Developer Illfonic has announced that Halloween: The Game will not be available for purchase in Australia or New Zealand following a Refused Classification decision from the Australian Classification Board. The studio confirmed that the game cannot be sold in physical or digital formats in either territory.

The Cause of the Classification Denial

While the Australian Classification Board has not yet published a formal decision, the determination centers on the inclusion of incentivized illicit drug use. Specifically, Halloween: The Game features a mechanic where players can consume marijuana to receive a ping revealing the location of the game's antagonist, Michael Myers.

According to the Australian Classification Board, games containing illicit drug use that provides in-game incentives or rewards cannot be accommodated within the R18+ classification category and must be Refused Classification. While high-impact drug use is permitted under R18+ guidelines, the specific link between drug consumption and a mechanical gameplay advantage violates current regulations.

IARC Tool vs. Classification Board

The refusal comes after Illfonic successfully secured an R18+ rating for the game's pre-order content back in July using the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) tool. However, the IARC tool is restricted to digital-only releases. If a title is intended for physical distribution, it requires a submission to the Australian Classification Board for a human-led rating, which carries different requirements.

Quick Facts

  • Status: Refused Classification in Australia.
  • Availability: The game will not be sold in Australia or New Zealand via physical or digital storefronts.
  • Reason: In-game mechanics allow players to use marijuana as a reward-based incentive to track the antagonist.
  • Regulatory Precedent: Other titles, such as State of Decay and Fallout 3, have previously achieved classification by modifying references to controlled substances, such as renaming them or changing the associated mechanics.

At this stage, it is unclear if Illfonic intends to pursue an appeal with the Classification Review Board or implement changes to the game's mechanics to meet local classification standards.