The upcoming video game adaptation of Halloween has been banned in Australia and New Zealand, developer IllFonic has confirmed.
Based on the original 1978 film by John Carpenter, Halloween: The Game is set for release on September 8, and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Two places it won’t be legally available, however, are Australia and New Zealand, after the studio confirmed to one follower on X that the game has been banned in those countries.
When the official Halloween: The Game account on X posted a new trailer for the game marking 30 days until its release, one user asked where the PS5 version was in Australia (presumably because they weren’t able to find it for pre-order).
“Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied Halloween: The Game a rating,” the account replied.
“The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of a controlled substance.
“Unfortunately, to our disappointment (and certainly yours) this means that we cannot sell the physical or digital product in both Australia and New Zealand.”
Players can smoke joints in Halloween: The Game to gain an advantage
Although IllFonic hasn’t explicitly confirmed itself how “the presence of a controlled substance” plays out in the game, a report on horror site Bloody Disgusting posted back in March explained it in more detail.
The article cited to horror podcast Slash ‘N Cast, which went hands-on with the game and reported that a player character can light a joint and smoke weed to get an advantage in the game.
“Smoking weed in Halloween allows you to see Michael’s pings across the map and can give you an advantage,” the podcast reportedly claimed. “It’s a fun gameplay mechanic.”
Halloween: The Game will feature an asymmetrical multiplayer mode, similar to that seen in previous licensed IllFonic games like Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed and Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game.
One player controls the killer Michael Myers, while four others control Haddonfield residents, and have to warn residents to run away and contact the police before the timer runs out.
The game – which is executive produced by the original film’s creator and director John Carpenter – will also include a single-player mode, where players control Michael Myers and play through the events of the first film.
