Halo Studios has officially announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, a ground-up remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. Scheduled to launch in 2026, the project aims to modernize the iconic first-person shooter while maintaining the feel and pacing that defined Halo more than two decades ago. The remake will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5, and will be playable on day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere.
Using Unreal Engine 5, the team is rebuilding environments, visuals, animation systems, and audio assets to bring the world of Halo to current hardware standards. At the same time, the studio is preserving the gameplay foundations that made the original memorable by integrating legacy systems directly into the new build.
Rebuilding a Classic Campaign for Modern Players
The decision to return to the first campaign was rooted in the goal of providing a clear starting point for a new audience. Halo Studios describes Halo: Combat Evolved as the origin story not only for the franchise, but for many players' introduction to console shooters. Rebuilding this first chapter allows both new and returning players to experience Halo the way many remember, only with updated technology and more refined storytelling.
Executive Producer Damon Conn explains that beginning with the original story also helps establish narrative continuity for whatever comes next. The team sees this remake as a foundation for future Halo titles and wants to reintroduce the franchise with a consistent tone from the start.
Capturing the Feel of Classic Halo
One of the biggest challenges for the team has been keeping the unmistakable “Halo feel.” The studio returned to original design references, level layouts, enemy encounters, and pacing structures to ensure every update remains consistent with players’ memories of the 2001 campaign. Visuals, lighting, character animations, and sound effects have been rebuilt, but the emotional timing of encounters remains intact.
The team emphasizes that this is not an attempt to make Halo match the trends of modern shooters. Instead, the remake expands clarity, polish, and immersion without disrupting the studio’s guiding question: Does this still feel like Halo?
Modern Updates Built Around Player Feedback
Nearly every mission in the campaign has been reconstructed with enhancements based on 25 years of player feedback. The Library, one of the original game’s most debated missions, has received particular attention. The level layout still mirrors the original, but environmental storytelling, pacing, and navigation have been refined. Guilty Spark now delivers additional dialogue to guide players through the mission, improving clarity without replacing the experience fans remember.
The campaign also supports up to four-player online co-op for the first time. Split-screen co-op remains on console, maintaining one of the franchise’s enduring features.
New Weapons, Vehicles, and Missions
In addition to updates to existing missions, Halo Studios is introducing new gameplay options that expand the original experience without altering its core.
Weapons from later Halo titles, including the Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, and Energy Sword, can now be picked up and used throughout the campaign. Vehicle hijacking is now supported, and players can finally pilot the Covenant Wraith, a capability absent from the original game. The remake also features the highest number of Skulls in any Halo campaign, giving players even more ways to adjust difficulty and gameplay behavior.
The biggest new narrative addition includes three new prequel missions designed to introduce fresh characters, environments, and story elements that lead directly into the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. Sprinting is also included as an optional mechanic and can be disabled for players who want an experience closer to the original.
The Role of Unreal Engine 5
Unreal Engine 5 gives the studio the flexibility to deliver modern visuals and lighting while integrating gameplay systems inherited from Halo’s legacy codebase. This approach allows the remake to present photorealistic environments and detailed character animations without compromising the gameplay behavior that defined the series.
According to Game Director Greg Hermann, the engine shift is not about redefining Halo but ensuring the series can continue to evolve. The studio views the remake as a technological foundation that will benefit future Halo projects.
Built For Both New Players and Longtime Fans
Throughout development, Halo Studios has relied on player feedback through the Halo Insider program and community playtests. The studio wants Halo: Campaign Evolved to be approachable for new players, but familiar enough that returning fans recognize every encounter and emotional beat.
The game will be playable publicly for the first time at the Halo World Championships, giving fans the opportunity to experience the remake firsthand long before launch.
Conn summarizes the goal clearly: Halo: Campaign Evolved is not designed to replace the original, but to stand beside it as a modern interpretation. The studio wants the remake to deliver the feeling players experienced the first time they stepped onto the ring in 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, rebuilt with modern visuals, updated systems, and new content.
Is Halo: Campaign Evolved open world?
No. The game preserves the linear mission structure of the original campaign while enhancing exploration, pacing, and environmental storytelling.
Does the remake change the story?
The storyline remains the same, but the game includes new dialogue and three new prequel missions to expand context around key events.
Does Halo: Campaign Evolved support co-op?
Yes. The game supports two-player local split-screen on console and up to four-player online co-op across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Can players use sprinting?
Yes. Sprinting is available as an optional mechanic and can be turned off for a more classic gameplay experience.
Is this replacing Halo: Combat Evolved?
No. Halo Studios states that the remake is meant to complement the original, not replace it.
When will Halo: Campaign Evolved be released?
The game is scheduled to launch in 2026.
Which platforms will the game be available on?
The remake releases on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere.
