{"id":5329,"date":"2026-06-08T11:49:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T08:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/?p=5329"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T08:50:37","slug":"halo-campaign-evolved-release-date-price-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/halo-campaign-evolved-release-date-price-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches July 28, 2026: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halo: Campaign Evolved has been confirmed for July 28, 2026 during the Xbox Games Showcase. Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, this full Halo: CE remake arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with new missions and co-op support.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on July 28, 2026, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S simultaneously. Confirmed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 on June 7, the date puts the full Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original 2001 campaign squarely in the summer window, with Premium and Collector&#8217;s Edition owners gaining early access starting July 23. The game will also be available day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Exactly Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halo: Campaign Evolved is a ground-up remake of Halo: Combat Evolved&#8217;s campaign, developed by Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) in Unreal Engine 5. It rebuilds all 10 original missions with modernized visuals, completely new cinematics re-recorded by the original voice cast, and refined gameplay mechanics. Crucially, it also adds three brand-new prequel missions under the banner &#8220;Operation: METEORITE.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not the same as 2011&#8217;s Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which simply layered updated graphics over the original engine. Campaign Evolved is a full reimagining: new level design, expanded enemy encounters, additional weapons, vehicle hijacking, and four-player online co-op across all platforms. There is no competitive multiplayer mode included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The game marks the first time any mainline Halo title has released on a PlayStation console, representing a major shift in Microsoft&#8217;s multiplatform publishing strategy. Halo Studios community manager Brian Jarrard confirmed that future Halo games will also be available on PlayStation going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Operation: METEORITE: What Are the New Missions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The standout reveal from the Showcase was Operation: METEORITE, a three-mission story arc included with every edition of the game. Set one year before the events of the original Halo: CE, the missions follow Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson on a covert UNSC operation aboard a Covenant research vessel. What begins as a straightforward infiltration quickly spirals into something far more complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The story was developed in collaboration with Troy Denning, an award-winning sci-fi author whose novels have shaped key parts of the Halo expanded universe. His involvement grounds the new content in the military sci-fi tone fans expect from the franchise. The trailer showcased fights alongside UNSC forces, new enemy types like the Brute Berserker, Covenant-controlled environments, and even space combat sequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Gameplay Changes Does the Remake Introduce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Campaign Evolved goes well beyond visual upgrades. Halo Studios preserved elements of the original Blam engine code to maintain Combat Evolved&#8217;s distinctive physics and AI behaviour, but layered substantial new mechanics on top:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>9 additional weapons<\/strong> from later Halo games, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Fuel Rod Cannon, Needle Rifle, and Sentinel Beam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vehicle hijacking<\/strong> for the first time in a Halo: CE context, letting players commandeer enemy Wraith tanks and other Covenant vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A redesigned Warthog<\/strong> with a fourth seat, enabling full four-player fireteam transport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sprint<\/strong> as a default movement option, with a toggle to disable it for a more faithful classic experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dozens of collectible Skulls<\/strong> (the highest count in any Halo campaign) that modify gameplay with effects like weapon randomisation, environmental changes, and challenge modifiers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flood &#8216;pure&#8217; forms<\/strong> from Halo 3, updating the enemy roster to reflect broader series canon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Art director Chris Matthews cited Unreal Engine 5&#8217;s Lumen lighting and Nanite rendering as enabling more detailed and interactable environments. Meanwhile, studio head Pierre Hintze described the engine transition as fundamentally changing how Halo games are produced, shifting focus toward gameplay and content by relying on Epic Games&#8217; technical support rather than simultaneously building proprietary engine technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Co-op and Crossplay: How Does It Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time in Halo: CE&#8217;s history, the campaign supports four-player online co-op with full cross-platform play and cross-progression. Players on Xbox, PC (Steam or Microsoft Store), and PS5 can team up seamlessly, with all progress, unlocks, and achievements syncing across platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Console players also get two-player local split-screen co-op on both Xbox Series X|S and PS5. PC does not support split-screen. Two players on a single console can combine with two online players for a full four-person squad. DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support have been confirmed for the PS5 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Editions and Pricing: Which Version Should You Buy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three editions are available for pre-order across Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation storefronts. Every edition includes the complete game: all 10 rebuilt campaign missions plus Operation: METEORITE. Pre-ordering any edition unlocks the Foundry Armory Pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Edition<\/th><th>USD<\/th><th>GBP<\/th><th>EUR<\/th><th>What&#8217;s Included<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$49.99<\/td><td>\u00a349.99<\/td><td>\u20ac59.99<\/td><td>Full game + Operation: METEORITE<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>$69.99<\/td><td>\u00a369.99<\/td><td>\u20ac79.99<\/td><td>Full game + 5-day early access (July 23) + Alpha Halo Armory Pack (5 armour skins, 6 weapon skins) + Digital Story and Art Collection<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Collector&#8217;s<\/td><td>$199.99<\/td><td>N\/A<\/td><td>\u20ac199.99<\/td><td>Everything in Premium + 12-inch Dark Horse Master Chief statue + LED Cortana chip + Steelbook + 3 concept art prints + physical game manual + game disc<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Premium Edition&#8217;s Digital Story and Art Collection includes &#8220;Halo: Hungry Buzzards,&#8221; a new short story by Troy Denning that leads into Operation: METEORITE; a digital artbook; and a digital game manual inspired by the original 2001 release. The Collector&#8217;s Edition is available exclusively through HaloWaypoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Game Pass subscribers who want early access, a Premium Edition Upgrade is available on the Xbox store, adding early access and all premium digital content on top of the base Game Pass entitlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halo: Campaign Evolved will be included from day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Xbox Play Anywhere ensures a single purchase works on both Xbox console and Windows PC. Standard and Premium Game Pass tiers will receive the game within one year of launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early access is not part of the Game Pass inclusion. The five-day head start beginning July 23 requires purchasing the Premium Edition, the Collector&#8217;s Edition, or the Premium Edition Upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Global Launch Timing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exact launch windows are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early Access:<\/strong> July 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM PDT (4:00 PM BST \/ 5:00 PM CEST)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Full Launch:<\/strong> July 28, 2026 at 8:00 AM PDT (4:00 PM BST \/ 5:00 PM CEST)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Japan and select Asia-Pacific markets shift one calendar day later (July 24 and July 29 respectively).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pre-orders must be placed by July 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time to receive the Foundry Armory Pack bonus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bigger Picture: Halo&#8217;s New Era<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Campaign Evolved represents a pivotal moment for the franchise. Halo Studios rebranded from 343 Industries in 2024, signalling a clean break from the Slipspace Engine era that produced Halo Infinite. Moving to Unreal Engine 5 and releasing on PlayStation for the first time positions the series to reach a significantly larger audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The game was first teased during the Halo World Championships in October 2024 through &#8220;Project Foundry,&#8221; an in-engine visual demonstration. It was officially announced a year later at the 2025 Halo World Championships with a 13-minute gameplay demo of &#8220;The Silent Cartographer.&#8221; The Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026 delivered the final piece: a confirmed date, pricing, and the full Operation: METEORITE reveal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the franchise&#8217;s 25th anniversary (originally November 15, 2001) serving as background context and a summer release avoiding the crowded autumn window, Halo Studios appears to be giving Campaign Evolved the space it needs to make its mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Questions Worth Answering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is there competitive multiplayer in Campaign Evolved?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Halo: Campaign Evolved is exclusively a campaign experience. There is no PvP multiplayer, no ranked play, and no competitive matchmaking. For classic Halo multiplayer, Halo: The Master Chief Collection remains available on Xbox and PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can PC players use split-screen?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Local split-screen is available only on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. PC players must use online co-op.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does progress carry over from Halo: The Master Chief Collection?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Campaign Evolved has its own independent progression system. No achievements or save data transfer from MCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is this the first Halo game on PlayStation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Halo has been an Xbox and Windows exclusive since its 2001 debut. Campaign Evolved breaks that 25-year pattern, and Halo Studios has confirmed PlayStation support for future titles as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need Game Pass to play?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. You can purchase the game outright starting at $49.99 \/ \u00a349.99 \/ \u20ac59.99. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers simply get it included at no extra cost on launch day. Early access requires a separate Premium Edition purchase or upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will there be a demo or beta before launch?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No public demo has been announced. While press and Halo Insider members played a Silent Cartographer demo during the 2025 reveal event, there are no current plans for a public pre-release build.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Halo: Campaign Evolved has been confirmed for July 28, 2026 during the Xbox Games Showcase. Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, this full Halo: CE remake arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with new missions and co-op support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[285],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gaming-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5329"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5331,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5329\/revisions\/5331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}