Illicit deeds have just gotten a new Halloween video game banned in Australia – and it’s not because of the violence

The game Halloween: The Game, made by US studio Illfinic, has been refused classification in Australia. That means it cannot be sold in the country. The strange part is that the ban is not about the game's graphic violence. Instead, players can smoke marijuana inside the game to find where the killer Michael Myers is hiding. The board said this gave users a gameplay advantage and rewarded illegal drug use, so it broke Australia's rules for video games.

Australia has strict rules for rating games and movies. Under its 2023 rules, any game that rewards the use of illegal drugs can be refused classification. This game is based on the Hall films, known for brutal murders, but the violence was not the reason it was blocked. Experts and a former board director say the choice shows Australia's standards are not always clear. The game stays legal in most countries, which makes people ask why it was banned here.

Australia's game rules look out of step with the world, banning one non-violent action while allowing bloody violence.