Update: To add an interesting, extra wrinkle to this story, it seems that at least part of Halloween: The Game has been approved for sale and granted an R18+ by the Australian Classification Boar – specifically the game’s “Pre-Order Content.”
You can see the listing here, which is dated for July 2, 2026 and rates the content R18+ for “High Impact Violence, High Impact Drug Use, In-Game Purchases, Online Interactivity and Chat.” And to make things more confusing, the Xbox version of the game is also currently listed as available in Australia, with the same R18+ rating – though we couldn’t find this information on the ACB website.
Note the “High Impact Drug Use,” which is seemingly what IllFonic has stated impacted the rating decision on the main game. We’ve reached out to IllFonic to see if they can clarify this further.
Original Story: Halloween: The Game, a new asymmetrical multiplayer horror title that’s due to launch on September 8, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, will no longer see an official release in Australia or New Zealand. The game has, effectively, been banned in the region due to being refused classification by the Australian Classifications Board.
The news comes via the game’s official Twitter account, where it responded to a fan asking why Halloween was seemingly MIA on Australian platformers and at retailers, despite pre-order activity having long since begun elsewhere. And the reason provided for the ban is one that Aussie gamers will already well know. It’s not about violence, gore, sex, or anything you might think would be “too much” for discerning, adult players in ANZ – it is entirely because of the presence of a “controlled substance.”
The full statement reads:
“Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied “Halloween: The Game” a rating. 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.”
This is far from the first example of a game being refused classification by the ACB. Other titles that have either been outright barred from sale, or only permitted after the removal of real-world drug references, include Fallout 3, Wasteland 3, Sludge Life, Super Blood Hockey, Saints Row IV, State of Decay and Narc (lol). Some games in the past have managed to have their rulings overturned after appealing to the Board, either by showing that drug use wasn’t related to rewards or player benefits (the primary issue causing these classification decisions), including Disco Elysium and We Happy Few.
It’s unclear whether publisher and developer, IllFonic, has appealed to the ACB or plans to make any modifications before launch to facilitate its release, but the language used in their statement would imply that this isn’t the case.
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Born into the world of video games through SEGA, and in particular Sonic the Hedgehog, Kieron’s gaming tastes now consist of the latest, shiny AAA thing, an indie darling or two, and an embarrassing number of hours of Balatro.