There are few games that can genuinely claim to have changed the course of Xbox history. Yet Halo: Combat Evolved sits right at the top of that list. Twenty-five years on, Halo: Campaign Evolved invites veterans and newcomers alike back to Installation 04 with a faithful, yet thoroughly modern, remake of one of gaming’s most influential campaigns.
Available today in Deluxe Edition form on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support, as well as PlayStation 5, ahead of the Standard Edition launch on July 28th through Game Pass, this isn’t simply a visual facelift. Halo Studios has rebuilt the original adventure while expanding it with brand-new missions, enhanced combat options and fresh ways to experience the fight against the Covenant.
At A Glance
- Game: Halo: Campaign Evolved
- Developer: Halo Studios
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Xbox Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5
- Standard Edition: £49.99 (28th July – Day One Game Pass)
- Deluxe Edition: £69.99 (Available Now – Early Access)
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
Back To The Ringworld That Started It All
Every Xbox fan remembers their first glimpse of Halo. The mysterious ring stretching across the sky. The frantic escape from the Pillar of Autumn. The first time the Warthog bounced across impossible terrain. And, of course, the chilling moment when the Flood revealed themselves.
Halo: Campaign Evolved preserves those iconic moments while rebuilding them for a new generation. Every campaign mission has received high-definition visuals, reworked cinematics, improved controls and modern presentation, yet the heart of Bungie’s original masterpiece remains firmly intact.
For long-time fans, it’s a return to familiar ground. For newcomers, it’s an opportunity to discover why Halo became the series that defined an entire console generation.
Operation: Meteorite Expands The Story
The biggest surprise comes beyond the original campaign. Operation: Meteorite introduces three entirely new missions starring Master Chief alongside the legendary Sgt. Johnson, taking players into previously unseen locations with fresh enemy encounters and new objectives.
Rather than simply revisiting history, Halo Studios has chosen to add another chapter to it, giving returning players genuine reasons to step back onto the ring beyond nostalgia alone.
Bigger Battles, More Firepower
Classic Halo combat remains wonderfully recognisable, but there are plenty of new toys to play with.
Nine additional weapons drawn from across Halo history expand your tactical options, while iconic vehicles gain new functionality. For the first time in a remake of Combat Evolved, players can hijack Covenant vehicles and even take control of the devastating Wraith tank, opening up completely new approaches to familiar encounters.
Replayability also receives a significant boost thanks to the return of Skulls, with gameplay modifiers capable of randomising weapons, enemies and combat scenarios to keep every run feeling unpredictable.
Whether you prefer tackling the campaign solo or assembling a fireteam, the entire experience supports up to four-player online co-op, complete with full crossplay and cross-progression across Xbox and PC.
A Celebration Of Halo’s Legacy
Halo has never simply been another Xbox franchise – it became the franchise that helped define the platform itself. That’s exactly why Halo: Campaign Evolved feels like more than another remake. It serves as both a celebration of where the series began and a reminder of why Master Chief remains one of gaming’s greatest icons.
We’ve already spent time looking back at the original adventure in our feature, Looking Back to 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved – “I Think We’re Just Getting Started”, and this new release feels like the perfect companion piece to that retrospective.
For players stepping onto Halo for the first time, or Spartans ready to answer Cortana’s call once again, the wait is finally over.
The Halo: Campaign Evolved Premium Edition is available today on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support for £69.99, including up to five days of early access, exclusive cosmetic content, a digital artbook and more. The Standard Edition launches on July 28th for £49.99. Alternatively, that Standard Edition will be available as a Day One drop on Game Pass Ultimate.
Stay tuned for our review of Halo: Campaign Evolved. It’s coming. Soon.
