Halo: Campaign Evolved is out now for Xbox, PC and PS5 – here’s everything we know so far, including new missions
Blog Andrew Joseph 26 Oct , 2025 0
Microsoft and Halo Studios have just announced Halo: Combat Evolved, an Unreal Engine 5 remake of the 2001 Xbox launch day classic Halo: Combat Evolved. I've played a short demo, so be sure to check it out my first impressionbut here we're going to take a look at everything we don't know about the 2026 release of Halo – which will be the first since 2021's Halo Infinite.
Did you mean “remake”?
Yes, I asked Halo Studios point-blank if this was a remake or a remake, and executive producer Damon Conn said, “It's a modernized remake, a reimagined version of the classic story that started it all.”
Since Microsoft has released numerous games on other platforms, does this mean Halo will be coming to PlayStation 5?
Yes, Halo: Campaign Evolved will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. Yes, I did clarify with Halo Studios that the PS5 version will be released at the same time as the Xbox and PC versions.
Is this any weirder than a Sonic game coming to a Nintendo console?
Yes, weird at least on the same level.
Will Halo Studios be adding any PS5 Pro enhancements?
I asked the question, and game director Greg Hermann didn't say much, other than to tell me, “It's safe to say it will be tuned for the target devices.”
Okay, so when is Halo: Campaign Evolved releasing?
So far, Halo Studios will only say “2026,” but it's likely to be released near the 25th anniversary of Combat Evolved's release, which is November 16, 2026. In other words, fall 2026 seems like a safe bet.
Event evolution? Does this mean there will be no multiplayer?
Sort of like. The campaign co-op mode is available for two players split-screen, or up to four players online. Supports cross-platform play.
Wait, a crossover game? Does this mean I can play co-op with friends on PS5 while using Xbox or PC?
Yes.
Complete multiplayer idea. What does “somewhat” mean in multiplayer games?
As the name suggests, this is limited to campaigns. When I asked them why they didn't remake Halo 1's awesome multiplayer in Unreal Engine 5, just think how brilliant Blood Gulch, Hang 'Em High, and Sidewinder would be in UE5! – Game director Greg Hermann told me, “Right now we’re just focused on the 25th anniversary and the events here.” Executive producer Damon Conn added: “Halo Infinite and Halo: The Master Chief Collection provide a really great multiplayer experience.” That’s true… though that won’t do much for PS5 owners. unless…
Does this pave the way for Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite to be ported to PS5 to entice PlayStation players to catch up with the series?
We'll have to go back and check. “We have an opportunity to grow our fan base,” Conn said. “We're bringing the most players we've ever had to Halo. So that growth is what we're really interested in. That paves the way for future stories and Halo.” So… maybe?
Will Campaign Evolved be a full-price game?
I asked but got no answer. Personally, $50 feels good to me without proper multiplayer, but Microsoft Already tried It's raising the price of its first-party games to $80 this year, so my idea of $50 may be too naively optimistic. Still, at least there's new single-player content here.
Did you just say “new single-player content”?
Yes! I wasn't given any details beyond the most basic description: Campaign Evolved will include a three-mission prequel storyline centered around the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. I asked if these missions would be available out of the box, or if they would need to be unlocked, perhaps by completing the campaign. Halo Studios didn’t have an answer for me.
Are there any changes to the gameplay?
Yes, there were actually a lot of little kids. Vehicles can now be destroyed and hijacked, just like in every Halo game since Combat Evolved. You can also now pick up and use any weapon your enemies can use, meaning you can use energy swords and the like in this campaign. The Warthog now has four seats (an extra one in the back, like riding on a pickup truck's lowered tailgate), and you can drive a Ghost Tank. In the Silent Cartographer mission I played, I didn't see any Floods, but Halo Studios said they had implemented dismemberment of Flood enemies. The team also told me that “the level design has been thoughtfully updated” to eliminate pain points. Presumably they meant the library, but they didn't specify. Additionally, cutscenes have been completely remastered, with new motion capture and newly recorded dialogue from Steve Downs (Master Chief) and Jean Taylor (Cortana).
Are there any other updates?
Another thing of note: skulls! Halo Studios is adding skulls to Campaign Evolved, and there are lots of them. Apparently, this is the highest number of skulls ever seen in a Halo campaign, with a total of “dozens.”
Does it still feel like Halo in Unreal Engine 5?
Based on my short experience so far, I'd say yes. Look at me Preview Learn more about this.
We'll have more information on Halo: Campaign Evolved as development progresses, so stay tuned! In the meantime, be sure to tune in to our weekly Xbox show, Unlocka long discussion about everything going on in the world of Xbox.
Ryan McCaffrey is executive editor of IGN Previews and host of IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcasts Unlockedand our monthly talk show, IGN Unfiltered. He's from North Jersey, so it's “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate with him on Twitter: @DMC_Ryan.