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Instead of making a new Halo game, Microsoft will revive and modernize the original.
On Friday, the company’s Xbox team announced that it is developing a “complete remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign.” It will be available on Xbox Series S/X and PC, but also PlayStation 5 as part of Microsoft’s controversial strategy to move beyond console exclusivity.
For the upcoming title, dubbed Halo: Reach Evolved, Microsoft’s Halo Studios will tap the epic games’ modern Unreal Engine 5 to improve upon the original, which dates back to 2001.
The company’s reveal video showed the results: the main character Master Chief, sci-fi environment, enemies and gameplay have been recreated with modern graphics, including realistic lighting and shadow effects.
(Credit: Xbox)
According to Microsoft, the game will also sport 4K visuals while retaining the core gameplay from the original. Still, Halo Studios has planned new improvements and additions, including three new bonus campaign missions, the option to wield nine more weapons from the Halo series, and the ability to sprint, though it can be disabled. Expect some missions to improve as well.
(Credit: Xbox)
In addition, the game is expanding on the original two-player co-op mode, doubling it to four players in online co-op on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5.
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Why remake? Halo Studios executive producer Damon Cone explained that it was designed to pave the way for a new entry. “We wanted to start where it all started, with the original campaign that defined Hello,” Cone said. “Starting here means people who have never played the game before will be able to understand the story from the beginning, and that can help us move forward with new Halo stories.”
Microsoft added that the game will arrive on the first day for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, which recently received a price hike. In a statement, Sony’s PlayStation team said that Halo: The Campaign is coming to PS5 in 2026. “We’ll have more to share in the coming months, but for now, you can add to today’s wish list,” he says.
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About our expert
Michael Kahn
Senior reporter
Experience
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite Internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware and more. I am currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s StarLink satellite Internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also regulatory battles over expanding satellite constellations, battles with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and efforts to expand satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and reached out to remote corners of California to test StarLink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling its personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint Investigation Along with the motherboard
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. Now I’m following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump into the comments with feedback and send me pointers.
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