Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Here – What’s Actually New in This Remake
Halo: Combat Evolved just got a proper modern makeover, and it’s out today. Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally at 3:00 PM UTC on July 28 across Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, and — for the first time — PlayStation 5, with full cross-play and cross-progression between all of them. If you played the original 25 years ago, this isn’t just a visual coat of paint.
It’s Not Just the Old Campaign With Better Lighting
Halo Studios rebuilt the campaign with modern visuals and improved AI, but the headline addition is Operation: METEORITE — a brand new three-mission story arc set a year before the events of the original game. It’s not DLC bolted on after launch; it’s baked into this release as a genuine prequel, giving returning players a reason to care even if they can recite the original campaign’s beats from memory.
More Ways to Actually Play It
The weapon and vehicle roster has been expanded, along with new enemy variants, and the game leans hard into replayability with “Skulls” — optional modifiers that change how combat behaves, from harder enemy AI to genuinely chaotic run-and-gun changes. Four-player online co-op is supported throughout, so this is very much built to be played with friends, not just solo nostalgia.
Availability and Pricing
Early access opened July 23 for anyone who grabbed the Premium Edition (roughly $59.99–$69.99), giving those players five extra days ahead of today’s global launch. The Standard Edition is $49.99, and a Collector’s Edition runs $199.99 through Halo Waypoint for anyone who wants the full physical package. It’s also included in Xbox Game Pass, so subscribers can jump in without buying it separately.
Should You Play It?
For anyone who’s never touched the original, this is easily the best way to experience where the Halo franchise started — modernized enough that dated mechanics won’t get in the way. For longtime fans, Operation: METEORITE alone is worth the price of admission, and the Skulls system means even a campaign you’ve finished a dozen times can still surprise you. With PS5 owners getting their first-ever taste of a mainline Halo campaign, this launch is bigger than a typical remaster.