Lakewood, CO – Feb. 25, 2026 – The first playable demo for Halloween, the asymmetrical stealth horror game, debuts at PAX East in Boston from March 26-29, 2026. Developer and publisher IllFonic, co-publisher Gun Interactive, and partners Compass International Pictures and Further Front will also host a panel featuring Malek Akkad, who will be joined virtually by John Carpenter before attempting the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the “Largest gathering of people dressed as Michael Myers (Halloween franchise).”
Step into a 1v4 online multiplayer experience, with one player embodying the relentless Michael Myers while four others fight to survive. True to the haunting spirit of the original 1978 classic, IllFonic has meticulously crafted the gameplay, locations, ambiance, music, and art direction to reflect the film’s unmistakable eerie tone. Every shadow, quiet street, and flicker of light feeds into an experience designed to recreate the dread that shaped a generation of horror.
The PAX East demo features the map, Haddonfield Heights, a deceptively quiet Midwestern neighborhood filled with modest single-story homes, fenced yards, dimly lit streets, and the abandoned Myers house. Civilians scavenge car trunks, search for escape routes, barricade themselves inside homes, and slip into risky hiding spots, all while Michael stalks from the darkness in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
On Saturday, March 28, at 12:00 pm, at PAX East’s Main Theater, IllFonic will host a panel exploring how developers and original creators collaborate to build authentic interactive worlds. The discussion will feature Malek Akkad, President of Compass International Pictures, Inc.; Ryan Freimann, SVP of Compass International Pictures, Inc.; IllFonic’s Chief Creative Officer, Jared Gerritzen; and Design Director, Jordan Mathewson. They will be joined virtually by John Carpenter, Director of the original 1978 film. The panel is offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the game honors its cinematic roots while evolving into a new medium.
Later on the same day, at 3:30 pm, fans are invited to take part in an ambitious attempt for the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the “Largest gathering of people dressed as Michael Myers (Halloween franchise)”, at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, the venue hosting PAX East. Participants must be dressed in Michael’s signature look: the Shape mask, blue jumpsuit, slicked-back brown hair or appropriate wig, and a prop knife.
Halloween launches on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
To dig deeper into IllFonic and its titles, visit IllFonic’s official website and follow Halloween’s official socials on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, and join the official Discord to get the latest news as development continues.
© 2025 Compass International Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Halloween and Michael Myers are trademarks of Compass. Game software excluding Compass International Pictures, Inc. elements: ©2025 IllFonic, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Developed by IllFonic, Inc. IllFonic® and the IllFonic Logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of IllFonic, Inc. throughout the world. © 2025 Gun Media Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gun Media™ and the Gun Media™ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Gun Media Holdings, Inc. throughout the world.
About IllFonic
Founded in 2007, IllFonic is an independent video game developer with studios in Lakewood, Colorado and Tacoma, Washington. Our staff is composed of video game, music, and technology veterans redefining how games are made and marketed. Titles and collaborations include Halloween, Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Arcadegeddon, Friday the 13th: The Game, Dead Alliance, Star Citizen, Evolve, Armored Warfare, and Nexuiz.
For more information visit www.illfonic.com
About Gun Interactive
Gun can best be described as a concept design studio and publisher, with an unrelenting vision and authentic approach to crafting some of the most popular horror experiences gaming has seen to date.
Founded in 2010, Gun has grown into a diverse team of people from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. As a creative house, we’re responsible for over $200M+ in revenue and 20M players across our compact, but impressive portfolio.
For more information visit: www.guninteractive.com
About Compass International Pictures:
Compass International Pictures, Inc. (a subsidiary of Trancas International Films, Inc.), is the iconic Producer of the original 1978 classic, “John Carpenter’s Halloween,” which continues to this day managing the rights to this classic film and the original slasher, Michael Myers.
For more information, visit https://www.trancasfilms.com
About Further Front:
Further Front pushes the boundaries in the world of licensing, merchandise, digital and live entertainment, bringing years of experience in numerous entertainment fields to consult on, produce, and deliver compelling and immersive experiences around the world.
For more information, visit https://www.furtherfront.com
About John Carpenter
John Carpenter is an influential filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and composer whose work has shaped modern horror and genre cinema for decades. A graduate of the USC School of Cinema, he first gained attention with DARK STAR before breaking through with HALLOWEEN in 1978, which became the most profitable independent film of its time and launched a landmark franchise.
His directing credits include genre classics such as THE FOG, THE THING, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, THEY LIVE, CHRISTINE, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, VAMPIRES, and ESCAPE FROM L.A., as well as STARMAN, which earned Jeff Bridges an Academy Award nomination. For television, he directed ELVIS and JOHN CARPENTER PRESENTS BODY BAGS, and received a CableACE Award for writing EL DIABLO.
Carpenter is also an accomplished composer, releasing his debut non-soundtrack album Lost Themes in 2014 to international acclaim. Born in Carthage, New York, and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, he lives in Hollywood with his wife and producing partner, Sandy King.
