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Halo: Combat Evolved has been remade as Halo: Campaign Evolved, and it is already available. The campaign-focused remake launched globally on July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and PlayStation 5. It rebuilds the original campaign and adds Operation: METEORITE, a three-mission prequel starring Master Chief and Sergeant Avery Johnson.
What is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is Halo Studios’ ground-up remake of the campaign from the 2001 game Halo: Combat Evolved. Microsoft describes it as a faithful but modernized retelling, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 rather than simply applying a new coat of paint to the original. The October 24, 2025 announcement introduced the project; it launched on July 28, 2026. Halo Studios’ announcement and Xbox’s Q&A explain the remake’s approach.
The goal is to preserve the original campaign’s story and core identity while rebuilding its presentation and updating how it plays. That means refreshed visuals, cinematics and sound, along with refined controls and other gameplay changes. It is not just a resolution upgrade, and a ground-up remake may not reproduce every detail or feel of the 2001 release exactly.
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Operation: METEORITE adds three prequel missions
The new content is called Operation: METEORITE: a three-mission story arc set before the events of Combat Evolved. It features Master Chief and Sergeant Avery Johnson and introduces new characters, enemies, environments and dangers. Xbox describes the missions as taking place roughly a year before the main campaign; broader official descriptions establish the prequel setting without requiring that more specific timing. The arc is included with every edition, not sold as a separately announced expansion. See the new-missions reveal and Xbox’s launch and edition details.
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- PREMIUM EDITION CONTENT — Play up to 5 days early with Premium Edition and receive the Alpha Halo Armory Pack with 5 armor skins and 6 weapon skins, plus the Digital Artbook, Digital Short Story, and in‑game bonus content.
- A CLASSIC REIMAGINED — Experience the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign rebuilt with high‑definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, and a brand‑new three‑mission adventure.
- ENHANCED AUDIO & VISUALS — Relive every mission with modernized animations, a remastered soundtrack, and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion across the Halo universe.
- NEW STORY CONTENT — Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone campaign featuring new environments, enemies, and gameplay challenges.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play solo, in 2‑player split‑screen co‑op (console only), or up to 4‑player online co‑op with full crossplay and cross‑progression support.
For returning players, these missions add a new story rather than replacing or rearranging the original campaign. For newcomers, the original campaign remains the central experience, with the prequel arc providing additional context and a reason to keep playing after familiar story beats.
Platforms and availability
| Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | Available |
| Windows PC through Xbox | Available |
| Steam | Available |
| PlayStation 5 | Available |
| Xbox One | Not listed in official platform announcements |
| PlayStation 4 | Not listed in official platform announcements |
The PS5 version launched alongside the Xbox and PC versions, making this the first Halo game released on a PlayStation platform. It is not a later port. The official platform listings identify current-generation consoles and PC; they do not list Xbox One or PS4. Check the Xbox product page and PlayStation product page for their respective storefront details.
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- Control a character during massive firefights as you eliminate as many Covenant soldiers as possible
- Engage in guerilla warfare against the enemy, using whatever is at your disposal on the station
- Use your tactics skills to command squads and eliminate the enemy
- Role-based team & multiplayer combat with over 25 characters onscreen at a time
- A wide variety of vehicles & locations designed in perfect detail
The global launch date was July 28, 2026. Premium Edition early access began July 23. The PlayStation listing gives an 8 a.m. PDT launch on July 28, which falls on July 29 in Japan and selected Asia-Pacific markets; local calendar dates can therefore differ.
Solo play, co-op and cross-platform features
You can play solo, team up with one other player in local split-screen on consoles, or play online with up to four people. Online cross-play is supported between Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC, and cross-progression lets players carry supported progress across console and PC. Four-player support is online co-op, not four-player local split-screen. Official descriptions specify console split-screen; they do not establish PC split-screen. Feature availability may differ by platform, so do not assume every platform handles local play or settings identically. Details appear in the official story and co-op reveal and Xbox’s launch feature overview.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
The package is presented around the campaign and co-op. Official materials do not advertise a remake of the original game’s competitive multiplayer suite, so players looking specifically for a full PvP offering should not assume it is included. For broader Halo multiplayer, compare this campaign-focused release with Halo Infinite or the multiplayer options in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Modernized replay features
Beyond the rebuilt presentation, the remake adds systems for revisiting the campaign. Campaign Remix lets players replay missions with combinations of gameplay-changing Skulls. The practical appeal is replayability: veterans who know the mission layouts can change the challenge or feel of a run without treating those modifiers as a replacement for the canonical story. Xbox’s launch coverage describes an expanded system with 42 Skulls; the PlayStation listing likewise highlights using Skulls in Campaign Remix. See the PlayStation feature page.
Rank #4
- A CLASSIC REIMAGINED — Experience the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign rebuilt with high‑definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, and a brand‑new three‑mission adventure.
- ENHANCED AUDIO & VISUALS — Relive every mission with modernized animations, a remastered soundtrack, and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion across the Halo universe.
- NEW STORY CONTENT — Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone campaign featuring new environments, enemies, and gameplay challenges.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play solo, in 2‑player split‑screen co‑op (console only), or up to 4‑player online co‑op with full crossplay and cross‑progression support.
- XBOX PLAY ANYWHERE — Play across XBOX Series X|S and Windows PCs at no additional cost, with shared progress and achievements across supported devices.
Updated cinematics, refined controls, rebuilt sound design and expanded gameplay make “modernized” broader than sharper graphics. The exact experience still depends on how a player values preservation against change: this is designed to make the campaign work for current platforms, not to guarantee a pixel-perfect recreation of every original quirk.
How it differs from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a remaster that let players switch between classic and enhanced visual presentations. Campaign Evolved is positioned as a ground-up remake: it rebuilds the campaign’s visuals, cinematics, sound and controls, adds Operation: METEORITE, and introduces newer co-op and replay systems. The two are different preservation projects, not interchangeable editions. Anniversary retains the appeal of comparing classic and enhanced presentation; Campaign Evolved offers a new, current-platform take with additional story content. The Anniversary manual documents its visual-switching feature.
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- Genre: First Person Shooter
Game Pass, editions and choosing how to play
Microsoft announced day-one access for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. That can be the lower-commitment route for eligible Xbox or PC subscribers, but availability depends on the plan’s live catalog. The original announcement named those two plans; it should not be read as a promise that every Game Pass tier includes the game indefinitely. Check the current Game Pass listing before subscribing or buying.
You can also buy through Xbox, Steam or PlayStation. Choose the Xbox PC route if you want to use Microsoft’s PC ecosystem, or Steam if your PC library and purchases are centered there. PS5 owners can buy the game directly from the PlayStation Store listing. Compare current regional prices and editions in the storefront you will use; prices, taxes and promotions can vary.
The Premium Edition offered up to five days of early access, but that window ended before the July 28 global launch. Xbox’s launch feature page lists its additional digital and cosmetic items, including an artbook, short story, game manual, armor skins and weapon skins. The new missions are part of every edition, so the Premium upgrade is for those extras rather than access to Operation: METEORITE. Since launch has passed, early access is no longer a reason to pay more.
Quick Recap
Who is it for?
- First-time players: A modern-platform route into the original campaign’s story, with co-op available.
- Halo veterans: A rebuilt version of a familiar campaign, three prequel missions and Skull-based replay options.
- Co-op groups: Up to four players online, including cross-platform play; console owners also have two-player split-screen.
- PS5 owners: A day-and-date PlayStation release rather than a delayed port.
- Competitive multiplayer fans: Check the game’s current official feature listing carefully; the announced focus is campaign and co-op, not a promised reproduction of the original PvP package.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
