Something froze over somewhere, as it’s now official that a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved is making its way to PlayStation. The 24-year-old title is getting remade using Unreal Engine 5 and has been retitled Halo: Campaign Evolved. Older fans needn’t worry about missing out because it will, of course, be released for PC and Xbox.
“After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo with his AI companion, Cortana, the Master Chief must defend his stranded shipmates against Covenant forces and uncover a dark secret that threatens the annihilation of all life in the galaxy…”
-Microsoft
Microsoft has gone all out with the remake, adding new missions, updated cinematics featuring new motion capture, a remastered soundtrack, and more. There are vehicle upgrades and additional weapons to boot, so just because you think you’ve seen everything the original game had to offer, it can still be a brand new experience.
- New missions: Fight beside Sergeant Avery Johnson, one of the Master Chief’s most beloved and stalwart allies, as you encounter new characters, enemies, environments, and dangers in three new missions set before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.
- Stunning cinematics: Battle through all of Halo: Combat Evolved’s iconic moments with enhanced cinematics featuring new motion-capture animations and freshly recorded dialog from returning cast members.
- Enhanced audio: Immerse yourself in heroic exploits with a remastered soundtrack and fully rebuilt sound design that brings Halo’s unmistakable weapons and vehicles to life in stunning fidelity. Just listen to those glorious Hunters shoot!
- Expanded arsenal: Wield nine additional weapons from the Halo universe for the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved! Battle the Covenant with the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, and more instantly recognizable Halo weapons, alongside tried-and-true standbys from the Master Chief’s first journey.
- Vehicle upgrades: For the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved, the Master Chief can hijack nearby enemy vehicles and add range to his repertoire at the helm of a Wraith tank. Better still, the dependable Warthog now boasts an additional seat on the rear bumper—so your whole four-player Fireteam can ride out together!
- Dozens of Skulls: Return to any mission in Halo: Campaign Evolved and remix your experience with the most gameplay-modifying Skulls of any Halo campaign. Activate Skulls for randomized weapons, altered enemy behavior, player attributes, environmental effects, and more!
Here’s a 13-minute gameplay trailer for those wanting to see more of what to expect. The only real bad news is that an official release date has not been announced, other than sometime in 2026, just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary.
“What we want is for as many fans and players to be able to play the game as possible. To be on the Xbox Series X and S, PC, Steam, and PlayStation all at one time is a heck of a way to kick off the 25th anniversary.”
-Damon Conn, Halo Studios executive producer
What’s more is that this will not be the only Halo game coming to PlayStation, and that Halo: Campaign Evolved is just the beginning. Community director Brian Jarrard had more to say about the new reveal during a live stream (via VGC).
“As a community guy, I know the Halo community is super excited to welcome in their friends as well. It’s just going to mean more Halo for everyone. It’s really a new era. Halo is on PlayStation going forward, starting with Halo: Campaign Evolved.”
-Brian Jarrard, Halo community director