Halo: Campaign Evolved now has a firm date. Xbox confirmed at the Xbox Games Showcase that the game will launch on July 28, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PC and PS5. It is the first entry in the Halo franchise to be available on Sony's PlayStation consoles. Premium Edition and Collector's Edition buyers get up to five days of early access, with the global launch at 8am PDT and early access beginning July 23.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is available to pre-order now from AU$65.31.
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What is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is developed by Halo Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a remake of the story component of Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), the first installment of the Halo franchise originally developed by Bungie. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, the game features upgraded visuals and a reimagined mission set, incorporating mechanics, weapons and narrative additions new to Combat Evolved in order to reflect subsequent Halo games. Halo Studios is the rebranded identity of 343 Industries, announced in October 2024 as a signal of a fundamental change in the development team's internal philosophy.
Unlike 2011's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Campaign Evolved is a complete remake of the original rather than just a graphical remaster. Story cinematics and audio were remade, featuring re-recorded dialogue from the game's principal voice cast. Steve Downes and Jen Taylor re-recorded their lines from the original game, reprising their roles as John-117 and Cortana respectively.
Three New Prequel Missions
The biggest new addition to the campaign is Operation: METEORITE - a standalone three-mission arc included in every edition. Taking place a year before the events of the first game and featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson, this new adventure sends players behind enemy lines in a clandestine UNSC operation aboard a Covenant research vessel - and what starts as a simple smash and grab turns more complicated. The story was developed in collaboration with award-winning sci-fi author Troy Denning, whose work has helped shape memorable corners of the Halo universe across multiple acclaimed novels.
Co-op, Crossplay and Skulls
The game does not include the original competitive multiplayer, but does support four-player online co-op in addition to two-player split-screen on consoles. Cross-play and cross-progression are supported across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and PlayStation 5. The game will be available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Gameplay modifiers called Skulls add replayability by randomising weapons, enemies and environments, a series staple since Halo 2.
Editions, Early Access and Cosmetics
| Edition | Early Access | Bonus Content |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | Foundry Armory Pack (pre-order) |
| Premium | July 23 | Foundry Pack + Alpha Halo Armory Pack + Digital Artbook + Digital Short Story + Manual |
| Collector's | July 23 | All Premium content (physical) |
Pre-ordering any edition unlocks the Foundry Armory Pack at launch: the Classic 2001 Mark V armor and Assault Rifle skin (a direct recreation of Chief's original green armor) plus the Gilded Onyx armor style inspired by Forerunner design. Characters, Vehicles and Weapons Art Director Bryan Repka said of the Mark V recreation:
"It's the OG skin, that's what everyone remembers Halo as. When we started playing with it in-game, we realized there's something comforting and nostalgic about walking around those levels with this armor on."
Premium and Collector's Edition buyers also receive the Alpha Halo Armory Pack, featuring five additional Master Chief armor skins and six weapon skins. Highlights include the Splintered Warden - a Blamite crystal suit inspired by the Needler's iconic pink shards - the mech-like Mobile Armor Type 117, a Hunter-inspired Gestalt suit complete with animated worms, the Roman Spartan-themed Lochagos skin, and the Timberwolf with a Brute skull shoulder pad and cape nod to Halo Infinite's Poncho Chief. A final cosmetic, Cold Iron, lets players wield Captain Keyes' personal pistol sidearm skin.
The Bottom Line
Campaign Evolved arrives July 28 at a pivotal moment - the game commemorates the 25th anniversary of both the Halo franchise and the Xbox platform it originated on. For PS5 owners discovering the series for the first time, or long-time fans returning after 25 years, the combination of rebuilt visuals, new prequel missions, four-player crossplay co-op and a deep cosmetic lineup makes this a release worth watching closely. Check the live prices below and set a pre-order alert.
Halo: Campaign Evolved price trend
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