Upcoming horror title Halloween: The Game is encountering major distribution obstacles in international markets ahead of its scheduled September 9 launch due to age classification rejections in Japan and Australia.
In Japan, the video game will not be published on PlayStation platforms because the domestic board, the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), declined to grant it an official rating. CERO flagged the project for its graphic violence and depictions of nudity. Although Sony revised its Japanese store guidelines in March 2022 to accommodate International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) ratings, CERO approval remains mandatory for physical copies as well as digital games carrying an 18+ maturity rating.
Japanese players utilizing Xbox consoles or PC hardware will still have digital access to the title through the IARC rating system. Developer Illfonic addressed the situation in a post on X, explaining that adjusting the content to fulfill CERO requirements would harm the game's atmosphere and fail to deliver the experience fans expect from the iconic film franchise. Consequently, the studio opted against editing down the controversial material.
This rating setback follows similar regulatory hurdles in Australia, where the Australian Classification Board refused to certify the title. Australian officials banned the release after finding that the game permits characters to ingest controlled substances to gain competitive gameplay advantages, which the board deemed an unacceptable endorsement of drug consumption.
The Australian ban initially prevented the game from launching in New Zealand as well, because Illfonic had originally relied on cross-rating systems between the two nations rather than seeking a separate evaluation. However, the studio later consulted directly with New Zealand's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and secured authorization to sell the game digitally in that territory.
About the Author
