The next step in the Halo franchise is a look backward. During the Halo World Championship livestream, Halo Studios announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, an Unreal Engine 5 remake of the first game’s campaign, slated to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Yep, you read that right. Master Chief is heading to PlayStation, marking the biggest sign yet the console wars are done and dusted.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a from-the-ground-up remake of the first Halo game’s campaign. It’s being built in Unreal Engine 5 — unlike previous Halo games, which have been developed with proprietary software. It aims to modernize the game without changing it on a fundamental level. Campaign Evolved will also include three brand-new levels that act as prequels to the game, starring Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. Some key voice actors, like Steve Downes (Master Chief) and Jen Taylor (Cortana), have returned to re-record vocal tracks for the new version.
As signaled by the name, Campaign Evolved will not feature PvP multiplayer, as its focus is on the campaign (Combat Evolved had splitscreen competitive multiplayer modes). However, you’ll still be able to play Halo: Campaign Evolved with your buddies. It’ll support splitscreen two-player local co-op as well as four-player online. Most notably, it’ll support full crossplay and cross-progression.
Gameplay is being changed in ways that are more aligned with later entries in the series. Master Chief will be able to pick up and use enemy weapons that he couldn’t use until later Halo games, like the iconic Energy Sword. He’ll be able to pilot the Covenant Wraith tank in the original game for the first time, and can hijack vehicles (or get hijacked). Campaign Evolved is also implementing a sprint button, altering the way players can move about the battlefield.
Halo: Campaign Evolved will mark the first project from Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, after it announced “A New Dawn” for the franchise in 2024. At that time, it unveiled a trailer showcasing footage of Master Chief and iconic Halo locations in Unreal Engine 5, which the studio has now pivoted to for future Halo projects.
For more details about Halo: Campaign Evolved, check out our preview of its demo (which notes how the upcoming remake is a “tricky balancing act”) or read our interview with Halo Studios developers.
