No question, the arrival of Rockstar Games’ GTA 6 this year is one of the most highly anticipated launches in recent times. In fact, it might just be the biggest video game launch of all time. However, an unexpected spanner could be thrown into the works — and it comes from a horror icon.
GTA VI Is Seemingly on Michael Myers’ Hit List
The iconic horror movie legend Michael Myers could be causing trouble for GTA 6 — more specifically, the Halloween video game adaptation that releases on September 8, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Halloween: The Game, a one-versus-four asymmetrical horror from developers Illfonic, has been banned in Australia and New Zealand. The reason? The “presence of a controlled substance.”
According to developer Illfonic: “Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classification Board has denied ‘Halloween: The Game’ 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.”
The issue isn’t just that the game features a drug — it’s that the drug can be used as an item to recover health, which crosses the line for Australian classification rules.
What This Means for GTA 6
Anyone familiar with the Grand Theft Auto series knows that it features sexual themes, violence and drug use. It would be a fair assumption to make that GTA 6 would be no exception.
But here’s the key difference: Halloween: The Game was refused classification entirely. That’s a specific decision made when a game’s content violates Australia’s strict guidelines to the point where no rating can be assigned. GTA VI is expected to receive an R18+ classification in Australia — the highest adult rating — which would allow it to be sold legally.
While GTA V wasn’t banned in Australia, some of its content was restricted — particularly gambling mechanics in GTA Online.
Could GTA VI Get Banned?
Unlikely, but not impossible.
There’s a good chance that certain aspects of GTA VI, such as gambling, may be restricted. What’s more, if drug names are too close to the real thing, those names might be edited in the game — a tactic other games have used to comply with local regulations.
One possibility is that Rockstar could change the name or function of certain drugs within the versions destined for these markets — something other video games have done before.
Rockstar could also receive an adult classification that allows the game to launch without major changes.
The Loophole That Could Matter
Interestingly, Halloween: The Game has since found a way around the New Zealand ban. The Australian refusal only blocks physical releases — it doesn’t affect New Zealand’s own digital classification system.
Australia remains fully blocked, both physically and digitally, unless IllFonic resubmits or amends the game.
New Zealand players, meanwhile, will be able to buy Halloween: The Game digitally when it launches.
This could have implications for GTA VI. If Rockstar faces classification issues in Australia, New Zealand’s digital-first approach might still allow the game to be sold there — provided the game isn’t refused classification in New Zealand itself.
What Happens Next?
For now, there is no confirmation that GTA VI will be banned or censored in Australia and New Zealand.
With the launch planned for November 19, 2026, there are still several months to go before its official classification is known.
If GTA VI does get banned, importing games is not too difficult in most cases, and the vast majority of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles are region-free.
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That being said, Rockstar may choose to adapt certain elements for Australia and New Zealand — for example, by changing the names of certain substances or altering content — to ensure the game can be sold legally in these markets.
The situation with Halloween: The Game doesn’t mean GTA VI will be banned. But it has reminded fans that even the biggest games aren’t immune to Australia’s notoriously strict classification rules.