Halo: Campaign Evolved
About
Overview
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a 2026 first-person shooter developed by Halo Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. It remakes the story component of Halo: Combat Evolved, the 2001 first entry in the Halo franchise originally developed by Bungie for Xbox.
Built in Unreal Engine 5, Campaign Evolved features upgraded visuals, remade story cinematics and audio, and re-recorded dialogue from the principal voice cast. The remake also includes new and altered levels, redesigned missions, and additions drawn from later Halo games. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of both the Halo franchise and the Xbox platform.
Gameplay
Campaign Evolved is played mostly from a first-person perspective. Its campaign missions have altered level design and structure, with movement options and mechanics reflecting later Halo sequels. Sprint is enabled by default and can be toggled in-game. Master Chief can also hijack Covenant-piloted vehicles, and vehicles are destructible in real time.
The Warthog has been partially redesigned with a fourth rear-bumper seat, allowing a four-person fireteam to ride together. Enemy variety includes later Halo canon additions such as Jiralhanae Brutes and Flood pure forms.
The game adds nine weapons beyond the original Combat Evolved selection, including the Energy Sword, Sub-Machine Gun, Battle Rifle, Fuel Rod Cannon, Sentinel Beam, Beam Rifle, Brute Plasma Rifle, Brute Spiker and Needle Rifle. It also includes 42 collectible Skulls, with 26 returning from earlier Halo games. Skulls modify gameplay conditions, including third-person play through the Perspective modifier and damage from touching the ground through The Floor is Lava.
Campaign Evolved does not include the original competitive multiplayer, but supports story co-op with up to four players online. Console versions also support two-player local split-screen co-op.
Setting
In addition to the original game’s ten missions, Campaign Evolved includes three new missions set one year before the main events, during Operation METEORITE, a campaign led by Master Chief and UNSC Sgt. Avery Johnson.
Release
Halo: Campaign Evolved was released on July 28, 2026 for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Online co-op supports cross-platform play and cross-progression across consoles and PC.