Rivian Halloween Mode 2026 Brings Ghostbusters to R1 and R2
Rivian’s Halloween Mode returns tomorrow, October 9, and this year the company announced a Ghostbusters collaboration with Sony Pictures that rolls out over the air to every R1 and R2 and stays live through November 2.
Once you’re on software 2026.36 with the latest Rivian app, your driver display will ask if you want to hunt some ghosts and drop you into a new Ghostbusters app where a single red toggle runs everything.
The update at a glance
A free over-the-air update built with Sony Pictures, controlled from one red toggle in the new Ghostbusters app.
Trick or Treat Mode takes over the driver and rear displays, plays the theme song and switches the exterior lights and sounds to match, and most of it can be controlled from your phone through the Rivian app.
The Ghostbusters app
One red toggle runs the whole show, from the center display or your phone.
Exterior shows come in Ecto-1, Proton Pack, Slimer, Ghost Trap and Peter Venkman versions, and Motion Mode will kick one off whenever someone walks past, which feels made for a driveway full of trick-or-treaters.
Pick your haunt
Each show pairs a custom exterior LED sequence with its own soundscape. Trigger one on demand or let Motion Mode handle it.
Lock sounds are where the hardware split shows up. Gen 1 R1 gets the Ecto-1 sound, while Gen 2 R1 and R2 can pick between Ecto-1, Proton Pack and a chant.
Lock sounds by vehicle
Gen 1 R1 gets one option, Gen 2 R1 and R2 get all three.
R1 Gen 1
R1 Gen 2
R2
There’s also a scavenger hunt hiding characters inside Drive Modes, Gear Guard settings, the side cameras and the Energy app, plus a parked arcade game called ‘Mallow Mash where you pop Mini-Pufts against the clock. Rivian Assistant even picks up an eerie voice for the season.
Ghost hunter field guide
Clue cards in the Ghostbusters app send you to these screens. Find a Ghost Guard or Slimer and it plays its own animation and audio.
Haunted screens
Familiar screens around the vehicle get a Ghostbusters makeover.
Rivian rounded it out with a Bill Murray spot directed by Gil Kenan and full Ecto-R1 builds that’ll be on display at its Laguna Beach, Austin, Venice, Miami Brickell, San Francisco and NYC Meatpacking District spaces.
Answering the Call
Bill Murray stars in Rivian’s new spot, directed by Gil Kenan and produced with Bob Industries.
Where to catch Rivian this Halloween
Rivian spaces are hosting local celebrations with the Ecto-R1 builds, limited-edition merch and themed refreshments.
- Laguna Beach Ecto-R1
- Austin Ecto-R1
- Venice Ecto-R1
- Miami Brickell Ecto-R1
- San Francisco Ecto-R1
- NYC Meatpacking District Ecto-R1
- NYC Village Halloween Parade Event
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Los Angeles Pop-up
Ecto-R1
22-inch Aero wheels with white covers, a red body graphic, No-Ghost logos and a roof rack built by Rivian’s Special Projects team.
I’ll be loading this up on my R1S as soon as it lands, and if Motion Mode catches as many trick-or-treaters as I think it will, my driveway might need its own containment unit by the end of Halloween night. I’ll share more with you all once I’ve tracked down a few of those hidden characters.
Beautiful presented article, Jose! Bravo.