● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Halloween: The Game Banned in Australia Due to Incentivized Drug Use, Not Violence
Key points
- "Halloween: The Game" banned in Australia by Classification Board.
- Ban is due to incentivized marijuana use, not violent content.
- Game allows players to smoke marijuana to locate Michael Myers.
- Decision aligns with Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023.
Game Banned Over Gameplay Mechanic
Illfonic's upcoming title, "Halloween: The Game," has been refused classification by Australia's Classification Board, preventing its sale within the country. The ban is not related to the game's violent content, which includes gruesome killings, but rather a specific gameplay mechanic involving illicit drug use.
Incentivized Drug Use Cited
The Classification Board stated that the game contains illicit drug use linked to an incentive or reward. Specifically, players can smoke marijuana to reveal the location of Michael Myers, providing a gameplay advantage. This falls under the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023, which mandate refusal of classification for games with "illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards."
Public Reaction and Precedent
The decision has generated significant public backlash, with Illfonic's social media receiving numerous complaints from Australian players. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about Australia's game classification system, particularly its differences from film and television classification and its impact on adult access to games available internationally. Previous titles like "State of Decay," "Wasteland 3," and "Saints Row IV" faced similar bans for incentivized drug use, later receiving reclassification after content alterations.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The video game "Halloween: The Game" has been refused classification in Australia, banning its sale, because it features marijuana use that provides a gameplay advantage. This decision by the Classification Board follows guidelines prohibiting games with illicit drug use linked to incentives or rewards, sparking renewed debate over Australia's game classification standards.