‘Halloween: The Game’ Denied Rating in Australia
The refusal blocks digital and physical sales in Australia and New Zealand after regulators flagged controlled substance content, the developer said.
- On August 9, the Australian Classifications Board denied Halloween: The Game a rating, preventing sales in Australia and New Zealand. Developer IllFonic confirmed the refusal on social media.
- The Classification Board rejected the title due to in-game drug usage rather than violence involving Michael Myers. Smoking weed provides players with map awareness, a tactical advantage the board flagged.
- Regulators previously denied ratings to We Happy Few for similar drug content reasons. Famously, Fallout 3 avoided a ban by renaming the healing drug morphine to Med-X to comply with regulations.
- Pre-Orders for the title on PS5 and Xbox Series platforms have been halted, confirming the game will not launch in the region. The title remains scheduled for September 8 release elsewhere.
- Recent regulatory actions include GTA Online disabling casino gambling for Australian players last month. Authorities continue scrutinizing games containing illicit substances or mechanics that violate regional classification standards.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Halloween: The Game Gets Banned in Two Major Regions Ahead of Release, But For a Reason You'd Not Expect
Ahead of its launch next month, developer Illfonic has announced that Halloween: The Game has been banned in two major regions around the globe. As expected, Halloween: The Game is set to receive a Mature rating, as the title will be filled with plenty of violence, blood and gore, strong language, and sexual content. And […]
New "Halloween" Game Banned In Australia
The high-profile new video game based on the “Halloween” film franchise has been banned in Australia and New Zealand. The title, made in Unreal Engine 5, is a big ol’ tribute to John Carpenter’s 1978 original film, and the action takes place in Haddonfield on that night. The game boasts a single-player story mode, playing with bots offline, or facing others in online multiplayer, with each mode rewarding stealth, strategy, and skilful play. IllF…
Halloween: The Game Refused Classification in Australia, So It Won’t Be Sold in New Zealand Despite the Fact That’s a Different Country
Independent developer Illfonic, best known for its asymmetric multiplayer games based on iconic horror franchises, has revealed its upcoming Halloween: The Game has been refused classification in Australia. As a result, Halloween: The Game won’t be able to be sold via Australian storefronts. However, Illfonic also announced that the Australian rating means it won’t be selling the game in New Zealand either, despite the fact that New Zealand is o…
Halloween has been banned in Australia and New Zealand for a reason you'd never imagine
Halloween is the quintessential horror series, and Halloween: The Game looks like a worthy video game adaptation. The people from Australia and New Zealand might never learn if that’s the case, though, as the game has been banned due to the presence of a “controlled substance”. After the release of a trailer celebrating the 30 days until Halloween: The Game’s release, the game’s official Twitter account told Australian fans who were surprised th…
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