The countdown is on for Halo Campaign Evolved PS5, and fans finally have a concrete set of details to dig into. This full remake of the original Halo campaign is shaping up to be one of the major cross-platform game announcements of recent memory—as it’ll bring the franchise to PlayStation for the first time.
What is Halo Campaign Evolved PS5?
Released under the full title Halo: Campaign Evolved, this game is a total rebuild of the 2001 classic Halo: Combat Evolved, now being developed by Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) using Unreal Engine 5. It will launch in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and — for the first time in the mainline Halo series — PlayStation 5. The Verge+1
Key New Features for the PS5 Version
Here’s a breakdown of the major enhancements confirmed so far:
- Fully rebuilt campaign with high-definition visuals, modern cinematics and audio, while preserving the original story and characters. PlayStation.Blog+2PlayStation+2
- Nine additional weapons drawn from later Halo titles. PlayStation.Blog+1
- Three brand-new prequel missions that take place prior to the events of the original campaign and explore additional character interactions. The Verge+1
- Online coop for up to four players, plus split-screen two-player couch co-op on console. Cross-play and shared progression supported. PlayStation.Blog+1
- Gameplay modernisations: optional sprinting, aim-down-sights for all weapons, vehicle hijacking (including enemy Wraith tanks), improved AI and world navigation. EW.com+1
- A visibly reworked level design: even iconic and controversial levels such as “The Library” are being redesigned to better pacing and flow. Kotaku+1
Why the PS5 Release Matters
This is the first time a mainline Halo campaign will appear on PlayStation hardware. That alone is historic given the long-running association of Halo with Microsoft’s Xbox platform. By bringing Halo to PS5, Microsoft is clearly signalling a shift in strategy: reaching more players, widening its audience, and breaking traditional platform exclusivity boundaries. The Washington Post
For PS5 owners this means: you get to experience one of gaming’s genre-defining campaigns in a freshly built form on your console, along with co-op and crossplay features that weren’t originally available.
Release Timing & What We Know So Far
- Target Launch: 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Verge+1
- The announcement occurred October 24 2025. Game Informer+1
- No official price announced yet. Stevivor
- Multiplayer modes (competitive matchmaking etc) from the original game are not included; focus is purely on the campaign experience. The Verge+1
What’s Changing vs. the Original Game
| Feature | Original 2001 Release | Campaign Evolved (PS5) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform availability | Xbox (later PC, etc) | Xbox Series X |
| Engine & graphics | Original engine, early-2000s hardware | Unreal Engine 5, 4K visuals, rebuilt assets |
| Multiplayer | Local multiplayer & early Xbox Live support | Up to 4-player online campaign co-op, split it console |
| Additional content | Original missions only | New prequel missions, more weapons/vehicles |
| Vehicle/weapon mechanics | Fixed weapons and vehicles, limited hijacking | Hijacking enemy vehicles, aim-down sights for all guns, optional sprint |
| Level design | Faithful to original design (some levels criticised) | Some levels redesigned for flow (e.g., “The Library”) |
| Cross-platform play & progression | None | Crossplay, shared progression across platforms |
What This Means for PS5 Gamers
- If you’ve never played the original campaign, this is a great starting point to enter the Halo universe on your PS5.
- If you’re a longtime Halo fan, the additional content and modernisations give a fresh reason to revisit the story.
- The inclusion of cross-platform co-op means you can play with friends regardless of console.
- Because it honours the original while modernising controls and mechanics, it could appeal to both nostalgic fans and newcomers alike.
Final Thoughts
The arrival of Halo Campaign Evolved PS5 is a major moment: a storied franchise’s foundational campaign rebuilt from the ground up and made available on the PlayStation platform for the first time. With modern enhancements, new content, and full cross-platform support, it promises to be both a celebration of Halo’s legacy and a bridge for new players. The year 2026 can’t come soon enough.
Boldly step into the ring-world, choose your battlefield, and stay tuned for what comes next.
