Update 15/8: In a statement issued today by the official Halloween: The Game social accounts, it’s been confirmed that New Zealand players will once again be able to buy and play the game digitally when it launches September 8, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC
This comes after the game has been Refused Classification by the Australian Classification Board, a decision that initially had also caught NZ players in its wake. As per the official statement, it turns out that the game’s physical release plans and accompanying ACB rating in both regions was the cause, and so with physical taken off the table Halloween: The Game was able to secure an appropriate rating from the IARC instead.
Here’s the statement:
We are extremely thrilled to announce that after receiving additional guidance from the OFLC, Office of Film and Literature Classification, in New Zealand, Halloween: The Game will be available for sale digitally in the territory.
When we partnered with physical distributors (as we do not handle) to sell packaged goods in Australia and New Zealand, we learned that the ACB rating (used for physical) took precedence over the IARC rating (used for digital). When ACB refused us a rating, it meant the removal of both physical and digital versions in those territories.
We cannot thank the OFLC, the fans, and the gaming community enough for their support and patience, and cannot wait for New Zealanders to enjoy this game.
*The game will be back on digital storefronts in the next few days. Please be sure to check back for updates.
Update 14/8: The Australian Classification Board has finally issued a statement on Halloween: The Game, confirming it has been classified RC (Refused Classification).
The statement reads:
Halloween: The Game has been classified RC – Refused Classification by the Classification Board.
In making this decision, the Classification Board has applied the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, the National Classification Code (Code) and the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023 (Guidelines).
Halloween: The Game contains illicit drug use that is linked to an incentive or reward, in that use of the drug provides a gameplay advantage to the player. It is on this basis that the game has been refused classification, as required under the Code and Guidelines.
Material classified as RC cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported in Australia.
This confirms previous reporting, which suggested that the use of a controlled substance linked to an in-game incentive or reward (widely believed to be the ability to smoke marijuana in exchange for highlighting Michael on the map) is responsible for the RC rating.
Anyone interested in learning more about how the ratings guidelines around drug use work and how they’re applied can find more information here.
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.