With Xbox giving up on exclusives and going multiplatform as a publisher, it was just a matter of time before Master Chief made an appearance on PlayStation. That date will arrive sometime in 2026 when Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved from the ground up and will feature new missions, expanded gameplay, two-player split-screen on consoles, online and networked co-op for up to four players on consoles and PC, as well as seamless cross-platform play with shared progression.
To further expand on Master Chief’s first adventure, the remake will add three new missions. All of them are set before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved and will have Master Chief fighting beside Sergeant Avery Johnson as they encounter new characters, enemies, and environments. In addition, the cinematics have received a makeover with new motion-capture animations and newly recorded dialogue from returning cast members.
It isn’t just the visuals that have been given new life. The team at Halo Studios has also remastered the entire soundtrack and rebuilt all the sound effects for better fidelity. Veterans of the series will be happy to hear that nine additional weapons from the Halo universe will be available for the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved. Some of the new additions include the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle, and more. Vehicles are also getting upgrades as Master Chief will get the ability to hijack nearby enemy vehicles for the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved. Those going on the journey with friends will be happy to hear the Warthog gets an additional seat on the rear bumper, allowing an entire four-player Fireteam to ride together.
Originally released in 2001, Halo: Combat Evolved came from Bungie and really helped establish the Xbox as a platform. Recent entries in the franchise from 343 Industries haven’t really lived up to the Halo name, but Xbox is hoping things can change now that 343 Industries is now Halo Studios. That news was announced a year ago at the 2024 Halo World Championship, where it was also confirmed that multiple new games were in development.
