IllFonic Removes Controversial Minigame From Halloween: The Game

IllFonic Removes Controversial Minigame From Halloween: The Game

The “Two-Person Power-Up” Mechanic

The removed feature, which IllFonic referred to as the Two-Person Power-Up minigame, allowed two players to hide in a closet together. According to reports, if a player entered a closet already occupied by another, they could receive a prompt to ask the other player out. If the offer was accepted, players engaged in a button-mashing minigame to keep a line within a specific part of a bar while the camera shook and characters grunted. Successful completion of the minigame filled a heart and granted both characters a Stronger Together buff.

While the game did not explicitly show the characters engaging in sexual acts, the minigame was a play on the Sex Signals Death trope common in slasher films. Some playable civilians, such as Lynda van der Klok, previously possessed traits that provided extra benefits from the minigame, though these traits were removed in the latest patch.

Controversy Over Age Gaps and Actor Likeness

The decision to remove the minigame followed the viral spread of a gameplay clip showing the character Samuel Loomis engaging in the activity with 17-year-old Lynda. Loomis, the psychiatrist of Michael Myers, is a “hero civilian” in the game and is modeled after the likeness of the deceased actor Donald Pleasence.

The controversy centered on the fact that Loomis is 56 years old during the events of the game, while several other playable characters, including Laurie Strode and Annie Brackett, are 17 years old. This allowed for scenarios where an adult character could solicit sex from underage teenagers.

Developer Response and Player Reaction

In a statement provided to IGN, IllFonic confirmed the removal, stating that the decision was due to an unintended issue that allowed end game reinforcement characters to engage with the minigame, which the company called a major oversight. The developer noted that while they have more content and minigames planned for the future, their current focus is on immediate game needs.

The removal was conducted via “Hotfix 1,” though the official patch notes did not explicitly mention the minigame’s deletion. This led to a mixed reaction from the community. On the game’s subreddit and Steam threads, some players expressed frustration, with one Reddit user asking, Why did they remove it!??!?!?!? Me and my homeboy just wanna have sex in a closet? And we can’t???? Tf?????

Other players noted the irony that the feature existed only for a brief window during the deluxe edition early access, effectively making the closet sex minigame a time-limited pre-order bonus.

Playable Character Overview

The game features several characters from the Halloween films, including:

• Samuel Loomis: A 56-year-old psychiatrist based on Donald Pleasence.
• Laurie Strode: A 17-year-old civilian voiced by Chelsea Krause.
• Annie Brackett: A 17-year-old civilian voiced by Kaitlyn Robrock.
• Lynda van der Klok: A civilian voiced by Angela Carbone.
• Bob Simms: A civilian voiced by Nicholas Leung.