Rivian's Ghostbusters update runs only through Nov. 2, and the prompt that launches it appears only if both your vehicle software and your Rivian mobile app are current. Skip those checks and you could be standing in your driveway on Halloween night with a plain, unthemed truck.
This guide covers what to update, where the "hunt some ghosts" prompt shows up, which themes your model gets, and what stops working once you leave park. Everything here comes from CNET's report on the update, including Rivian's details as CNET relays them. This guide does not involve hands-on testing, so where CNET is silent, I say so.
What the update actually is
The update turns Rivian's usual Halloween Mode into a Ghostbusters experience for the R1S, R1T and R2. Rivian developed it with Sony Pictures, delivers it over the air, and runs it through Nov. 2, according to CNET.
The pieces include themed exterior lights and sounds, restyled dashboard and rear displays, hidden clues and easter eggs in the menus, a spookier Rivian Assistant, and an arcade game called Mallow Mash. A new in-vehicle Ghostbusters app bundles the seasonal features behind a single red toggle, accessible while parked.
Pre-flight checklist: do this before anything else
CNET says both the vehicle software and the Rivian mobile app must be up to date. Treat them as two separate checks.
- Update the vehicle software. Install any pending over-the-air update on your R1S, R1T or R2. CNET does not name a specific software version or give a menu path for checking, so rely on whatever update notice your vehicle shows.
- Update the Rivian mobile app. Install any pending Rivian app update from your phone's app store. CNET says the smartwatch app also updates to mirror the vehicle's controls, so check your watch too if you use one.
- Put the vehicle in park. The Ghostbusters app toggle is accessible while parked.
- Watch the driver display for the prompt. Once everything is current, CNET says a prompt asks whether you want to "hunt some ghosts." Accepting it opens the Ghostbusters app.
- Flip the red toggle. This syncs the interior and exterior lighting and the themed audio to Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters' car.
If the prompt does not appear, the likeliest cause is that the vehicle or the app is still behind. That is an inference from CNET's wording, not a confirmed diagnosis. Recheck both before assuming something is broken.
Pick the right theme for your model
Your vehicle's generation decides your options. CNET reports that every supported vehicle gets the main Ecto-1 theme. Second-generation R1 and R2 owners can also choose four more.
| Model | Ecto-1 | Proton Pack | Slimer | Ghost Trap | Peter Venkman | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | R1 Gen 1 (R1S, R1T) | Yes | No | No | No | No | | R1 Gen 2 (R1S, R1T) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | R2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CNET says each option pairs a unique exterior LED sequence with a matching audio track. It does not say whether Gen 1 owners miss anything beyond the extra themes, such as the scavenger hunt or Mallow Mash, so assume nothing further until Rivian clarifies.
If you own a Gen 1 R1, Ecto-1 is still the main theme. CNET describes it as syncing your lighting and audio to the Ghostbusters' car. This pairs well with which playstation plus tier is worth it? essential vs extra explained.
Set it up for trick-or-treaters
The feature aimed at Halloween night is the walk-by trigger. CNET says you can set the vehicle to fire off a random themed light-and-sound show whenever someone walks past. That gives kids at the curb a surprise without you lifting a finger.
CNET does not say where that setting lives, so start inside the Ghostbusters app after you flip the toggle. Because most of the lights and sounds work only in park, this is a driveway feature. If you plan to hand out candy, park where people will actually walk by.
You can also trigger Ecto-1's siren and flashing lights from outside the vehicle. CNET says the mobile and smartwatch apps update to match the vehicle's controls for this. That helps if you want to time a big reveal instead of leaving the show on random.
What works only in park, and what carries over while driving
This is the main limitation, and CNET states it plainly. The full set, including the scavenger hunt, the arcade game and most of the lights and sounds, is available only when the vehicle is in park.
One piece survives the drive. The touchscreen's visual theme stays active if you switch it before you start driving. You can take the look on the road, but not the full show.
| Feature | Parked | Driving | |---|---|---| | Most lights and sounds | Yes | No. CNET does not say which remaining ones, if any, work | | Scavenger hunt clues | Yes | No | | Mallow Mash arcade game | Yes | No | | Touchscreen visual theme | Yes | Yes, if switched before driving |
CNET does not say whether the Rivian Assistant's spooky voice or its light-show commands work while driving. It describes the assistant tying into the in-dash scavenger hunt and light shows, so treat those as parked features unless Rivian confirms otherwise. That is an inference.
Don't skip the scavenger hunt
Clues hide throughout the vehicle's menus. Tapping them reveals secret characters, including Slimer and Rivian's Ghost Guard, and triggers animations, audio and easter eggs. The Rivian Assistant can read clues aloud for the hunt and play sound effects on request. For more on this, see lg b6 vs c6: is the $200 upgrade worth it? decision guide: the details.
Mallow Mash is the other time sink. It is an arcade game on the main touchscreen where you race the clock to pop mini Stay Puft Marshmallow Men. Like the scavenger hunt, it works only in park.
What happens after Nov. 2
CNET says the update runs through Nov. 2. It does not say what happens to the features afterward, whether Rivian removes them automatically, or how it handles the toggle. The safe assumption, which is an inference, is that the Ghostbusters experience will not be available after that date. Use it before then.
Is it worth your time this week?
Here is a quick decision guide based on what CNET describes.
Families with kids: Yes. The walk-by light show, the scavenger hunt and Mallow Mash all work while parked, and setup is a software update plus one toggle.
Also read: see fitbit charge 6 to edge upgrade: is it worth $180?
Trick-or-treat hosts: Yes, if you can park where foot traffic passes. The random walk-by show is the closest thing to a built-in Halloween prop.
Franchise fans: Yes, especially on a Gen 2 R1 or R2, where you can pick Proton Pack, Slimer, Ghost Trap or Peter Venkman alongside Ecto-1.
Commuters who want the effect on the road: Mostly no. Only the touchscreen's visual theme carries over while driving, and only if you set it before you go.
Gen 1 R1 owners: Worth a quick try. You get Ecto-1 only, but it is the main theme.
The verdict: this is a low-effort, time-limited novelty. It is worth a short setup if you will be parked at home on Halloween night, but it is not worth rearranging your week.
Your next action
Check for updates now, on both your vehicle and your Rivian app. The "hunt some ghosts" prompt depends on both being current, and the window closes Nov. 2.
