Halo Campaign Evolved: How to Play, System Requirements, and New Features

Halo Campaign Evolved is a remastered version of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, which was first released on Microsoft's original Xbox console in 2001. The game was officially announced in 2025 and is set to release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Windows|Steam), and, for the first time, on PlayStation 5. To further reward Xbox users, the game will be available day one for Xbox Game Pass, with cross-play and cross-progression options, allowing you to play alone or with friends.

Halo Campaign Evolved Features

Halo Campaign Evolved stays true to the original story, while also bringing it up to modern standards and adding a variety of new content. Built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, the game has been designed with HD-quality visuals, lighting, and modern effects, while also keeping to the style of Halo. All cutscenes were remade, and voice actors re-recorded the dialogue to provide better audio quality than the original release.

The campaign experience has additional content, and gameplay is different thanks to three prequel missions. These three missions allow players to dive deeper into Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson's stories. Players can use nine brand-new Halo weapons, including the Battle Rifle and Needle Rifle, and of course, the Energy Sword. The vehicles have also been updated, including the Warthog, which can now fit four players, and players can hijack enemy vehicles, including the Covenant Wraith, for the first time. Additionally, cooperative play has been updated to provide an even better multiplayer experience. Online multiplayer can support up to four players, while local split-screen can support up to two players.

New game elements include the ability to change the behavior of enemies, for example, the performance of enemy weapons, as well as change the layout and mechanics of the environment with "Skulls" gameplay modifiers, which could ultimately enhance replayability and can add additional difficulty as well.

Halo Campaign Evolved will also feature other modern controls, such as aiming down sights on all weapons, and enhanced AI, providing an experience that feels closer to modern Halo titles, while maintaining the original gameplay. This launch also marks the Halo Campaign Evolved PS5 Release Announced, bringing the franchise to PlayStation for the first time.

How to Play & System Requirements

Like the original, Halo Campaign Evolved uses the same gameplay. You are Master Chief and fight through Halo. You can play in several ways:

• Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Windows/Steam) and PS5, with Game Pass on Xbox.
• Play Style: Solo or online co-op (up to 4 players), local split-screen (2 players).
• Difficulty & Modifiers: Normal, Heroic, Legendary with optional Skulls for additional challenge.
• Tactical Exploration: New weapons, vehicle hijacking, co-op strategies.
• Replay Value: Additional missions, new weapons, and modifiers create new experiences.
• Cross-play and cross-progression: Keeping progress across platforms provides freedom to play.

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PC requirements are not officially released, but the game will need modern hardware because of Unreal Engine 5. Recent Windows, good GPU for HD/4K, enough CPU and RAM, and storage space needed. Consoles need Xbox Series X|S or PS5. Online co-op needs internet and subscriptions, local co-op needs an extra controller and screen.

Halo: Combat Evolved has made a significant impact in the first-person shooter genre, and nothing is closer to being more meaningful to the Halo franchise than Halo Campaign Evolved. Halo Studios made a meaningful step forward for the franchise by not just remastering the original but creating a new game that feels at home with the original but improves the gameplay, visuals, and controls. This game is designed both for new players in the Halo universe and for fans of the franchise. The franchise is also coming to PlayStation systems and can grab a broader audience. Not only do you get a remake, instead of just a remaster, you can see what was made possible in modern titles made available to older games. The campaign has been improved, including cinematics, environments, weapons, AI, co-op, and more. It features gameplay changes such as sprinting, vehicle gameplay changes, and additional story missions that change the experience from the original, even while maintaining the feel of the original game.

Halo Campaign Evolved is set to release in 2026, and will release with cross-play and cross-progression on Xbox series x/s, PC, and PS5, with Game Pass accessible on day one. It promises a fresh Halo experience, with improved visuals, additional content, co-op, and updated gameplay with brand new opportunities while still keeping the heart of the original. Similar to how Assassin’s Creed Shadows Announced for Nintendo Switch 2 is bringing a classic franchise to a new platform, Halo Campaign Evolved shows how legacy titles can expand their audience and remain relevant for a new generation of players.