Credit: Universal Pictures / Miramax / Blumhouse ProductionsThe long-running Halloween franchise is returning in a brand-new form: a survival horror video game that promises to capture the terror of living in Haddonfield on October 31.
Now, a month after the initial teaser dropped, Illfonic, the studio behind “Friday the 13th: The Game” and “Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed”, has revealed some gameplay footage.
A Brand-New Halloween Reboot Unveiled
In the video, Illfonic’s Miles Dompier explains the team’s focus on the eerie suburban setting made famous in the original film by John Carpenter: “With the help of Unreal Engine 5, we’ve been able to reconstruct the quiet town of Haddonfield in stunning detail. Remaining authentic to the ’70s era aesthetics was essential to how we crafted our play spaces.”
As you’ll see from the footage, every street, alley, and dimly lit porch has been designed to reflect the 1978 film. The town is also populated with randomized townsfolk NPCs who are “living their lives, completely unaware of the danger lurking right outside their windows.”
Related: ‘Halloween’ Reboot: First Official Trailer Explains How Michael Myers Can Disappear
Speaking of danger, just like Illfonic’s previous titles, players will get to choose whether they inhabit the hero or villain: in this instance, the residents of Haddonfield or the Boogeyman himself, Michael Myers.
“Stepping behind the mask of this infamous killer, Michael’s goal is to find stalk and kill the residents of Haddonfield before Halloween night ends,” Dompier explains.
“Halloween” Confirms Michael’s Supernatural Nature
One of the most surprising reveals in the video is “Shape Jump”, an in-game mechanic that explains how Michael — whose abilities remain ambiguous on the big screen — is able to appear and disappear like a ghost. Playing as Michael, you’ll essentially be able to teleport from one location to the next, all the while invisible to unsuspecting civilians.
“Michael comes equipped with an array of unpredictable endowments. But the most powerful is Shape Jump,” Dompier says. “This is our interpretation of Michael’s inexplicable tendency to suddenly appear in completely unexpected places and catch victims off guard.”
Unlike “Friday the 13th: The Game” and “Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed”, however, “Halloween” will also feature a story mode, allowing fans the option to experience the game without the distraction of other online players.
The OG Shape Returns, Alongside a New One
Perhaps the most surprising reveal — which is not mentioned in the new video but on the official website for the game — is that that original Michael Myers actor Nick Castle will reprise his role as the Shape, while stuntman and motion-capture performer TJ Storm has also been brought onboard to help bring the iconic killer to life.
“The Halloween Team has seen how excited fans have been about the announcement of Nick Castle’s involvement in Halloween”, a statement on the website reads.
“Stepping back into the Shape’s shoes came with some help from new talent,” it continues. “The team is proud to announce that prolific actor and stuntman TJ Storm worked alongside Nick Castle to bring Michael to life in the game!”
This is the first time Castle has returned to the role since a cameo as the Shape in 2018’s Halloween; and also the first time Michael has been played by a diverse actor — Storm, who has also provided motion capture performances in Tron: Legacy, Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, and as Godzilla in the Monsterverse franchise, is of mixed ethnicity.
In film, Michael Myers has been played by Nick Castle, Dick Warlock, George P Wilbur, Don Shanks, Chris Durand, Brad Loree, Tyler Mane, and James Jude Courtney.
When Is “Halloween” Out?
“Halloween” is scheduled to launch on September 8, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Here’s the official synopsis for the game: “Boogeyman or Hero: The Boogeyman is out. Team up in a 1v4 asymmetrical horror showdown on everyone’s favorite night of the year. Choose to save the quiet town of Haddonfield from bloodshed as a Hero of Haddonfield or stalk and terrorize the residents as Michael Myers.”
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