Not that it is of any shock given the recent rumors, but now it is confirmed: Halo: Campaign Evolved, the much-talked-about Halo remake, is not only official, but coming to PlayStation, making it the fourth Xbox-exclusive to make the jump to Sony’s platform after Gears of War: Reloaded and Forza Horizon (and Flight Simulator will arrive in December as well).
The news was confirmed in an announcement made by Microsoft and Halo Studios, as well as a gameplay trailer showcased during a Halo World Championships stream earlier today, confirming the 2001 classic to get the modern update treatment the industry has become known for as of late.
While it is true that Halo is no longer the biggest Xbox franchise, the remake underscores Microsoft’s big shift in its strategy — apparently those “console wars on exclusives” are a thing of the past, with Microsoft Game Studios now entertaining multiplatform releases as a means of paving the way to massive profits.
At any rate, Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to arrive sometime in 2026, for Xbox (and PlayStation) consoles as well as PC. Xbox fans will have the ability to download the game for free through a Game Pass subscription, for what it’s worth. Here’s a first look that its gameplay:
Halo: Campaign Evolved will have a bunch of modern updates: here’s all you need to know
According to the announcement: Halo: Campaign Evolved will be a “faithful yet modernized” remake, with the defining feature of being campaign-oriented only and ditching multiplayer PvP elements. That, however, does not mean it is devoid of online features: a co-op mode will support up to four players (or two players in a split screen setting, although that will be console-exclusive).
Also, as it is par for the course in the industry nowadays, the Halo remake will support cross-play and shared progression between PC and consoles.
As for updates, here’s a quick rundown:
- New Missions: Halo Studios has added three brand-new prequel missions. These missions feature Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson in a “brand-new arc” set before the main story we know.
- Visual and Audio Overhauls: The game promises “reborn with all-new visuals, cinematics, and animations,” alongside a remastered soundtrack intended for “greater immersion”. The original missions have been rebuilt with “enhanced level design” and “improved wayfinding”.
- Returning Cast: The primary voice actors, including Steve Downes (Master Chief) and Jen Taylor (Cortana), are back and have recorded new lines for the remake.
- Controversial Changes: In a move that may turn some heads, the Halo Remake includes sprinting. The lack of sprint was a defining characteristic of the early Halo games, although some players will welcome the change to modernize the controls.
- New Arsenal: Players will gain access to nine new weapons, including the energy sword, which was previously only wielded by enemies in the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Furthermore, players can now hijack enemy vehicles and drive the Wraith, a capability first introduced in Halo 2.
Finally, for those looking to spice up the adventure, the remake includes a “campaign remix” feature allowing players to tackle missions with various modifiers (Skulls), potentially altering the experience with randomized weapons and enemies.
While this is a major release, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time the original game has been remade; Microsoft previously released Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360 in 2011. Meanwhile, Microsoft is also rumored to be working on a separate, potential live-service Halo game, rumored to launch in 2026 to celebrate the Halo franchise’s 25th anniversary.
