Rivian’s Halloween Update Turns The R1S And R1T Into Spooky Swamps

• Rivian wants R1S and R1T owners to spook their friends and family this Halloween.
• That’s thanks to a new software update that adds holiday-specific effects to the adventure-oriented EVs.
• This year, the electric SUV and pickup get a swamp-inspired makeover, albeit for a limited time.

Rivian loves Halloween. Every year, the California-based startup that makes the R1S and R1T adventure-oriented EVs releases a software update that allows owners to get into the Halloween spirit.

It’s no different this year, with software version 2025.38 offering plenty of fun little effects just in time for spooky season. From October 21 through November 1, the R1S and R1T can be transformed into festive, swamp-themed parties on wheels, thanks to custom-made sounds, graphics and lighting effects.

Owners of Gen 2 vehicles can choose from four new sound effects and exterior lights that appear on the front and rear of the cars. They can be activated manually or when turning on the “Motion” setting. The latter is bound to startle some folks, as they can automatically trigger sounds and lights when someone walks by the car.

The four exterior effects are called Swamp Gas, Player Piano, Bayou Blast and Scary Spirit. Swamp Gas plays a startling alligator roar followed by bubbly swamp sounds, Player Piano is a haunting, old-timey melody, Bayou Blast is a “mysterious and energetic burst of sound and light,” and Scary Spirit makes a pair of demonic eyes slip and slide across the light bar.

The first-gen R1S and R1T don’t get these goodies, but they do get plenty of others, including four new music tracks and six spooky sound effects that can be played inside. There’s also a swamp-themed all-purpose driving mode that displays a new interactive swamp environment on the center display, in both day and night modes. Gen 2 vehicles also feature flickery overhead cabin lighting for extra spookiness.

The famous bird chirp lock sound can be changed to sound like a croaking Bog Frog, and there’s a Swampy Gear Guard, Rivian’s yeti-like cartoon character. After locking the rear screen, kids can tap it a few times to wake up a special swampy version of the lovable yellow character.

“Crafting our 2025 Halloween experience has been a uniquely fun design challenge,” said Erik Glaser, Rivian’s Director of UX Design. “We combined interactive mobile and vehicle controls, animated character designs, camera behaviors, 3D video and Unreal Engine scenery, poetry, lighting, sound and music, into something only Rivian could pull off.”

To activate Halloween Mode, R1S and R1T owners first need to have the latest software version installed in their cars (2025.38) and the latest mobile app version (3.6.0). Then, they need to tap the “Let’s Get Spooky” card in the app to get the ball rolling.

The same vehicle software version adds Plug & Charge functionality at Electrify America and Ionna DC fast charging stations, as well as some improvements to the climate control system.

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