For 25 years, Halo was the franchise PlayStation players could only hear about. It launched alongside the original Xbox in 2001, defined what a console first-person shooter could be, and stayed out of reach for anyone who did not own a Microsoft console. That changes July 28, 2026.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is the first mainline Halo title to release on PlayStation 5. And it is not a port. It is a full rebuild.
What the Game Actually Is
Halo Studios developed the remake from scratch in Unreal Engine 5, departing from the Slipspace Engine the series had used for years. The result is a faithful but thoroughly modernized version of Halo: Combat Evolved, the 2001 original that turned the Xbox into a must-own console and introduced millions of players to Master Chief and the alien ringworld known simply as Halo.
The remake ships with:
- All 10 original missions rebuilt with high-definition visuals, refined controls, and updated cinematics
- Operation: METEORITE, a 3-mission prequel story arc written by sci-fi author Troy Denning
- 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
- Vehicle hijacking from the start, a mechanic that was absent in the original
- 9 additional weapons and optional Skull modifiers for replayability
- Steve Downes and the original voice cast returning
"Switching to Unreal Engine 5 enabled the team to refocus on the implementation of gameplay and content by relying on the technical support of Epic Games." -- Greg Hermann, Game Director
Original vs. Remake at a Glance
| Feature | Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) | Halo: Campaign Evolved (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Custom Xbox engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Missions | 10 | 13 (10 original + 3 new) |
| Co-op | 2-player split-screen | 4-player online with crossplay |
| Vehicle hijacking | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Xbox, PC (later port) | PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Cross-progression | No | Yes |
Why This Is a Bigger Deal Than a Single Launch
Halo: Combat Evolved did not just sell consoles in 2001. It set the template for how a console shooter should feel: deliberate movement, two-weapon limits that forced real decisions, AI that flanked you before most games even tried. The Flood. The Library level that people still argue about 25 years later.
An entire generation of PlayStation-only players experienced all of this through word of mouth, YouTube retrospectives, or not at all. This is the first time they can engage with it directly, on a platform they already own, playing alongside friends on any system. That context makes July 28 something more than a release date.
For players who already completed it on Xbox, Operation: METEORITE adds three new missions that sit before the events of the original campaign, written by the author of several Halo novels. It is not filler. It is new story content from someone who has been writing in this universe for years.
Dates and Pricing
- Early Access (Premium and Collector's Edition): July 23, 2026 at 8 AM PDT
- Full launch: July 28, 2026 at 8 AM PDT
- Standard Edition: $49.99
- Premium Edition: $69.99
- Collector's Edition: $199.99 (available at Halo Waypoint)
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass: included from day one
Log It Before You Play It
Releases like this one are exactly what a gaming history is for. Whether you are playing Halo for the first time or going back through it on PS5, the playthrough is worth documenting. The EndWiki lets you log every game you play, write a review after you finish, and keep a running record of your entire gaming history across platforms. You can also import your existing PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam library in one step so everything is already there before you start.
Create your free account on The EndWiki and make sure Halo: Campaign Evolved is in your backlog before July 28.
For more on building and preserving your personal gaming history, the Gaming Memories hub covers everything from how to log games to why the record matters.