Halloween: The Game has been denied a rating by Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), preventing its release on the PlayStation Store in the country. This marks another instance where the game has faced rating obstacles, following a similar decision in Australia.
To be available on PlayStation in Japan, games typically require a CERO rating. While Sony's policies now allow for IARC-rated games on the Japanese PS Store, this does not apply to titles rated 18+ or physical releases, which still necessitate a CERO rating. Halloween: The Game has been classified as a mature game due to its "visceral violence and nudity," thus requiring a CERO rating for a digital storefront release.
Developer Illfonic has stated that altering the game's content to meet compliance standards would significantly compromise the film's established worldview and the intended player experience. Consequently, the studio has opted not to make changes to reduce the game's violence or remove nudity.
Despite the CERO denial, the game will be available on Xbox and PC in Japan through its International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) rating. The IARC rating system also allowed the game to be sold digitally in New Zealand after discussions with the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC).
Previously, the Australian Classification Board denied Halloween: The Game a rating due to its depiction of controlled substances that provide in-game advantages, which the board deemed as incentivizing drug use. This ban initially extended to New Zealand as well, though a resolution was later reached for digital sales there.