Halloween: The Game Launches Sept 8; Early Access Opens Sept 4 at 9AM PT

Elena Sokolova18/08/2026Updated 25/08/20264 min read

IllFonic has locked in its launch window for Halloween: The Game, the John Carpenter-licensed asymmetrical horror title, with the full digital release confirmed for September 8, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Early Access for those who pre-order begins on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 9 AM PT, giving buyers a four-day head start on stalking, or surviving, the streets of Haddonfield.

Early Access Timing Converts to Awkward Hours Down Under

For New Zealand and Australian players, that 9 AM Pacific Time start on September 4 lands in the very early hours locally. Working from the confirmed Pacific Daylight Time slot, the Early Access window opens at roughly 4 AM NZST and 2 AM AEST on the morning of September 5, meaning most Kiwi and Aussie fans will want to plan a Saturday session rather than an all-nighter to jump into Haddonfield first.

Pre-Purchase this edition and play the game starting 4 days ahead of full release, according to the game’s Steam storefront, confirming the same four-day Early Access gap that applies across platforms.

Digital Editions Priced at $39.99 and $59.99

On the digital storefronts, the Digital Standard Edition is priced at $39.99 USD, and the Digital Deluxe Edition at $59.99 USD. The Standard tier includes only the base game, while the Digital Deluxe edition includes the base game, the exclusive Inmate Michael Myers skin, 2 exclusive Civilians, and more surprises.

The PlayStation Store listing confirms the game Release: 9/8/2026 for PS5, with the platform’s page describing pre-order content that includes Exclusive Michael Myers Skin tied to the game’s 1978 Haddonfield setting.

Physical Copies Follow a Month Later on October 6

Players who prefer a boxed copy will have to wait almost a month longer. Halloween: The Game launches physically on October 6, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with the Standard Edition priced at $39.99 and the Limited Collector’s Edition at $149.99, according to Dread Central, which reported the physical rollout alongside publisher Nighthawk Interactive.

The retail Standard Edition mirrors its digital counterpart’s price point, while the Limited Collector’s Edition includes the game, an exclusive Trick or Treat Studios Shape Jump variant action figure, lenticular artwork, an exclusive poster, early access to the Michael Myers Samhain and Clown skins, four civilian cosmetics, and additional collectibles to be revealed later. GameStop’s own product listing corroborates the October date, confirming Halloween: The Game releases physically for standard and collector’s editions on October 6, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.

Six-Chapter Solo Campaign Joins the 1v4 Multiplayer Mode

Beyond release logistics, GameStop’s listing details what buyers are actually paying for. The single-player side sees players step into the shoes of Michael Myers across six chapters from his origins to his escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, framing the killer’s backstory as a standalone campaign rather than a mode bolted onto the multiplayer.

The multiplayer side remains the game’s headline pitch: Halloween: The Game features a 1v4 asymmetrical multiplayer mode, where one player controls Michael Myers and four other players play as civilians. Civilians must scavenge for tools, warn neighbours and contact police before Myers can pick them off one by one, continuing the formula IllFonic previously built with Friday the 13th: The Game.

Malek Akkad and John Carpenter’s Involvement Shapes the Setting

The project has stayed close to the source film throughout development. Longtime franchise producer Malek Akkad, discussing the newest Orange Grove Estates multiplayer map, said “We are excited for fans of the original film to see the iconic Wallace and Doyle houses in this new map.”

IllFonic Chief Creative Officer Jared Gerritzen has previously framed the studio’s ambitions for the title around its dual-mode structure, saying “Our goal is to push the horror experience to the next level with single and multiplayer modes so players can get the most out of the game,” adding that “Whether they become the boogeyman or fight to protect Michael Myers’ victims, Halloween promises an unforgettable battle of fear and survival.”

The game is co-published by Gun Interactive alongside Compass International Pictures and Further Front, and it arrives roughly a year after its August 2025 Gamescom announcement. Whether it can carve out its own niche against the established asymmetrical horror crowd led by Dead by Daylight and IllFonic’s own earlier licensed titles will become clear once the first wave of Early Access players don the mask on September 4.