‘Halloween’ Debuts Playable Demo at PAX East This March; John Carpenter to Join Panel Ahead of Michael Myers Guinness World Record Attempt
The first playable demo for Halloween, the asymmetrical stealth horror game, debuts at PAX East in Boston from March 26-29, 2026, Dread learned this morning.
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.
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