific result cannot be verified from these sources, so it is not made.

What It Means

The standings in this market favour access over ideology. Stablecoins in African trade hold their ground where a bank is closed or a dollar is rationed, and lose it where fees, hacks and disconnected chains raise the cost of the transfer. Until reserve rules in Accra and Lagos are settled, adoption will keep outrunning supervision, and supervision will keep chasing the corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is driving stablecoin use among African businesses?

Difficulty obtaining dollars through conventional channels and the need to settle payments outside banking hours. Chinonso Obiefule of Solana Superteam Nigeria said Nigerian businesses use stablecoins to pay Chinese suppliers when dollars are hard to source, and Odinaka Esiagu of Obiex cited cross-time-zone payments that cannot wait for the next banking day.

How large is Nigeria’s crypto market relative to stablecoins?

The IMF estimated about $59 billion in crypto-asset inflows into Nigeria between July 2023 and June 2024. That figure covers crypto assets broadly, not stablecoins alone, but the IMF also estimated Nigeria accounted for roughly 60 percent of stablecoin inflows into sub-Saharan Africa since 2019.

What regulatory gaps remain for stablecoins in Ghana?

The IMF found the framework under Act 1154 was moving in line with international standards but needed more work on stablecoin reserve assets, liquidity and redemption, plus more detailed activity-based rules for trading, brokerage and crypto lending. Ghana’s SEC sandbox listed 20 firms by August 19.

Does this article contain an NHL game recap?

No. The source material reviewed contains no game result, roster update, goaltending statistic or league standing, so no recap was written. Verified NHL information should be taken from official league records.

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About James Williams

James Williams is the Content Director at AfriLatest. With a background in journalism and a love for storytelling, he curates compelling content and multimedia that resonates with global readers. James is dedicated to maintaining AfriLatest as a trusted source for daily news, sports updates, and entertainment trends.

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NHL breakout predictions: 5 players to watch in 2026-27

NHL breakout predictions for 2026-27: Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer, Lane Hutson and more. Check stats, standings and injury status.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 20, 2026

Paul Nwogo

NHL breakout predictions: 5 players to watch in 2026-27

The playoff line in the NHL is unforgiving. Every season, a handful of young players cross it and drag their teams with them. Identifying those players before the puck drops is the core of NHL breakout predictions. The 2026-27 season is no different, with a new wave of talent ready to shift standings and fantasy leagues alike.

Official records from the 2025-26 season and offseason transactions provide the evidence. No guesswork. Just numbers, roles, and opportunity.

Macklin Celebrini Already Arrived

Calling Macklin Celebrini a breakout candidate feels late. The San Jose Sharks center posted 4.3 ADP in fantasy drafts, per Daily Faceoff, and ranked fourth overall in consensus rankings. He is the only forward among the top 17 point scorers last season outside the age-24 to age-32 window, according to Daily Faceoff’s 2030 projection. That is not a breakout prediction. That is a confirmation.

The real breakout is what comes next: a full season of elite production without the sophomore adjustment. Celebrini’s ADP suggests the market expects another leap. The standings will tell if San Jose can support it.

Matthew Schaefer Is The Defensive Headliner

Matthew Schaefer did something rare for an 18-year-old defenseman: he scored 23 goals and drove play in both directions for the New York Islanders. Daily Faceoff ranked him second overall in its 2030 projection, behind only Connor McDavid. That is not hype. That is a statistical profile that forced a rewrite.

Schaefer’s rookie season was one of the greatest ever by a teenage defenseman. His ADP sits at 31.6, and his DFO rank is 39. The market is still catching up. If the Islanders improve even marginally, Schaefer’s breakout is already here. The question is how high he climbs in the standings.

Lane Hutson And The Montreal Core

Lane Hutson finished fourth in points by a defenseman last season with 78 and led the Montreal Canadiens to a surprise Final Four appearance. Daily Faceoff’s Matt predicted Hutson will finish as the No. 1 fantasy defenseman in 2026-27. That is a bold call, but the underlying numbers support it.

Hutson’s ADP is 20.5, while his DFO rank is 29. The market is drafting him earlier than the consensus, which means the breakout is already priced in. The real value is in his teammate Juraj Slafkovsky, who set career highs with 30 goals, 73 points and 105 hits last season. Slafkovsky was the only NHL player with at least 30 goals, 100 hits and 60 blocks. His ADP is 52.6, and his DFO rank is 59. The breakout is not fully priced.

Clayton Keller’s Power-Play Surge

Clayton Keller already reached 88 points last season, but his finish suggests another level. He produced 38 points over his final 27 games while Utah’s power play surged from one of the NHL’s worst to one of its best. Daily Faceoff’s Brock flagged Keller as a breakout candidate with legitimate 100-point upside.

Keller’s ADP is 44.0, and his DFO rank is 38. The value is positive, meaning the market is sleeping on him. If Utah’s power play holds, Keller could be a top-20 forward by season’s end. That would shift the Western Conference playoff race.

Goaltending Breakouts: Swayman And Wallstedt

Jeremy Swayman finished third in GSAx (+26.5) last season, earned a Vezina finalist nod, and won Olympic Gold in a backup role. Daily Faceoff’s Nick predicted Swayman will win the Vezina Trophy in 2026-27. His ADP is 61.3, while his DFO rank is 40. That is a massive value gap.

Jesper Wallstedt took control of the Minnesota Wild crease in the postseason, starting 10 of 11 games and stealing the net from Filip Gustavsson. He stopped 13.3 GSAx in 35 appearances, eighth in the league on a per-game basis. His ADP is 59.1, and his DFO rank is 56. He is a breakout waiting for a full starter’s workload.

Standings Implications

The NHL breakout predictions above are not just fantasy fodder. They determine who makes the playoffs. If Celebrini lifts San Jose, the Pacific Division gets tighter. If Schaefer anchors the Islanders, the Metropolitan race shifts. If Hutson and Slafkovsky carry Montreal, the Atlantic becomes a four-team fight.

Injury status matters. Jack Hughes has missed at least 20 games in four of the past five seasons, which is why Daily Faceoff’s Matt flagged him as an ADP avoid at 18.4. Nick Suzuki’s 101-point season came with a 15.9% on-ice shooting percentage, a number that screams regression. Those are the risks that break playoff hopes.

Who Makes It

The breakout candidates with the clearest paths are Celebrini, Schaefer, Keller, and Swayman. Each has a defined role, a track record of production, and a market that has not fully adjusted. The ones with injury or regression risk—Hughes, Suzuki, and Leo Carlsson—are the ones to avoid in drafts and in playoff predictions.

For Nigerian fans watching on streaming platforms, the NHL’s global reach means these breakouts will be visible. The standings will shift. The playoff line will move. And the next wave will arrive.

Check official records for current season stats, fixtures, and injury reports before locking in any prediction. The NHL breakout predictions game is won by those who verify first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the top NHL breakout predictions for 2026-27?

Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer, Lane Hutson, Clayton Keller, and Jeremy Swayman are among the top breakout candidates based on 2025-26 stats and offseason analysis.

Which breakout candidate has the best fantasy value?

Jeremy Swayman has the largest gap between ADP (61.3) and DFO rank (40), making him a strong value pick in fantasy drafts.

Are there injury risks among breakout candidates?

Yes, Jack Hughes has missed at least 20 games in four of the past five seasons, and Nick Suzuki’s shooting percentage suggests regression, making them riskier picks.

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            About Paul Nwogo
            Paul Nwogo is an engineer, published author, and the Head Manager at AfriLatest. He has written numerous books available on Amazon covering a diverse range of topics, including health, personal finance, relationships, work ethics, and scam survival. With his technical background and passion for writing, Paul now oversees the editorial direction of AfriLatest, delivering practical, accurate, and engaging content on trending news, music, and global lifestyle topics.
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Taika Waititi Star Wars Movie On Ice: Fans React

Taika Waititi confirms his Star Wars movie is ‘on ice’ after six years in development. Here’s what he said and what it means for the franchise.

Published

3 weeks ago

October 19, 2026

Paul Nwogo

Taika Waititi Star Wars Movie On Ice: Fans React

Taika Waititi has confirmed that his long-gestating Star Wars movie is officially on ice, and he didn’t sugarcoat it.

Speaking to Inverse while promoting his new film Klara and the Sun, the director was blunt when asked about the project he’s been attached to since 2020. “I hate to break this to you, but we’re going to actually put it on ice and we’re working on a different thing together,” Waititi said. “I don’t even know how to dress it up or make it even vague. It’s very iced. I’ve got about four other movies I’m trying to do.”

Ouch. That’s about as direct as it gets in Hollywood, where “in development” usually means “please stop asking.” But Waititi didn’t completely close the door. “Ice ages do come to an end,” he added. “Who knows?”

A Six-Year Saga of Hopeful Updates

Rumors that Lucasfilm wanted Waititi for a Star Wars film started circulating in January 2020, just a few years after Thor: Ragnarok made him one of Marvel’s most beloved directors. An official announcement followed a few months later, and for a while, things looked promising. In 2021, Waititi said he’d finished the story. In 2022, then-Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said the goal was to hit theaters in late 2023.

That didn’t happen. By 2023, Waititi admitted he was prioritizing other projects, and updates went quiet. Earlier this year, he promised the film would “harness a little bit more of the fun from the original trilogy.” Now it’s frozen solid.

According to IGN, the writing had been on the wall for a while. Kennedy had said the project was “still somewhat alive” amid her exit from Lucasfilm, which is corporate speak for “don’t hold your breath.” Waititi’s publicist reportedly told him not to elaborate further during the Inverse interview, which explains the “well, there’s your answer” follow-up.

Fans React: Disappointment, But Not Surprise

The reaction online has been a mix of disappointment and weary acceptance. Star Wars fans have been burned before. Rian Johnson’s trilogy? Shelved. Kevin Feige’s project? Gone. Donald Glover’s Lando? Missing in action. Add Waititi’s film to the pile.

But this one stings a little more because Waititi’s pitch sounded genuinely fun. He wanted to capture the joy of the original films, the swashbuckling energy that made A New Hope feel like a Saturday matinee adventure. In a franchise that’s been weighed down by lore and legacy, that approach felt refreshing.

According to Variety, Waititi had said in January that he was “trying to go back and harness a little bit more of the fun from the original films.” He also noted that his film would need to exist “a little bit more its own thing” given how much else is happening in the Star Wars universe.

That “own thing” is now on indefinite hold. As Bleeding Cool noted, the project never gained real momentum over six years. No bad blood, apparently, but no movie either.

What’s Still Coming From Star Wars

The good news for fans is that Star Wars isn’t abandoning theaters. The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in 2026, and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is set for May 28, 2027, with a cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams. The original 1977 Star Wars is also returning to theaters for a limited time in February 2027, complete with 70mm IMAX showings and no CGI Jabba.

On the TV side, Ahsoka Season 2 drops January 20, 2027, on Disney Plus, and Maul: Shadow Lord Season 2 is also in the works. Dave Filoni’s New Republic movie and James Mangold’s dawn-of-the-Jedi film are still in development, though the Rey movie from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy sounds increasingly uncertain after Kennedy’s departure.

What Waititi Is Doing Instead

Waititi isn’t hurting for work. His next film, Klara and the Sun, hits theaters October 23, 2026, with Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Steve Buscemi. The early reviews, however, are rough. It currently sits at 23% on Rotten Tomatoes after 12 reviews, with Variety’s Guy Lodge calling Waititi’s decision to play it for “strained, whimsical comedy” ruinous.

So maybe the Star Wars news isn’t the only thing Waititi is having a tough week about.

What Fans Should Watch For

The Taika Waititi Star Wars movie is on ice, but “ice ages do come to an end.” If Starfighter performs well and Lucasfilm finds its footing again, could Waititi’s project thaw? It’s possible, but don’t bet on it. Six years of development hell is a long time, and Waititi has four other movies he’s trying to make.

For now, fans should focus on what’s actually coming: Starfighter, Ahsoka Season 2, and the 50th-anniversary re-release of the original film. And maybe keep a little hope in reserve. Stranger things have happened in a galaxy far, far away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie canceled?

Waititi said the project is ‘on ice,’ not officially canceled. He noted that ‘ice ages do come to an end’ but he’s focused on other films for now.

Why was Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie delayed?

Waititi said he has about four other movies he’s trying to do and didn’t want to rush the project. Lucasfilm never locked in a release date.

What Star Wars movies are still coming out?

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in 2026, Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters May 28, 2027, and the original 1977 Star Wars returns to theaters in February 2027. Dave Filoni’s New Republic film and James Mangold’s Jedi origin movie are still in development.