Deep Rock Galactic's Hoxxes Halloween 2026 event is live and runs through November 5 at 13:00 CET, according to the developer's announcement. The main rewards are split between two assignments: one for the new Straw Boss headgear and another for cosmetics from earlier Halloween events. Flying skulls offer a separate progression bonus, but the developer ties it to bringing a skull back, not merely shooting one down.
Ghost Ship Games posted the event recap on the official Deep Rock Galactic Steam news feed. Its October 16 preview gives the original schedule and explains the assignments.
Two assignments, two cosmetic goals
The new Straw Boss headgear is the reward for completing the special Halloween assignment. Players returning after missing earlier seasonal events can take on Last Year's Horrors to unlock the previous Halloween hats. These are separate tasks, so finishing one should not be assumed to award both collections.
The official post does not lay out a mission-by-mission route or a required hazard level. Check the Assignment Board in game for the current objectives and progress requirements. That is more reliable than following an old seasonal route, since the 2026 announcement confirms the rewards and assignment names but does not promise the same mission sequence used in past years.
If you want both new and returning cosmetics, make a note of both assignment names when they appear. With the event running for two weeks, starting early leaves room to finish the second task without trying to fit every objective into one session.
How the flying skull bonus works
Flying skulls have returned to the caves. The developer says miners earn a Double Performance Point Bonus if they bring one back. That wording makes the return step important: the post does not describe a general double-points multiplier for every mission, nor does it promise the bonus for a skull that is only shot down and left behind.
Treat the skull as an extra objective while completing the mission. The official announcement does not give spawn coordinates or say that one is guaranteed in each cave, so there is no confirmed route to follow. Keep the mission objective in view and only chase the skull when it is practical for your team to recover it.
Performance Points contribute to the season's progression. The event recap does not promise double credits, minerals or all experience, so those should not be folded into the skull reward. The confirmed benefit is the Double Performance Point Bonus described by Ghost Ship Games.
What changes on the Space Rig?
The hub receives a Halloween makeover with pumpkins and ghosts around the Space Rig. It sets the seasonal tone between missions, while the assignments and skulls provide the event's actual progression targets. The announcement does not identify a new mission type, weapon, class or biome as part of this event.
That distinction helps set expectations. Hoxxes Halloween is a limited-time seasonal event with cosmetics and the returning skull activity. It does not replace ordinary missions or require a separate game mode according to the details the developer has shared.
Event end time and what to prioritize
The developer's live post says the event ends November 5 at 13:00 CET. That label is reproduced as published; check the in-game event board for the local countdown rather than assuming a different time-zone conversion. The event is active now, so players can start either assignment immediately.
If Straw Boss is the priority, start the Halloween assignment. If you are missing older hats, choose Last Year's Horrors as well. Then bring back flying skulls when they appear to add the Performance Point bonus to your progress. The event recap does not say what happens to either assignment after November 5, so complete the objectives before the stated cutoff.
Complete both assignments before the cutoff if you want the full cosmetic set, and deposit any skull your team recovers to earn its bonus.
Frequently asked questions
When does Hoxxes Halloween 2026 end?
Ghost Ship Games says the event runs through November 5 at 13:00 CET.
How do I unlock the Straw Boss hat?
Complete the special Halloween assignment during the event.
How do I get previous Halloween hats?
Complete the separate Last Year's Horrors assignment to unlock previous Halloween headgear.
Do flying skulls give double XP?
The official post specifies a Double Performance Point Bonus when you bring a skull back. It does not describe a blanket double XP bonus for all missions.
