Halloween: The Game is banned in Australia because incentivized drug use is bad but incentivized ultra-violence isn't
Priorities, priorities.
Halloween: The Game, an upcoming multiplayer horror title from Illfonic, will not be available for purchase in Australia or New Zealand upon its release on September 9. The Australian Classification Board has declined to rate the game, citing the presence of a controlled substance - marijuana - within the game. While games containing controlled substances are typically permitted in Australia, the key factor is how these substances are depicted.
If they are incentivized, the game is denied classification. In the case of Halloween: The Game, players can temporarily see Michael Myers' "pings" across the map when they smoke weed, which the ratings board deems inappropriate. Illfonic has not yet provided clarity on whether they plan to alter the system or replace the marijuana asset for the Australian market.
Studios such as Bethesda and Obsidian have modified content for specific regions before, while others like Devolver have refused, resulting in game unavailability. The Australian Classification Board has removed ratings for the pre-order content of Halloween: The Game, with the game's landing page now inaccessible on the PlayStation Store and Steam.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
