The Boogeyman has arrived. Halloween The Game officially launches on September 8, 2026, bringing John Carpenter’s iconic 1978 slasher to life as a 1v4 asymmetric survival horror experience. Developed by IllFonic and published alongside Gun Interactive, Halloween The Game reunites the team behind Friday the 13th: The Game for another shot at turning a beloved horror franchise into a tense, replayable multiplayer sandbox. If you’re planning to step into Haddonfield this Halloween season, as either Michael Myers or one of his terrified victims, here’s everything you need to know before playing.
Release Date and Platforms
Halloween The Game launched on September 8, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, with full cross platform play supported across all systems. Players who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition got a head start through an Advance Access window that began September 4, four days ahead of the official launch.
Pricing and Editions
Halloween The Game is available in three tiers:
- Standard Edition: $39.99
- Digital Deluxe Edition: $59.99, includes four days of Advance Access starting September 4
- Limited Collector’s Edition: $149.99
Physical retail editions follow later, arriving on October 6.
What Kind of Game Is It?
Halloween The Game is a 1v4 asymmetric survival horror sandbox, similar in spirit to Dead by Daylight but built specifically around Michael Myers’ brand of stalking, patient terror. One player takes control of the Shape himself, while up to four others play as Heroes of Haddonfield trying to survive the night. The entire game is set on Halloween night, 1978, and IllFonic has gone to considerable lengths to make it feel like a genuine period piece. The visual style, dialogue, and even the technology available to characters all reflect the late 1970s setting. The game was built in Unreal Engine 5 and developed in collaboration with John Carpenter himself, along with longtime Halloween franchise producer Malek Akkad.
Beyond the multiplayer mode, Halloween The Game also includes a single player Story Mode for players who want to experience the terror without going up against other people online.
Playing as Michael Myers
As Michael Myers, your job is to stalk, terrorize, and eliminate the residents of Haddonfield before the night ends. Myers relies heavily on stealth rather than brute force, patiently tracking targets and striking when they’re isolated. His signature ability is Shape Jump, a teleportation power that lets him quickly reposition around the map to cut off escape routes or ambush unsuspecting survivors. Importantly, Myers can be temporarily stunned by quick thinking survivors, but he can never be permanently killed, keeping constant pressure on the group throughout the match, just as in the films.
Playing as a Hero of Haddonfield
The four survivor players must scavenge period accurate household items and improvised weapons, warn NPC townsfolk about the danger, and either convince civilians to flee with them or get them to call the police. Unlike many asymmetric horror games that isolate the action in a closed arena, Haddonfield is populated with active NPC townsfolk who react dynamically to the unfolding threat, adding an extra layer of chaos and unpredictability to every match.
Maps
Three maps have been revealed so far, each themed around a different corner of Haddonfield:
- Haddonfield Heights: revealed December 2025
- Haddonfield Town Center: revealed June 2026
- Orange Grove Estates: revealed July 2026
IllFonic has consistently referred to Haddonfield as a broader “sandbox,” suggesting more maps and locations are likely to expand the world after launch.
Development Background
Halloween The Game was first revealed during Gamescom in August 2025, with its gameplay and September 8, 2026 release date later confirmed during a State of Play presentation later that year. The game reached Gone Gold status roughly two weeks ahead of launch, meaning all core systems, maps, and characters had passed internal certification and moved into final polish. That’s a strong sign of a smooth, content complete release. Notably, IllFonic skipped a public beta or free demo entirely, folding all pre launch testing into the Digital Deluxe Advance Access window instead.
One Thing to Know: It’s Banned in Australia
In August 2026, the official Halloween The Game account confirmed the title had been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, meaning it will not be sold in Australia at launch. If you’re playing from Australia, this is worth keeping in mind before you go looking for it on your local storefront.
Final Thoughts
Halloween The Game arrives with a clear pedigree: a studio experienced in asymmetric horror, direct involvement from John Carpenter and Malek Akkad, and a genuinely committed 1978 period setting that sets it apart from a simple reskin. Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of stalking Haddonfield as Michael Myers or the tension of surviving the night as one of his targets, Halloween The Game is shaping up to be one of the horror genre’s biggest multiplayer releases this year. Just don’t expect to see it on Australian shelves anytime soon.
