Halloween: The Game will get a digital release in New Zealand after all
Halloween: The Game will get a digital release in New Zealand after all, despite initially being lumped in with Australia's classification refusal.
Halloween: The Game will get a digital release in New Zealand after all, despite initially being lumped in with Australia's classification refusal.
The short version
- The Australian Classification Board refused IllFonic's asymmetric horror game a rating earlier this month over the depiction of a controlled substance, widely reported as a cannabis mechanic tied to the game's civilian side.
- At the time, IllFonic said the decision meant it "cannot sell the physical or digital product in both Australia and New Zealand", but it turns out that's not quite right.
- According to a new statement from IllFonic, the confusion came down to which ratings body applies to what territory.
What happened
"When we partnered with physical distributors to sell packaged goods in Australia and New Zealand, we learned that the ACB rating (used for physical) took precedence over the IARC rating (used for digital)," the studio said. In other words, the Australian refusal only blocks the physical release across both territories – it doesn't affect New Zealand's own digital classification, which falls under a different system entirely.
Why it matters
Digital-only releases can legally be sold in New Zealand without classification, though some platforms choose to seek one anyway.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Eurogamer via the links above and below.