TL;DR
- Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full ground-up remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, not just a remaster.
- It launches July 28, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam).
- Built in Unreal Engine 5 — the first time Halo has left its proprietary engine.
- Includes 10 original missions plus 3 brand-new prequel missions called Operation: METEORITE.
- Supports 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression across all platforms.
- Standard Edition costs $49.99. Day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- This is the first mainline Halo game ever released on a PlayStation console.
What Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a complete, ground-up remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. It is developed by Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game releases on July 28, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
This is not a remaster. Unlike the 2011 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which put a new coat of paint on the old game, Campaign Evolved rebuilds everything from scratch in Unreal Engine 5. New visuals, new cinematics, re-recorded voice lines, a remastered soundtrack — everything has been rebuilt from the ground up.
The game marks a huge moment for the franchise. Halo: Campaign Evolved is the first mainline Halo game to ever launch on a PlayStation console, ending 25 years of Xbox exclusivity. You can pre-order it directly on PlayStation Store, Steam, or Xbox.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Story — What Is It About?
The story follows Master Chief John-117. After the fall of the human colony world Reach, he and the crew of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn crash-land on a mysterious alien ring world called Halo. Alongside the AI construct Cortana, Master Chief fights through waves of Covenant forces and slowly uncovers a secret that could destroy all life in the galaxy.
If you played Halo: Combat Evolved before, this is the same iconic story — but told with better cinematics, new motion-capture animations, and freshly recorded dialogue from the original cast.
New Missions — Operation: METEORITE
The biggest new addition is Operation: METEORITE, a three-mission prequel adventure available only in Halo: Campaign Evolved. These missions are set about one year before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.
In these new missions, you fight alongside Sergeant Avery Johnson — one of the most beloved characters in the series. The prequel missions introduce new characters, new environments, new enemies, and weapons pulled from later Halo titles that do not appear in the original campaign.
These three missions are included in every edition of the game at no extra cost. They add a couple of extra hours to the overall runtime and come with their own Skull modifiers too.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Platforms and Release Date
Halo: Campaign Evolved releases on July 28, 2026. It is available on the following platforms:
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 5 — Pre-order on PS Store
- PC via Steam — Pre-order on Steam
- PC via Xbox App
- Xbox Cloud Gaming (streaming)
The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning a single Xbox purchase covers both Xbox Series X|S and PC at no extra charge.
Early access began on July 23, 2026 — five days before launch — but only for buyers of the Digital Premium Edition or the physical Collector’s Edition.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Price and Editions
There are three editions of Halo: Campaign Evolved:
- Standard Edition — $49.99: The full game including all 13 missions. No frills, no compromises. This is the same 13-mission campaign everyone gets.
- Digital Premium Edition — $69.99: Includes the full game, up to 5 days early access (from July 23), the Alpha Halo Armory Pack (5 armor skins + 6 weapon skins), a digital artbook, and the Halo: Hungry Buzzards short story written by Troy Denning.
- Collector’s Edition — $199.99: A physical edition that includes everything in the Premium Edition plus collector’s physical items. This edition has already sold out.
If you already bought the Standard Edition and want early access, Halo Studios lets you upgrade to the Premium Edition for just $20 — so you do not have to buy again.
Pre-Order Bonuses
Pre-ordering any edition before launch gets you the Foundry Armory Pack, which includes the Classic 2001 Mark V Armor Skin, Classic 2001 Assault Rifle Skin, Gilded Onyx Armor Style, and Milestone Assault Rifle Weapon Style. These make Master Chief look exactly like the original 2001 box art version.
Is Halo: Campaign Evolved on Game Pass?
Yes. Halo: Campaign Evolved is included on day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no extra cost, starting July 28, 2026. If you subscribe to either tier, you do not need to buy the game separately.
However, the five-day early access window is not included with Game Pass. To play from July 23, you need the Premium Edition or Collector’s Edition (or the $20 Premium Upgrade if you already have Game Pass).
PS5 players cannot access Game Pass. PlayStation 5 owners must purchase the game directly from the PlayStation Store — either the Standard Edition at $49.99 or the Digital Premium at $69.99.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Gameplay — What Has Changed?
Campaign Evolved keeps the DNA of the original but modernises the experience. Here is what is new:
Modern Movement
Master Chief can now sprint and clamber — features that did not exist in the 2001 original. The game also adds smart-link aiming (ADS) for a more modern feel. That said, players who want the old-school experience can use Skull modifiers to turn these off and revert to the classic control style.
Expanded Arsenal
The weapon sandbox has grown. Several weapons from Halo 2 and beyond have been added to the mission pool, including the Operation: METEORITE prequel missions. This gives the combat more variety and more options for how you want to approach each encounter.
Vehicle Hijacking
For the first time in a Halo: Combat Evolved setting, you can hijack enemy vehicles and pilot a fully drivable Wraith tank. Elites can also hijack your vehicles, which adds a chaotic and fun new layer to vehicle combat.
New Enemies
Two notable enemy types have been added. Jackal Snipers — infamous from nearly every Halo game except the first — are now in the campaign. Flood Tank Forms, first seen in Halo 3, also appear in Campaign Evolved as rare and threatening encounters similar to a Covenant Hunter.
Enhanced Level Design
The original missions have been rebuilt with enhanced level design, updated wayfinding, and improved encounter geometry. The layouts are faithful to the original but feel more refined and less repetitive in certain areas.
Overshield and Active Camo
Overshield and Active Camo have been changed to toggle-use equipment — similar to how Halo: Reach handled equipment. Instead of auto-activating on pickup, you can now hold them and activate them when you choose.
Co-Op and Split-Screen
Halo: Campaign Evolved supports four-player online co-op with full crossplay across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Players on different platforms can squad up in the same session, and cross-progression means your save carries across all the platforms you play on.
Console versions also support two-player local split-screen, which is full-width — no black bars on the sides. Split-screen is capped at 30FPS in both Performance and Quality modes, which is worth knowing before your next couch session.
Campaign Remix Mode
Campaign Remix is a new mode that unlocks after you collect any three Skulls in the campaign. It lets you replay any completed mission with a significant twist.
Three Skulls are enabled by default in Remix:
- Adaptation: Randomly replaces enemy squads with different unit types or entirely different factions. You might face Flood where you expected Sentinels.
- Reload: Randomises weapon placement across the level.
- Armistice: Forces every enemy type to fight together as allies against you.
You can also apply additional optional Skull modifiers for visual effects, damage tuning, health changes, and ammo settings. Remix adds a lot of replayability for fans who want fresh runs through familiar levels.
Skulls — 42 Total
Halo: Campaign Evolved has more Skull modifiers than any previous Halo game — 42 in total. That includes 26 fan-favourite Skulls from past titles and 16 brand-new Skulls built specifically for this game.
Fan favourites include Black Eye, Mythic, Famine, Catch, Boom, Grunt Birthday Party, Bandana, Pinata, IWHBYD, and Acrophobia. New additions include a Perspective Skull that switches the game to third-person view — a nod to Halo’s original Mac development roots — and modifiers that let you demodernise the game by removing sprint and ADS.
There are three hidden Skulls in each campaign level, plus three bonus Skulls unlocked through Campaign Remix.
Visuals and Audio
The game runs in Unreal Engine 5 and targets 4K visuals with HDR. The cinematics are fully new, featuring fresh motion-capture animations and re-recorded dialogue from returning cast members. The soundtrack has been remastered, and the sound design has been rebuilt for a more immersive experience.
On PC, some reviewers have noted Unreal Engine stuttering issues — a common complaint across UE5 titles in general. The game carries a Steam Deck Verified rating for portable play on PC.
Metacritic scores break down by platform: 86 on Xbox Series X, 80 on PS5, and 77 on PC, where performance has drawn the most criticism. OpenCritic sits at 84 from 38 critics, with 89% recommending the game.
How Long Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Reviewers report completing the full campaign — all 13 missions — in roughly six to ten hours depending on difficulty and playstyle. Legendary difficulty runs take longer. The three Operation: METEORITE missions add a few extra hours on top of the core campaign.
Is There Multiplayer?
No. Halo: Campaign Evolved is a campaign-only game. There is no competitive PvP multiplayer or arena mode. This was never planned for this release and Halo Studios was transparent about it from the start.
Co-op is the only shared online experience — up to four players in the campaign together, with crossplay and cross-progression across all platforms.
Where to Buy Halo: Campaign Evolved
You can purchase or pre-order Halo: Campaign Evolved on all three platforms right now:
- Buy on Xbox — Xbox Series X|S and PC, includes Xbox Play Anywhere.
- Buy on PlayStation Store — PS5 Standard or Premium Edition.
- Buy on Steam — PC with Steam Deck Verified rating.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play at no extra cost from July 28, 2026.
