TL;DR
- Halo: Campaign Evolved PC requires Windows 10 (22H2) or Windows 11 and a 100GB SSD — no HDD support.
- Minimum specs target 1080p at 60 FPS and need an RTX 2060 Super, RX 6600, or Arc A580 GPU with 16GB RAM.
- Medium (1440p/60 FPS) needs an RTX 3070 or RX 7600 and 16GB RAM.
- Recommended/High (4K/60 FPS) requires an RTX 3080 Ti or RX 9070 with 32GB RAM and 12GB+ VRAM.
- Ultra (4K/60 FPS max settings) demands an RTX 4080 or Ryzen 9 7900X-class system with 32GB RAM and 16GB VRAM.
- The game supports DLSS 4, FSR 3/4, XeSS, and TSR upscaling plus NVIDIA Reflex and AMD Anti-Lag.
- A Microsoft account and Xbox gamertag are required on all platforms including Steam and PS5.
- New to Halo on PC? Read our Halo: Campaign Evolved Beginner’s Guide after you get the game installed.
Halo: Campaign Evolved PC System Requirements
Halo: Campaign Evolved is built in Unreal Engine 5 — a first for the Halo franchise. That brings stunning visuals, Lumen global illumination, Nanite geometry, and hardware ray tracing to Master Chief’s story. It also means you need a reasonably capable PC to run it well.
The good news is that Halo Studios published four clear tiers of requirements — Low, Medium, High (Recommended), and Ultra — each targeting a specific resolution and frame rate. Whether you are on an older mid-range rig or a high-end build, there is a tier for you. Here is everything you need to know before you download.
Minimum PC Requirements — 1080p at 60 FPS (Low Settings)
The minimum spec targets 1080p resolution at 60 FPS on Low quality settings. This is the baseline you need just to run the game.
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit) or Windows 11
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-10700K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super, AMD Radeon RX 6600, or Intel Arc A580
- RAM: 16 GB
- VRAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 100 GB SSD (Solid State Drive required)
Note that the minimum CPU requirement has an interesting split — AMD asks for a Ryzen 5 3600 (6-core) while Intel lists the more powerful i7-10700K (8-core). This suggests the game is better optimised for AMD’s architecture at lower settings. Either way, an SSD is mandatory — there is no mechanical hard drive support.
Medium PC Requirements — 1440p at 60 FPS
The medium tier steps up to 1440p at 60 FPS. This is a solid target for mid-range gamers who want a sharper image without going all the way to 4K.
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit) or Windows 11
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel Core i5-12600K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 7600
- RAM: 16 GB
- VRAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 100 GB SSD
The RAM stays at 16GB here but the GPU requirement jumps significantly — from an RTX 2060 Super to an RTX 3070. If you are sitting between minimum and medium specs, upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR can help you hit 1440p/60 FPS on older hardware.
Recommended PC Requirements — 4K at 60 FPS (High Settings)
The recommended spec is what Halo Studios considers the target experience for most PC players who want the game looking its best. It targets 4K Ultra HD at 60 FPS on High settings.
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit) or Windows 11
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 or Intel Core i7-12700K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 9070
- RAM: 32 GB
- VRAM: 12 GB
- Storage: 100 GB SSD
This is where the RAM requirement doubles from 16GB to 32GB — a jump that will catch some players off guard. If you are currently at 16GB, you will need an upgrade to hit this tier. The VRAM also steps up to 12GB, which rules out the RTX 3070 (8GB) at this level despite being a capable card overall.
Ultra PC Requirements — 4K at 60 FPS (Maximum Settings)
The Ultra tier is for players who want the absolute best visual quality — 4K at 60 FPS with all settings maxed out. This is demanding hardware territory.
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit) or Windows 11
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X or Intel Core i9-13900K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
- RAM: 32 GB
- VRAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 100 GB SSD
The RTX 4080 with 16GB VRAM is the listed Ultra GPU target. Even at this level, real-world testing shows that native 4K at stable high frame rates pushes the limits of even the most powerful consumer GPUs available. Upscaling (DLSS, FSR, or XeSS) is highly recommended even at the Ultra tier if you want consistent performance.
All Four Tiers at a Glance
- Low (Minimum) — 1080p/60 FPS: Ryzen 5 3600 or i7-10700K | RTX 2060 Super / RX 6600 / Arc A580 | 16GB RAM | 8GB VRAM
- Medium — 1440p/60 FPS: Ryzen 7 5700X or i5-12600K | RTX 3070 / RX 7600 | 16GB RAM | 8GB VRAM
- High (Recommended) — 4K/60 FPS: Ryzen 7 7700 or i7-12700K | RTX 3080 Ti / RX 9070 | 32GB RAM | 12GB VRAM
- Ultra — 4K/60 FPS Max: Ryzen 9 7900X or i9-13900K | RTX 4080 | 32GB RAM | 16GB VRAM
Storage — 100GB SSD Required
Halo: Campaign Evolved requires 100GB of SSD storage at every tier. This is not a suggestion — a mechanical hard drive (HDD) is not supported. The SSD requirement applies whether you are running at Low or Ultra settings, so make sure you have enough free space before downloading.
100GB is a significant chunk for a campaign-only game. If you are tight on space, consider clearing out older titles before installing.
Operating System — Windows 10 Still Supported
Halo: Campaign Evolved supports both Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit) and Windows 11. You do not need to upgrade to Windows 11 to play. If you are on Windows 10, just make sure you are on the 22H2 update or later.
Halo Studios also recommends enabling Resizable BAR (ReBAR) in your BIOS settings for better VRAM performance. Many PCs have this feature available but leave it disabled by default. Check your motherboard’s BIOS settings before launch to get the most out of your GPU.
Upscaling and PC Graphics Features
Halo: Campaign Evolved has strong PC feature support, which matters a lot for hitting performance targets on mid-range hardware.
Upscaling Options
- DLSS 4 (NVIDIA): Available on GeForce RTX 20-series and newer. This is the best upscaling option for NVIDIA GPU owners and delivers the cleanest image at higher performance scales.
- FSR 3 / FSR 4 (AMD): Available to all hardware. AMD RX 9000 series (RDNA 4) cards automatically get the upgraded FSR 4. FSR 3 is used on all other hardware.
- XeSS (Intel): Designed for Intel Arc GPUs but available to all hardware. Performance gains are largest on Arc cards.
- TSR: Temporal Super Resolution — Unreal Engine’s built-in upscaler. A solid fallback option on any hardware not covered by the above.
Latency Reduction
- NVIDIA Reflex: Reduces system latency on NVIDIA GPUs. Worth enabling if you have a Reflex-compatible card and monitor.
- AMD Anti-Lag: AMD’s equivalent latency reduction tool for Radeon GPUs.
- Intel XeLL: Intel’s latency mode for Arc GPUs.
Frame Generation
Frame Generation is available depending on your GPU and upscaling selection. It can significantly boost perceived frame rate but adds a small amount of input latency. It is best used when you are already hitting a stable base frame rate — not as a fix for a struggling system.
Ray Tracing
Halo: Campaign Evolved uses Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen global illumination and hardware ray tracing throughout. Even in Performance Mode on Xbox Series X, hardware ray tracing stays active — showing the depth of its integration. On PC, expect ray tracing to be part of the rendering pipeline regardless of settings tier, though its scope may vary.
Uncapped Frame Rate
The game supports an uncapped frame rate on PC, so if your hardware can push above 60 FPS you are not locked. You can also set a custom frame rate cap in the video settings.
PC Exclusive Features Worth Knowing
- Uncapped and custom frame rate limit
- Ultrawide monitor support with HUD width options
- Full graphics settings menu with individual control over Global Illumination, Lighting, Textures, Reflections, Atmospheric Quality, Post-Processing, and more
- Async Compute toggle (recommended: On)
- Full keyboard and mouse support plus controller rebinding
- VSync toggle (recommended: Off for lower latency)
- Motion Blur toggle (personal preference)
Microsoft Account Required on All Platforms
A Microsoft account and Xbox gamertag are required to play Halo: Campaign Evolved on every platform — including Steam and PS5. This links your cross-platform progression, cross-play, and achievements. Set this up before launch day so you are not scrambling during early access.
PS5 players need to create a Microsoft account and link it to their PlayStation account before the game will launch. The process is straightforward but takes a few minutes to complete.
Steam Deck Performance
Halo: Campaign Evolved carries a Steam Deck Verified rating from Valve, but real-world performance is limited by the Deck’s hardware. The game is playable, but it requires significant compromises.
The best starting point on Steam Deck is the Very Low preset at 1280×800 resolution with TSR upscaling at 70% resolution scale. This keeps the game above 30 FPS in most areas — though open outdoor missions with large environments will see frame rate dips. FSR is also available but has been reported to look noticeably worse than TSR on the Deck’s screen.
If you have an Xbox ROG Ally or another Windows handheld, target Very Low settings as well. When a device is detected below minimum spec, the game automatically hides High and Ultra options to prevent stability issues.
Tips for Getting the Best PC Performance
- Lower Global Illumination and Lighting Quality first. These are the most resource-intensive settings in the game. Dropping just these two can recover significant frame rate without a big visual hit on other settings.
- Enable upscaling. Even at the Ultra tier, using DLSS Quality or FSR Quality mode is recommended to hit stable 4K/60 FPS in demanding outdoor missions.
- Enable ReBAR in your BIOS. If your motherboard and GPU support Resizable BAR, turning it on can improve VRAM efficiency and performance. Check your BIOS before you boot the game for the first time.
- Turn off VSync. For lower input latency, disable VSync and use NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag instead.
- Disable Frame Generation at launch. Early access reports noted some instability with Frame Generation enabled. Apply it after drivers and patches have had time to settle.
- Update your GPU drivers before launch. Both NVIDIA and AMD released game-ready drivers ahead of Halo: Campaign Evolved’s launch window. Download the latest before you play.
Can Your PC Run Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Here is a quick guide to figure out where you land:
- RTX 2060 Super / RX 6600 / Arc A580 + 16GB RAM: You can run it at 1080p/60 FPS on Low. Enable DLSS/FSR for extra headroom.
- RTX 3070 / RX 7600 + 16GB RAM: 1440p/60 FPS is your target. Use upscaling at Quality mode to keep it smooth.
- RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT + 16–32GB RAM: You are in the medium-to-high range. Target 1440p on High or 4K with upscaling.
- RTX 3080 Ti / RX 9070 + 32GB RAM: You hit the Recommended spec. 4K/60 FPS on High settings is achievable.
- RTX 4080 + 32GB RAM: Ultra tier. Max settings at 4K. Use DLSS Quality for consistent 60 FPS in open outdoor areas.
- Below RTX 2060 Super or RX 6600: You may struggle to hit minimum spec. The game might still load but 60 FPS at 1080p is unlikely without very aggressive settings reductions and upscaling.
Where to Buy and Download
Halo: Campaign Evolved is available on PC via the Xbox App and Steam. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play at no extra cost from July 28, 2026. PS5 players purchase directly from the PlayStation Store.
If you are new to Halo or need a primer on all the gameplay systems before you jump in, check out our Halo: Campaign Evolved Beginner’s Guide — it covers difficulty settings, weapons, enemies, co-op, and how to get the most out of your first playthrough.
