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Halo: Campaign Evolved Brings the Legendary Series to PlayStation 5 for the First Time
For the first time in its two-decade history, Master Chief is stepping beyond the Xbox ecosystem. Microsoft and Halo Studios have announced that Halo: Campaign Evolved , a full Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original Combat Evolved campaign, will launch in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, and, for the first time ever, PlayStation 5.
This marks a historic shift for one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, long considered the face of Xbox. The remake is described as a ground-up reimagining of the 2001 classic, preserving its emotional impact while modernising every aspect from visuals and animation to music and gameplay flow.
A Rebuilt Classic for a New Generation
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Halo: Campaign Evolved aims to deliver the definitive version of the original campaign, complete with re-recorded voice lines, 4K visuals, and remastered music. The game introduces three new prequel missions, designed to expand the lore and add fresh context to the events leading into Combat Evolved.
Longtime fans can expect the same mix of atmospheric tension and large-scale combat that defined the franchise’s early years, now brought to life with modern production values. Halo Studios emphasised that the remake has been built using original game code underneath Unreal’s visual layer, preserving the authentic feel while upgrading everything around it.
Expanding the Experience
The remake adds several fan-requested features, including the ability to hijack vehicles in the campaign for the first time and wield nine new weapons from across the series, such as the Energy Sword and Battle Rifle.
Perhaps most notably, co-op play has been completely modernised. Halo: Campaign Evolved will support up to four players online across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5, alongside the classic two-player local split-screen mode on consoles.
In an interview featured on the official blog, Executive Producer Damon Conn explained that the goal was to create “the ideal entry point” for both new and returning players.
“We wanted to start where it all began,” said Conn. “People who’ve never played Halo before will be able to experience the story from the very beginning — and that helps us chart the course for Halo’s next generation.”
Preserving the Halo Spirit
Creative Director Max Szlagor added that Campaign Evolved carefully rebuilds missions like The Library, a divisive favourite among fans, to enhance pacing, wayfinding, and environmental storytelling without losing the original’s identity.
“Every change we’ve made has been guided by a simple question: does this still feel like Halo?” Szlagor said.
Players can also expect more Skulls than ever before for custom challenge runs, plus an optional sprint toggle for those who want modern mobility — or wish to keep things old-school.
A New Era For All
Beyond the remake’s technical leap, the biggest revelation is its multi-platform release, with Xbox’s headlining shooter officially arriving on PlayStation for the first time in the franchise’s history. This move signals Microsoft’s evolving approach to gaming, focusing on expanding its audience rather than keeping the series exclusive to Xbox.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5, with full cross-play support, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and day-one access for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you for this.