The Master Chief is back, ready to fight the Covenant and save humanity. Again. This time around, the iconic armor-clad hero is starring in Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of his first Xbox adventure. But this time, things are a bit different — and not just visually.
Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Halo remake that is set to launch later this summer.
🪖 Quick Overview: Halo: Campaign Evolved is a complete Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, launching July 28 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s single-player only, but supports co-op for up to four players.
What Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a complete remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved. It’s being developed by Halo Studios, formerly known as 343 Industries — the same team behind Halo 4, Halo 5, and Halo: Infinite. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 5 and modernizes some parts of the classic shooter while also adding some new content, including a few missions set before the events of the original Halo.
Key Details at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Halo: Campaign Evolved |
| Developer | Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Type | Full remake (not a remaster) |
| Release Date | July 28, 2026 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Multiplayer | No competitive multiplayer |
| Co-op | Yes — up to 4 players, cross-platform |
| Split-Screen | Yes — up to 2 players on console |
Halo: Campaign Evolved FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Didn’t they already remake the original Halo? | Sort of. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011) was a remaster — it used the original code and physics with new visuals. Campaign Evolved is a full remake built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, sharing no original code with Combat Evolved. |
| Is there competitive multiplayer? | No. This remake is focused entirely on the original game’s single-player campaign. No deathmatch, no CTF — it’s all about the story. |
| Can I play co-op? | Yes! You can play co-op with up to three buddies across all platforms. Split-screen is also supported for up to two players on console. |
| Can you sprint in Campaign Evolved? | Yes. Halo Studios says this is optional, but sprinting is available. Halo purists, look away. |
| How many Skulls are in the game? | 43 gameplay-modifying Skulls, including classics like Grunt Birthday Party and Blackeye, plus new ones like randomizing weapons — and even a third-person mode. |
| Is this coming to PS5? | Yes. Despite Xbox’s shifting exclusivity strategy, this game was committed to PS5 before the pivot, and Xbox is honoring that commitment. |
What Else Is New?
Quite a lot! For one thing, you can steal vehicles in the new remake — a feature that didn’t exist in the original game.
Halo: Campaign Evolved also features weapons and enemies that only appeared in later Halo games, like a player-usable sword, the Needler Rifle, and massively powerful Brutes. However, a lot of this content will mostly show up in the three new prequel missions added to the remake, set before the events of the main game.
And because one of the 43 skulls in the game allows you to randomize weapon spawns during missions, you could end up using a Needler Rifle during The Silent Cartographer or something — which is wild.
What Does Third-Person Halo Look Like?
Pretty good, actually. One new Skull lets you play the entire game in third-person — a radical shift for a franchise that’s always been strictly first-person. It’s a fun novelty that could make replays feel entirely fresh.
The Platform Question
Yes, Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming to PS5. I know, I know — it feels weird. But while it looked like Xbox was entering a new era as a third-party publisher that just so happened to also have a console, things have changed. Now, Xbox is promising that some games will be exclusive.
At the moment, what is and isn’t going to be exclusive is tricky to pin down. But because Halo: Campaign Evolved predates all those shenanigans — and because Xbox is honoring its previous commitments to other platforms — the Halo remake launches on PS5 in July.
💡 Will Xbox Remake Any Other Halo Games?
Maybe! It sure sounds like it, based on this quote from the game’s community manager on the PlayStation Blog: “I think we’re just getting started.”
However, will these future, theoretical Halo remakes arrive on PS5? That now seems unlikely — which sort of makes it seem a bit pointless to release Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5 in the first place. But what do I know?
Final Word
Halo: Campaign Evolved is shaping up to be the definitive way to experience the Master Chief’s first mission — rebuilt from the ground up, packed with new features, and surprisingly available on PlayStation. Whether you’re a returning fan or a first-time player, this is one remake worth paying attention to.
Just don’t expect to teabag anyone online. That’s still exclusive to Xbox.
