Rivian brings Ghostbusters universe to Halloween Mode, with real-time visuals in Unreal Engine
Slimer hiding behind the hot dog cart. A monster popping out of the front trunk. Mini-Pufts marshmallow men running around.
That’s Halloween in a Rivian this year. Rivian’s Halloween Mode was created in collabration with Sony Pictures and inspired by the Ghostbusters universe, and it’s every bit as fun as it sounds.
Once in Halloween Mode, toggle to the Drive Mode App. That’s where the ghosts hang out, and where Unreal Engine plays a part: all 3D real-time renderings there were created in Unreal Engine 5.
That’s Halloween in a Rivian this year. Rivian’s Halloween Mode was created in collabration with Sony Pictures and inspired by the Ghostbusters universe, and it’s every bit as fun as it sounds.
Once in Halloween Mode, toggle to the Drive Mode App. That’s where the ghosts hang out, and where Unreal Engine plays a part: all 3D real-time renderings there were created in Unreal Engine 5.
So how do you get Slimer into a car? We asked the Rivian team to take us behind the scenes, from how they think about the software-defined vehicle to why a moment like Halloween matters to them.
More than a new screen
“Our software-defined vehicles don’t just mean updating an infotainment screen; it means building a vertically integrated ecosystem from the ground up, where hardware and software evolve continuously together,” says the Rivian team. “Features like Halloween Mode showcase what’s possible when you control every layer.”©2026 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In a single update, Rivian can simultaneously orchestrate 3D real-time graphics on the displays, tweak exterior lighting, re-tune audio cues, and roll out interactive vehicle costumes across the entire fleet. That’s a lot of spooky packed into one update.
©2026 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The 3D engine under the hood
Unreal Engine is embedded in Rivian’s software ecosystem, giving its design and engineering teams tools to build the visuals that run in the vehicle.“3D real-time plays a critical role in bridging that digital and physical world. By embedding Unreal Engine directly into our software ecosystem, we give our design and engineering teams the tools to build fluid, high-fidelity visuals that run natively on embedded automotive software,” says the Rivian team. “Unreal Engine acts as our visual engine, powering responsive driver-interface animations, dynamic vehicle state rendering, and seasonal experiences like Halloween Mode with real-time depth and playfulness.”
©2026 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Bringing the community along for the ride
“Cultural moments like Halloween let us show how Rivian vehicles are a canvas for innovation, delight, adventure, and shared experiences,” says the Rivian team. “Unreal Engine, within our vertically integrated software stack, allows us to turn iconic themes like Halloween Mode into real-time, fully interactive moments that resonate with current owners and extend to the broader community.”©2026 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.