Upcoming horror title Halloween: The Game has been refused classification in Australia and will not be available to players, the team behind it says.

The survivor horror game’s multiplayer mode involves one player taking on the role of fictional masked serial killer Michael Myers, while fellow gamers “fight back against the face of evil itself” as heroes of Haddonfield.

There is a single player story too, where fans can “live out the chilling story surrounding Michael Myers’ escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium and the terrifying events that followed from the slasher’s cold, calculated perspective”.

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Halloween: The Game, which is being developed by Illfonic, was set to release in Australia in September.

“Despite every effort on our part, the Australian Classification Board has denied Halloween: The Game a rating,” the team behind the title said on social media.

“The denial was not based on the presence of the iconic slasher, Michael Myers, or the outstanding kills that can be performed in the game, but rather the presence of a controlled substance.”

It said physical and digital versions of the title “cannot” be sold in Australia.

The Australian Classification Board said it had not yet published a decision on the game and suggested the issue was less about the inclusion of a controlled substance and more to do with its use being rewarded with abilities or perks.

“Games containing illicit drug use related to incentives or rewards cannot be accommodated within the R18+ classification category and must be refused classification under the guidelines,” a board spokesperson said in a statement.

Gamers were less than enthusiastic about the decision.

“Ah yes, smoking weed in a video game to get a buff is far worse than people having machete brawls on the street,” said one.

Another described the decision as “soft” and a third said “it is genuinely pathetic that adults can’t be allowed to make informed decisions for themselves in this matter.”

“By all means, restrict children from accessing inappropriate material by giving it an R18+ rating ... but not allowing adults to access it is an egregious overstep,” they said.

Retailers including JB Hi-Fi and EB Games have wiped the listings from their websites.

Illfonic has been sought for comment on any changes they might consider to get the game over the line.

The developer had been promoting the game strongly ahead of its release next month.

“The Boogeyman is out. Team up in a 1v4 asymmetrical horror showdown on everyone’s favourite night of the year,” it said.

“Choose to save the quiet town of Haddonfield from bloodshed as a hero ... or stalk and terrorise the residents as Michael Myers.”

The company also helped set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Michael Myers.

The record was set in Boston in March when 254 people dressed up as the slasher.

The news comes after Grand Theft Auto Online players in Australia were blocked from gambling at the in-game casino.

Access to Diamond Casino mini-games including blackjack, roulette and the Inside Track horse racing mode were quietly disabled, despite having being available for years.