Ghost Ship Games has confirmed that Deep Rock Galactic’s Hoxxes Halloween seasonal event returns on Thursday, October 22 at 13:00 CET and runs through November 5 at 13:00 CET. The studio announced the dates in an official Steam post, which also brings back flying skulls, Double XP bonuses, and a haunted Space Rig alongside two new assignment rewards.
The headline addition for 2026 is the Straw Boss headgear, a new cosmetic the studio describes as mysterious enough to leave other miners guessing what the wearer is hiding. It is earned by completing a special assignment before the event ends, which makes it a limited-time reward tied to the two-week window.
Last Year’s Horrors catch-up assignment
Alongside the new hat, Ghost Ship Games is adding a separate assignment called Last Year’s Horrors. Completing it before November 5 lets players claim headgear from all previous Hoxxes Halloween events. The studio frames it as a catch-up option for new miners or anyone who missed an earlier Halloween.
The announcement does not list a store price for the Straw Boss hat or an exact count of previous Halloween hats. The only confirmed acquisition method is the special assignment, so players should not hold out for a separate store drop before the deadline.
Flying skulls, Double Performance Point Bonus, and the Haunted Hub
Inside missions, flying skulls return to the mines of Hoxxes, and bringing one back rewards a Double Performance Point Bonus. The in-universe research and development team is said to be investigating the patterns behind the skull appearances this time around.
The Space Rig gets a Haunted Hub makeover with pumpkins and ghosts decorating the social space, while Double XP bonuses run throughout the event as an extra incentive to push through assignments and missions.
How to prioritize the two-week window
Because the event spans roughly two weeks, both assignments are best completed early. The Straw Boss special assignment unlocks the new headgear, while Last Year’s Horrors unlocks the older Halloween hats. After that, the most efficient use of the window is to run missions where flying skulls appear and bring one back for the Double Performance Point Bonus.
New players should finish the Straw Boss assignment first, then Last Year’s Horrors. Returning players who already own previous Halloween hats can skip the catch-up assignment unless they are missing an earlier reward.
Sources
- Reporting source: GamerHeadlines
- Official announcement: Ghost Ship Games
