Halloween: The Game Banned in Australia and New Zealand Over Drug Depiction
The refusal shows Australia's classification board still blocks games where drugs give player benefits, even under R18+, forcing the publisher to accept a regional ban rather than alter the content.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
IllFonic Publishing announced that Halloween: The Game cannot be sold in Australia or New Zealand. The 1-vs-4 asymmetric horror game, due September 9, 2026, was refused classification not for violence but for depicting controlled substances. Players can smoke marijuana for buffs, which the Australian board still restricts despite R18+.
IllFonic Publishing confirmed on X that Halloween: The Game will not be sold in Australia or New Zealand. The decision came from the classification board, which cited the presence of controlled substances rather than the game's violent content.
In the game, players can smoke marijuana to gain buffs, such as letting Michael Myers move faster across the map. The publisher's statement suggests changing the substance's name or mechanics is not feasible, so the ban stands.
Halloween: The Game is still scheduled for release on September 9, 2026, on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.