In a monumental announcement that sent shockwaves through the gaming community, Microsoft and Halo Studios unveiled Halo: Campaign Evolved during the Halo World Championship 2025 in Seattle. This groundbreaking remake of the legendary 2001 classic, Halo: Combat Evolved, represents not just a visual overhaul but a complete reimagining of the campaign that launched one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Arriving in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and—for the first time ever—PlayStation 5, this release marks a new era for Halo, one built on accessibility, technological innovation, and reverence for the original masterpiece.
A Fresh Start with Unreal Engine 5
Halo: Campaign Evolved is being rebuilt from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant departure from the proprietary Slipspace Engine used in Halo Infinite. This transition follows Halo Studios’ (formerly 343 Industries) strategic rebranding in October 2024, signaling a fresh chapter for the franchise after years of mixed reception under its previous identity.
The move to Unreal Engine 5 enables unprecedented visual fidelity. The game features remastered 4K visuals with dynamic lighting powered by Lumen, enhanced animations, and meticulously reconstructed environments that capture the grandeur of Installation 04’s mysterious ringworld. Technical Director Greg Hermann emphasized that while the visuals have been dramatically upgraded, the core gameplay remains authentically Halo: “All of the new content created in Unreal Engine 5 is layered on top of code and systems carried directly over from the original game.”
The stunning landscapes, alien structures, and sci-fi vistas have been reimagined to deliver what Hermann describes as “a level of fidelity that we couldn’t achieve for Halo Anniversary.” The original voice actors, Steve Downes (Master Chief) and Jen Taylor (Cortana), returned to re-record all their dialogue, bringing decades of character evolution to their performances.
Three New Prequel Missions Expand the Story
Beyond the visual transformation, Halo: Campaign Evolved introduces three entirely new bonus missions that serve as a prequel to the main campaign. Creative Director Max Szlagor explained the careful approach: “It was really key for us to maintain the original story as it is, so these missions are meant to be a prequel setup for the main chorus.”
These missions center on the relationship between Master Chief and the beloved Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, offering fresh character interactions and narrative depth. Players will encounter new environments, enemies, characters, and gameplay elements designed to expand the Halo mythology without rewriting its legacy. The addition represents Halo Studios’ commitment to honoring the original while providing something new for both veterans and newcomers.
Enhanced Gameplay and Expanded Arsenal
The remake modernizes combat while preserving the distinctive “Halo feel” that defined the genre. For the first time in Combat Evolved, players can sprint, aim down sights, and hijack enemy vehicles—features introduced in later Halo titles that fundamentally change tactical options. Sprint can be disabled for purists who prefer the original pacing.
The arsenal has been significantly expanded with nine additional weapons from across the Halo universe, including fan favorites like the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, Fuel Rod Cannon, and Sentinel Beam. Players can now pilot the Covenant Wraith tank, adding vehicular variety to combat encounters. The iconic Warthog has been upgraded with an additional rear seat, allowing entire four-player fireteams to ride together.
Enemy behaviors have also been refined. Hunters can no longer be defeated with a single pistol shot to the back, making them genuinely formidable opponents. The Flood sections promise enhanced atmosphere and horror, with dismemberment mechanics made possible by Unreal Engine 5’s capabilities.
Record-Breaking Skull Collection
Halo: Campaign Evolved features more gameplay-modifying Skulls than any previous Halo campaign. These optional modifiers dramatically alter combat dynamics—doubling explosion velocities, randomizing weapons, altering enemy behavior, removing the minimap, and adjusting player attributes.
Studio Director Max Szlagor teased the sheer difficulty potential: “There are more skull options in Campaign Evolved than we’ve ever had in a Halo game. The sheer number of skulls may make it nearly impossible to complete the game on legendary difficulty with all skulls activated.” One skull modifier even grants vehicle invincibility, allowing players to recreate the classic “Warthog jump” exploit from the original game—a nod to the creative chaos that defined early Halo experiences.
Refined Level Design and Improved Pacing
While faithful to the original mission structure, Halo Studios has implemented thoughtful refinements to enhance pacing and player experience. The infamous Library level, long criticized for its repetitive design, has been significantly reworked with updated dialogue, improved environmental storytelling, and better wayfinding to maintain tension without monotony.
Every mission has been reconstructed with enhanced level design, updated cinematics, and refined encounter staging. The goal is to “keep the pace moving without losing the wonder, tension, or heroism of the original.” The updated cinematics feature entirely new motion capture animations, creating a more contemporary and cinematic experience.
Cross-Platform Play and Expanded Co-Op
In a historic first for the franchise, Halo: Campaign Evolved launches simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store. Brian Jarrard, Halo Studios Community Director, called it “a huge deal, it’s a long time coming,” adding that “Halo is on PlayStation going forward, starting with Halo: Campaign Evolved.”
The game supports two-player split-screen co-op on consoles and four-player online co-op across all platforms with full crossplay and cross-progression. This connectivity ensures that friends can experience the legendary campaign together regardless of their platform, a significant evolution from the original’s limited local multiplayer.
As the title suggests, Halo: Campaign Evolved focuses exclusively on the campaign experience. There is no competitive multiplayer mode, as Halo Studios pointed out that “Halo Infinite and Halo: The Master Chief Collection provide really great experiences for multiplayer.”
Day One on Game Pass and Cloud Gaming
Halo: Campaign Evolved will be available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, continuing Microsoft’s commitment to value for subscribers. The game also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing seamless play across devices.
While the exact release date hasn’t been confirmed beyond “2026,” the timing strongly suggests a November launch to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved, which originally released on November 15, 2001.
A Celebration of 25 Years
Executive Producer Damon Conn framed the project as both a celebration and a gateway: “At its heart, Halo is about connection. We’re not trying to rewrite Halo’s legacy—we’re trying to immerse you in it like never before.” The remake aims to introduce a new generation to the game that defined the Xbox brand while giving longtime fans a reason to return to Installation 04 with fresh eyes.
The project represents Halo Studios’ philosophy of utilizing 25 years of community feedback and technological advancement to build on what makes Halo timeless. Studio Head Pierre Hintze positioned this as “Chapter 3” of Halo’s history, following the Bungie era and the 343 Industries era: “We’re not just going to try to improve the efficiency of development, but change the recipe of how we make Halo games.”
The Future of Halo
Beyond the immediate excitement for Campaign Evolved, the project serves as a technological foundation for future Halo titles. Greg Hermann confirmed, “For upcoming games, we will continue to push technological boundaries while ensuring the core Halo gameplay is evident, felt, and adapted as necessary.”
The combination of Unreal Engine 5’s cutting-edge capabilities, cross-platform accessibility, and reverence for the source material positions Halo: Campaign Evolved as more than a remake—it’s a statement of intent. Whether discovering the ring for the first time or returning after 25 years, players will experience Master Chief’s legendary journey with stunning new fidelity while preserving the wonder, heroism, and discovery that made Halo: Combat Evolved a cultural phenomenon.
As fans eagerly await the 2026 launch, one thing is certain: the fight to save humanity from the Covenant and uncover Halo’s dark secrets has never looked—or felt—more extraordinary.
