Millions of gamers will not be able to play the upcoming Halloween: The Game when it launches for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on September 8. Halloween: The Game is the next asymmetric multiplayer horror game from developer IllFonic, known for titles like Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, and most recently, Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game. IllFonic has a proven track record of adapting horror movies to video games, and it is looking to continue its hot streak with the Halloween game.
Like IllFonic’s previous work, Halloween: The Game is primarily an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game. One player controls the iconic slasher villain Michael Myers, while four others control civilians living in Haddonfield, the setting for most of the movies in the franchise. The game also features a single-player mode starring Michael. Halloween fans and fans of asymmetrical multiplayer games in general are excited for Halloween: The Game, but many of them won’t have the chance to play it.
Halloween: The Game Denied Classification in Australia
IllFonic has confirmed that Halloween: The Game has been denied classification by the Australian Classification Board. Effectively, this means that the game will not be sold digitally or physically in Australia. Despite New Zealand having its own classification system, Halloween: The Game won’t be sold there either. This means that the millions of gamers in Australia and New Zealand will not be able to play Halloween: The Game in an official capacity. While some may naturally assume that the game’s level of violence is why it’s being denied classification, the real reason has to do with how Halloween: The Game depicts drug use.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
As reported by IGN, it seems that classification denial is because Halloween: The Game lets the civilian players smoke marijuana to ping Michael Myers’ location. Tying drug use to a benefit is the issue, not the fact that the game includes drugs or the ability to use them. It’s possible that changes could happens to make Halloween: The Game available for purchase in Australia, but IllFonic has not indicated that any such changes will be made.
This is no doubt disappointing to Halloween fans in Australia that were looking forward to playing the game. Like IllFonic’s previous games, Halloween: The Game is set to be a love letter to the franchise, full of Easter eggs and nods to the movies that would be a lot of fun for hardcore fans to experience for themselves. While there will certainly be unofficial ways of playing Halloween: The Game for those individuals, it’s a shame that they won’t be able to support it officially.
It will be interesting to see how Halloween: The Game performs, especially since it’s completely shut-out of at least one major market. Some asymmetrical multiplayer horror games have struggled to maintain a community for a significant period of time, while juggernauts like Dead by Daylight continue to be very popular. With its release date right around the corner, we’ll find out how Halloween: The Game performs sooner rather than later.
- Released
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September 8, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending
