Halo: Campaign Evolved, set to be released in 2026, transports you directly to the sandy beaches of Installation 04, where the waves crash stronger and Covenant dropships hum with dread. Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, this rendition of the original 2001 campaign delves deeper into what made those levels linger with you for decades.
In the gameplay demo, a pre-rendered sequence shows Master Chief breaking through a Forerunner door, the Elite inside snarling as its sword glows blue in the darkness. The original cast members returned to the booth, and their voices had the same gravelly urgency but were captured in high resolution. The remixed soundtrack crescendos as you race towards the Silent Cartographer edifice, trumpets screaming like a call to arms. The sound design draws you in: footsteps bounce off metal passageways, while flood spores explode wetly into your headphones.
- Buildable FLEETCOM Warthog vehicle inspired by Halo: The Series
- This Warthog features authentic detail, an extendable cargo rack and active suspension system
- This building set includes 5 highly detailed, super poseable and collectable figures
Before the main campaign begins, Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson will embark on three additional precursor missions in undiscovered territories of the galaxy. Expect new scenery – collapsing orbital stations or fog-shrouded outposts – replete with story hooks depicting early Covenant attacks. Developers teased to new opponent behaviors in which Flood forms swarm intelligently, adjusting to your flanks rather than charging directly at you. Paired with nine new weapons, like the Needle Rifle and Battle Rifle, they promise fresh tactics without rewriting the rules.
Co-op is the glue that holds the gamers together late at night. Drop into two-player split-screen on console for couch-side conversation, or expand to four online with crossplay across Xbox, PC, and—yes—PlayStation 5. Progression is carried over, thus your unlocked Skulls and job completions will accompany you from session to session. Speaking of Skulls, this version has the most, with changes that mix enemy locations, replace weapon drops, and even blind your HUD for pure fear. One turns Grunt kills into confetti blasts, pointing to the frivolity that has always lurked behind Halo’s vast scale. Stack them for runs where you repeat the same beach attack a dozen times, each time requiring new thinking.
Every scenario is brought to life by Unreal Engine 5, from the ring’s vast horizon to the confined confines of the Control Room. Water laps against your boots, creating lifelike ripples, while sunshine seeps through foliage and dust motes dance. But the engine serves the action, not the other way around—Series X frame rates are set to 60, allowing you to easily escape Banshee fire. Halo Studios buried original code behind modern technology to preserve the franchise’s intangible “feel” of momentum and weight.
