Halloween: The Game escapes New Zealand ban, stays blocked in Australia
Halloween: The Game will get a digital release in New Zealand after all — but it stays fully blocked in Australia unless the developer changes the game or resubmits it.
Developer IllFonic's adaptation of the horror franchise was refused a rating by the Australian Classification Board over its depiction of a controlled substance, widely reported as a cannabis mechanic tied to the game's civilian side. Without a rating, a game cannot be sold in Australia through either physical retail or digital storefronts.
IllFonic initially said the refusal blocked sales in both Australia and New Zealand, physically and digitally. That turned out to be only partly right. The studio has since clarified that the Australian board's ruling — which applies to physical products — takes precedence over the IARC rating system used for digital releases. The IARC system, short for the International Age Rating Coalition, lets developers fill out a questionnaire to receive digital age ratings across multiple regions at once.
New Zealand's Office of Film and Literature Classification confirmed the game was never submitted for classification in the country, and that no local ruling bars its release there. Under New Zealand law, a digital-only release can be sold without a classification. So the digital version is clear to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in New Zealand on 8 September.
Australia is a different story. The game remains blocked there — both physically and digitally — unless IllFonic resubmits with changes or amends the content flagged by the board. No timeline has been given for any resubmission.
For players outside both territories, the picture is simpler. The physical edition of Halloween: The Game is set to follow on 6 October, according to Eurogamer. Pre-order details are available at the game's official site, halloweengame.com.
The game itself pairs an asymmetrical multiplayer mode — where one player stalks while others try to survive — with an offline single-player story mode featuring AI-controlled bots. Publisher Boss Team Games, whose catalogue includes titles like Evil Dead: The Game and RetroRealms, specialises in adapting film and television franchises for consoles and mobile platforms.
For New Zealand fans of Michael Myers, the news is a relief. For Australian ones, the wait continues — and it depends entirely on whether IllFonic chooses to cut or change what the board flagged.
