The Other Side Halloween event, named Thinning of the Veil, runs from October 22 to November 3, 2026. The developers confirmed the return of lobby-to-lobby trick or treating, plus a new Headquarters, cosmetics and furniture to unlock. As of October 18, 2026, they have not published how to earn candy or Halloween artifacts, the full reward list or a start time. The October 6 update already added two haunted locations, Black Meadow Farms and The McGavin House.
Summary: The Other Side Halloween Event 2026
- Dates: October 22 to November 3, 2026, which is 13 days from a Thursday to a Tuesday.
- Theme: Samhain and the idea that the veil between the living and the dead grows thin.
- Confirmed features: lobby-to-lobby trick or treating, a new Headquarters, cosmetics and furniture.
- Not announced: the start time, the candy and artifact rules and the reward list.
- New locations: Black Meadow Farms and The McGavin House arrived on October 6.
- Price: $13.99 on Steam Early Access, for up to 6 players.
What Is The Other Side Halloween Event 2026?
The Other Side is a co-op psychological horror game for up to six players. You investigate haunted locations with modern ghost hunting equipment, gather evidence, identify the entity and cleanse it. It has been in Steam Early Access since March 7, 2025, and the page lists Vectora Games as the developer.
Thinning of the Veil is this year’s Halloween event. The developers say it draws on the belief that the veil between the living and the dead becomes thin around Halloween and Samhain. They also name The Dumb Supper and Samhain bonfires as inspirations. The announcement came with the October 6 update, which you can read in the official Steam patch notes mirrored on SteamDB.
The announcement is short, so the rest of this guide separates what is confirmed from what is not. The studio said it would share more as the event gets closer.
Start Date, End Date and Schedule
The event runs from Thursday, October 22 to Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Halloween itself falls on Saturday, October 31, in the middle of the window.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Start date | October 22, 2026 |
| End date | November 3, 2026 |
| Length | 13 days, counting both dates |
| Start time | Not announced |
| Platform | Windows on Steam |
| Event name | Thinning of the Veil |
The developers gave dates only, so we cannot offer an exact US start time. Check the Steam news page or the in-game announcement on October 22. If a patch is required, update the game before your session, because event content normally arrives with an update.
Headquarters, Trick or Treating and Rewards
Three features are officially confirmed.
| Feature | What the developers say |
|---|---|
| Trick or treating | The classic lobby-to-lobby version returns |
| New Headquarters | A new Headquarters to unlock during the event |
| Cosmetics and furniture | New items for players to unlock |
| Other rewards | “More” content, with no list published |
The Headquarters is the customizable base from which you launch contracts, and the store listing says you can customize your character and Headquarters. Therefore, the new Headquarters and furniture fit into that system.
The studio has not explained how lobby-to-lobby trick or treating works. It calls the feature classic, which suggests the same format as last year, but nothing in the 2026 announcement describes the steps. Wait for the in-game description before you plan a route.
How to Get Candy and Halloween Artifacts
No official 2026 rules exist yet. Here is what the studio has done before, which is only a precedent.
- Last year’s Halloween event: the developers’ 2025 announcement described candy buckets placed across the maps, with candy used to unlock treats.
- The 2025 Easter event: in Cleanse mode, players collected Ethereal Artifacts after completing the scan, and those artifacts unlocked exclusive rewards.
Those two events suggest candy and artifacts could return in some form. However, the 2026 announcement mentions neither, so treat them as possibilities. If artifacts appear in Cleanse mode again, complete the scan first, and then explore the location.
One confirmed clue comes from the October 13 patch. It added a new Headquarters furniture piece with joke instructions to “find the thing” and “do the thing.” The note says those steps only apply in a non-friendly ghost contract. That detail is the only hint about how that item unlocks.
Samhain Cosmetics and Furniture
The developers confirm new cosmetics and furniture for the event. They do not name any item, number or price. Because event items usually sit behind in-game challenges, expect to unlock them by playing contracts, but the studio has not said that explicitly.
To avoid missing anything, check the cosmetics menu and the Headquarters furniture menu after the event begins. In addition, take a screenshot of each unlock, since a later patch may rebalance requirements.
October 6 Update: Black Meadow Farms and The McGavin House
The October 6 update is the major update that came before the event. It added two haunted locations and expanded ghost behavior.
| Addition | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Black Meadow Farms | A secluded family farmhouse with new ghost models, Death Rooms, artifacts, interactions and throwable objects |
| The McGavin House | A historically preserved 1800s estate with the same five additions |
| More throwable objects | Added to Ravenwood, Summerhill Psychiatric, Stone Manor, Cedar, Aspen, Abaddon East and Abaddon West |
| Throwable sound effects | New sounds, so activity elsewhere in the location is easier to hear |
| Visual feedback | Interactions such as radios now show a light when a ghost uses them, which helps Deaf and hard-of-hearing players |
| Graphics scalability | More options for lower-end and higher-end hardware |
The studio also says a complete tutorial overhaul is next. The new tutorial will be a Killhouse-style training space that supports multiplayer. For now, Trainer lobbies help new players, which we cover below. If you like co-op horror with a team, our Dead by Daylight survivor intent system guide covers another game’s approach to teamwork.
Patches Since the Update
Three smaller updates followed the October 6 release.
- October 9, v0.9.8.2_a: fixed the locked door sound in The McGavin House, blurry textures on some GPUs, a slow player list in session management and out-of-sync TV movies. It also added a Trainer Only filter and adjusted event probabilities on the new maps.
- October 11: the studio introduced Trainer lobbies. Choose the Training filter in the session browser, or use the Multiplayer and Find buttons on your laptop and check Trainer Only.
- October 13: non-wraith ghosts now have footsteps, the artifact spawn on the piano in The McGavin House was removed, proximity voice chat distance and occlusion changed, lore events block hunts while they are active, and candles were added to the new maps.
The studio also said it is prioritizing the Halloween event before returning to the tutorial, so the new tutorial is expected within the next few weeks.
Is It a Good Time to Join?
The game costs $13.99 on Steam and runs on Windows. SteamDB lists Steam Deck status as Playable, with notes about small text and on-screen keyboard use, and Steam shows mostly positive reviews. One player asked about Xbox controller support in the Steam discussions, and the studio has not announced any.
Because the event arrives in four days, joining now gives you time to learn the basics with a Trainer lobby. The tutorial is weak by the studio’s own admission, so use Trainer lobbies before you start event contracts.
How to Prepare Before October 22
- Update the game. Install the latest patch before Thursday.
- Try a Trainer lobby. Use the Training filter or Trainer Only checkbox.
- Practice the new maps. Black Meadow Farms and The McGavin House are live now.
- Check your Headquarters. Clear space for new furniture.
- Watch the Steam news page. The studio promised more details before launch.
Common Mistakes and Clarifications
- Assuming candy works as it did last year. The 2026 announcement does not mention it.
- Expecting an exact start time. Only dates are announced.
- Confusing Samhain with Halloween. The event name and theme refer to both.
- Missing the new maps. They arrived on October 6, before the event.
- Skipping updates. Fixes on October 9 and 13 change event probabilities and voice chat.
Conclusion
The Other Side Halloween event runs from October 22 to November 3, 2026, with trick or treating, a new Headquarters and Samhain-themed unlocks. Candy rules, artifact rules and the reward list remain unannounced, so read the in-game description once the event starts. Update the game and learn the new maps first.
FAQs
When does The Other Side Halloween event start and end?
It runs from October 22 to November 3, 2026. The start time has not been announced.
What is Thinning of the Veil?
It is the 2026 Halloween event, based on the belief that the veil between the living and the dead thins around Samhain.
What rewards are confirmed?
The developers confirm a new Headquarters, cosmetics and furniture. They have not published a full list.
How do I get candy?
The 2026 rules are not announced. Last year’s event used candy buckets placed on the maps.
What came with the October 6 update?
Black Meadow Farms, The McGavin House, more throwable objects, clearer visual feedback and graphics scalability options.
How much does The Other Side cost?
It costs $13.99 on Steam Early Access, and it supports up to six players.
For more updates visit: GAME SPEC
