Following the big announcement of *Halo: Campaign Evolved* last Friday, we’re beginning to learn more about its creative ambitions and where Halo Studios is pushing the remake label the hardest. This single-player-only, Unreal Engine 5-powered remake of the original *Halo* game is set to arrive in 2026 on PC, the Xbox ecosystem, and—yes, really—the PS5.
Before diving into Xbox Wire’s conversation with several key leads at Halo Studios, check out the reveal trailer and gameplay demo below.
“Starting here means people that have never played the game before will be able to understand the story from the very beginning, and that can help us chart a course forward with new Halo stories,” explained Executive Producer Damon Conn. With 2021’s *Halo: Infinite* already serving as a new entry point of sorts, one that 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) and Xbox have seemingly moved past, it’s challenging to see how returning to the very beginning will help plan a path forward without simply replaying the old hits.
Still, there are a handful of reasons to be interested in what *Campaign Evolved* has to offer.
For starters, the entire journey will now support 4-player co-op, much like the more recent entries in the series. This presented an extra set of development challenges.
“As we’re building the technology for this game, we’ve had to do it piece by piece, which included reevaluating all of the individual elements as we revisit the original game. Now that the campaign supports up to four-player co-op, we had to think about how all of the original encounters and spaces can scale to accommodate that many players,” revealed Max Szlagor, Creative Director. Fans quickly noticed a number of notable changes to the iconic Silent Cartographer level. For example, players can now bring the Warthog into an area that was previously restricted to infantry combat.
Like it or hate it, Halo Studios is fully committed to the project’s “remake” label, especially in an era where publishers and studios alike struggle to define what remasters and remakes truly are.
With the *Master Chief Collection*–included Anniversary Edition remaster of *Halo: Combat Evolved* still holding up perfectly, this fresh rework of the FPS legend will need to deliver significant changes to justify its existence and win over skeptics.
Big tweaks are also coming to the notoriously difficult Library level, which players must navigate halfway through the game. While full details remain under wraps, Szlagor teased: “In The Library specifically, which features several Flood encounters, we wanted to reevaluate the pacing and enhance the environmental storytelling. We’ve added new lines to Guilty Spark, which guide players through the level, and there’s new dialogue that gives more insight into the narrative as it plays out.”
The developers are keen to reassure longtime fans that they’re “not changing the stories” like some other high-profile remakes. Instead, they’re focused on reworking and improving what’s already there for both returning players and newcomers.
There’s no official word yet on an accompanying multiplayer component, but rumors suggest we can expect a reveal on that front in the near future.
And in case you were wondering: yes, all future *Halo* games will be available on PlayStation moving forward. This marks a shift as Xbox reconsiders its publishing strategy to address recent struggles and improve profit margins.
We truly live in strange times.
https://www.gamewatcher.com/news/halo-campaign-evolved-creative-director-on-4-player-co-op-and-design-changes