Illfonic, the studio behind titles like Friday the 13th: The Game, has announced that its upcoming game, Halloween: The Game, has been refused classification in Australia. This refusal means the game will not be sold in Australia, and due to Illfonic's decision, it will also be absent from New Zealand storefronts, despite the two countries having separate classification systems.
The classification refusal reportedly stems from the game's inclusion of a mechanic where players can smoke marijuana in-game to reveal Michael Myers' location on the map. According to the Australian Classification Board, games that feature illicit drug use tied to incentives or rewards cannot be accommodated within the R18+ classification and must be refused classification.
While Illfonic stated the decision was not based on the game's violence or characters, the specific issue appears to be the in-game reward tied to drug consumption. For context, other games like Grand Theft Auto V and Far Cry 3 have featured similar drug use mechanics without receiving refusals in Australia, as these were not linked to in-game incentives.
It is understood that the Australian Classification Board has not yet published a formal decision for Halloween: The Game. However, a spokesperson confirmed that games with illicit drug use linked to incentives or rewards fall outside the R18+ guidelines. It remains unclear whether Illfonic sought a human rating for a physical release or relied solely on the automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) tool for digital distribution, which may have contributed to the outcome.
While the game has been refused classification in Australia, its absence in New Zealand is a consequence of Illfonic's own decision. The developer has not indicated if they plan to appeal the classification or make modifications to the game to comply with Australian guidelines, a path other developers have taken in the past by adjusting in-game terminology for prohibited substances.