For a sure group of gamers, IllFonic has been the last word double-edged sword.
Over the previous decade the Denver-based studio has tended to deal with licensed video games based mostly on basic horror film franchises – Friday the thirteenth, Predator, Ghostbusters, even the cult favorite Killer Klowns from Outer Area.
For horror devotees – a gaggle through which I embrace myself – it needs to be the dream studio. And but, IllFonic’s love for horror is simply matched by its love for asymmetrical multiplayer, a call that normally leaves those that desire single-player video games – me once more! – on the sidelines watching.
Due to this, as I sat down for a one-on-one chat with Illfonic’s inventive director Jared Gerritzen at Gamescom forward of the sport’s official reveal, and regarded round on the large Halloween paintings on the wall, I used to be ready to as soon as once more have my coronary heart damaged by seeing one other one in every of my dream horror video video games being introduced earlier than instantly being confirmed as multiplayer-only.
This time, nonetheless, as Gerritzen confirmed me the trailer which was set to seem on-line a few days later, I noticed it on the finish: “Halloween – a single-player and multiplayer horror expertise coming in 2026.”
My eyes widened. “You’re doing single-player this time?” Gerritzen smiled and nodded, in a manner that urged this was a request he and the remainder of the group had heard quite a few instances prior to now.
Make no mistake, Halloween will nonetheless characteristic the asymmetrical multiplayer gameplay IllFonic is greatest recognized for, however this time NPCs characteristic into the combo too.
One participant will take management of evil incarnate Michael Myers as he wanders the streets of Haddonfield, slaying its townsfolk. The opposite gamers take management of Haddonfield residents as they not solely attempt to escape Michael, but additionally to tell their NPC neighbours that they should get out of their properties and run to security.
The residents can now additionally telephone the police in an try and get extra safety. As Gerritzen defined to me, Myers might by no means be capable to really die – one thing the 12 films he’s starred in thus far makes abundantly clear – however he can no less than be surrounded and have his risk minimised a bit. In spite of everything, this can be a killer who prefers to cover within the shadows, he doesn’t do nicely in crowds.
To take care of this potential risk, the participant controlling Michael can lower the telephone traces outdoors every dwelling – a meaningless activity as of late, however a devastating motion again in 1978, making it not possible for Haddonsfield residents to contact authorities for assist.
Though it’ll require a correct gameplay showcase earlier than it may be clear precisely how the sport works, the implication I received from Gerritzen was that this can be a slower paced multiplayer recreation than IllFonic’s earlier titles, particularly if you happen to’re taking part in because the villain.
As he rightly identified to me, Jason Voorhees from Friday the thirteenth might not precisely be the quickest dangerous man on this planet, however when he spots his goal his fundamental precedence is to pursue and kill them. Michael Myers, then again, is a extra affected person slasher villain, as an alternative preferring to cover within the shadows and watch his prey.
For the ‘hero’ gamers on this recreation, then, concern gained’t come within the form of an enormous brute breaking the door down with an axe, however within the temporary glimpses of a white masks within the darkness, holding them on edge as they know they’re being stalked.
“For the ‘hero’ gamers on this recreation, concern gained’t come within the form of an enormous brute breaking the door down with an axe, however within the temporary glimpses of a white masks within the darkness, holding them on edge as they know they’re being stalked.”
Naturally, nonetheless, it’s the single-player story mode which had me probably the most intrigued, however whereas Gerritzen wasn’t in a position to give away too many particulars at this level it’s clear the potential is there. The story is predicated solely on the unique 1978 movie, and can have gamers taking management of Michael Myers as he escapes Smith’s Grove Sanitarium and makes his technique to Haddonfield.
A couple of questions stay, which couldn’t be answered but. It’s not but clear how lengthy this single-player marketing campaign can be, for instance. Friday the thirteenth: The Sport included ten single-player challenges, the place you performed as Jason and needed to kill the counsellors in quite a lot of situations, however gamers had been disillusioned to find these weren’t actually story-based.
Gun defined this away on the time by claiming the Friday the thirteenth films weren’t precisely recognized for his or her plot however that gained’t fly for Halloween followers, not for a franchise which was pushed as a lot by the tales of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Dr Loomis (Donald Pleasence) as Myers’ killings.
Gerritzen did inform me the single-player story would have some form of scoring system which might encourage a number of playthroughs, with gamers attempting to get as near a ‘excellent’ rating as they may. This definitely makes it sound just like the Friday the thirteenth challenges, however time will inform.
It’s additionally been confirmed that anybody who doesn’t like taking part in on-line will nonetheless be capable to play the multiplayer mode, with bots as an alternative of people, however it’s nonetheless not but recognized whether or not it’s attainable to stage up whereas taking part in with bots (or, certainly, whether or not there’s a levelling system in place in any respect).
One factor that isn’t in query, nonetheless, is the care and a focus to element that can be current within the remaining product. The teaser trailer nails the tone of the unique movie completely, and with legendary Halloween creator John Carpenter as government producer it’s clear that authenticity can be a precedence right here.
Will this come at a worth for the gamers who cherished the series-spanning content material featured in Friday the thirteenth: The Sport, nonetheless? That supplied round 10 completely different Jason skins to select from, spanning the course of the movie franchise – from the sack-headed Jason from Half 2 all the way in which as much as the zombie Jason from the ninth film.
As an enormous Halloween fan, a lot as I recognize that the 1978 authentic is the primary focus, I’d nonetheless like to see the addition of content material from later movies. Like all long-running slasher franchise Halloween has had its rights points because it’s jumped from Compass Worldwide Footage to Miramax to Blumhouse to Compass once more, so it’s maybe unrealistic to recommend IllFonic has free reign to drag content material from all 13 films.
That stated, Gerritzen assured me that the entire group loves the Halloween collection deeply, and that if they’ve the chance so as to add content material from later films sooner or later, they’ll do what they’ll to incorporate it. Which signifies that dream of operating round a recreation in a Silver Shamrock masks from Halloween 3 would possibly nonetheless come true.
Halloween is coming to PS5, Xbox Collection X/S and PC (Steam and Epic Video games Retailer) in 2026. There’s no confirmed launch date but, however I can consider a fairly apparent one.
