UPDATE: The Aus Classification Board has now officially confirmed that Halloween The Game has been Refused Classification and provided the reason for the game being banned.
“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.”
ORIGINAL STORY: The year is 2026 and we’re still talking about games being refused classification in Australia. This time, it’s Halloween: The Game.
The announcement was made on Twitter, by publisher IllFonic Publishing, who said that despite every effort, the game won’t be sold digitally or physically here in Australia. This isn’t due to the kills or Michael Myers, but rather the presence of a substance which is presumably used to the player’s benefit.
Whilst we haven’t played Halloween: The Game, even though we have an R18+ rating, the Classification Board still rules harshly on games that have substances that positively impact the player.
It’s said that the game allows players to smoke weed to gain a buff that allows Michael to ping across the map for an advantage. It does seem unlieky given Illfonic’s response that they’ll look to rename this substance or change it, but we’ll keep you posted.
IllFonic Publishing said: 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.”
We’ll keep you posted on what happens, but Halloween: The Game is set to launch next month.
