{"id":2087598,"date":"2026-08-11T09:16:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2087598"},"modified":"2026-08-11T09:16:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:16:09","slug":"halloween-game-banned-in-australia-and-new-zealand-but-not-over-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2087598","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Halloween\u2019 game banned in Australia and New Zealand but not over violence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Halloween-The-Game.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Gaming News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">\u2018Halloween\u2019 game banned in Australia and New Zealand but not over violence<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The survival horror is due to launch early next month\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Ali Shutler<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-11T10:16:09+01:00\">11th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Halloween-The-Game-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"&apos;Halloween: The Game&apos; banned\" title=\"Halloween- The Game\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">&#8216;Halloween: The Game&#8217;. CREDIT: Illfonic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>A survival horror game based on the iconic <i>Halloween<\/i> film series has been banned in Australia and New Zealand \u2013 but not because of the violence.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Ice Nine Kills on their \u201cintense\u201d \u2018Dead By Daylight\u2019 collab and why horror will never die<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>Halloween: The Game <\/i>is set to launch September 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\/S and PC. \u201cIt\u2019s Halloween night, 1978, the unsuspecting families of the quiet suburban town of Haddonfield are making holiday preparations, and evil has made its way home,\u201d reads an official description of the game. \u201cThe Boogeyman is out. Team up in a 1v4 asymmetrical horror showdown on everyone\u2019s favourite night of the year. Choose to save the quiet town of Haddonfield from bloodshed as a Hero of Haddonfield or stalk and terrorise the residents as Michael Myers.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier this week, <i>Halloween: The Game <\/i>developers shared a release map that told fans when the title would be available in their country but Australia and New Zealand were missing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied \u201cHalloween: The Game\u201d a rating. The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Halloween: The Game (@HalloweenTVG) August 9, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cDespite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied <i>Halloween: The Game<\/i> a rating. The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of a controlled substance,\u201d they explained on X. \u201cUnfortunately, to our disappointment (and certainly yours) this means that we cannot sell the physical or digital product in both Australia and New Zealand.\u201d Pre-orders have already been refunded.<\/p>\n<p>Many fans believe <i>Halloween: The Game<\/i> has been banned because players can smoke weed to give Michael Myers game-changing perks. \u201cTo make things stranger, medical cannabis is perfectly legal in Australia and New Zealand so it makes it even more silly because of that,\u201d one fan wrote on Reddit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In other news, <i>Five Nights At Freddy\u2019s<\/i>\u00a0fans will soon be able to visit the central pizza restaurant in real life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Halloween<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 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class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christopher-Nolan-Premiere-Image-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christopher-Nolan-Premiere-Image-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Christopher Nolan would consider making a horror film next<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>A survival horror game based on the iconic <i>Halloween<\/i> film series has been banned in Australia and New Zealand \u2013 but not because of the violence.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Ice Nine Kills on their \u201cintense\u201d \u2018Dead By Daylight\u2019 collab and why horror will never die<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>Halloween: The Game <\/i>is set to launch September 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\/S and PC. \u201cIt\u2019s Halloween night, 1978, the unsuspecting families of the quiet suburban town of Haddonfield are making holiday preparations, and evil has made its way home,\u201d reads an official description of the game. \u201cThe Boogeyman is out. Team up in a 1v4 asymmetrical horror showdown on everyone\u2019s favourite night of the year. Choose to save the quiet town of Haddonfield from bloodshed as a Hero of Haddonfield or stalk and terrorise the residents as Michael Myers.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier this week, <i>Halloween: The Game <\/i>developers shared a release map that told fans when the title would be available in their country but Australia and New Zealand were missing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied \u201cHalloween: The Game\u201d a rating. The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Halloween: The Game (@HalloweenTVG) August 9, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cDespite every effort on our part, the Australian Classifications Board has denied <i>Halloween: The Game<\/i> a rating. The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of a controlled substance,\u201d they explained on X. \u201cUnfortunately, to our disappointment (and certainly yours) this means that we cannot sell the physical or digital product in both Australia and New Zealand.\u201d Pre-orders have already been refunded.<\/p>\n<p>Many fans believe <i>Halloween: The Game<\/i> has been banned because players can smoke weed to give Michael Myers game-changing perks. \u201cTo make things stranger, medical cannabis is perfectly legal in Australia and New Zealand so it makes it even more silly because of that,\u201d one fan wrote on Reddit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In other news, <i>Five Nights At Freddy\u2019s<\/i>\u00a0fans will soon be able to visit the central pizza restaurant in real life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/gaming-news\/halloween-game-banned-australia-new-zealand-violence-drugs-rating-3961877&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Halloween-The-Game.jpg&#8221;] NewsGaming News \u2018Halloween\u2019 game banned in Australia and New Zealand but not over violence The survival horror is due to launch early next month By Ali Shutler 11th August 2026 &#8216;Halloween: The Game&#8217;. CREDIT: Illfonic A survival horror game based on the iconic Halloween film series has been banned in Australia and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2087598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2087598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2087598\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2087598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2087598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2087598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}