Xbox and Halo Studios have unveiled an exciting project: a complete remake of the iconic Halo: Combat Evolved. This ambitious endeavor, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, is set to be released next year, coinciding with the franchise’s 25th anniversary.

The remake aims to breathe new life into the beloved story mode of the original game. For fans who remember the thrill of their first encounter with Halo, this announcement is sure to evoke feelings of nostalgia and anticipation.

In discussing the project, the developers emphasize that this is not just a simple remaster but a comprehensive recreation. As Conn, one of the key developers, explained, the team has meticulously reevaluated and enhanced every element of the game. This includes re-recorded voice work from the original cast, revamped cinematics, and all-new motion capture—essentially, a complete overhaul to modernize the 2001 classic while preserving its beloved tone and atmosphere.

Importantly, the team at Xbox and Halo Studios intends for the new version to complement, rather than replace, the original game. This approach allows both new players and long-time fans to experience the evolution of Halo in their own way.

“We’ve totally ground up, looked at, re-evaluated, and retouched every asset, re-recorded new voice work from the principal cast, rebuilt cinematics, new motion capture — it’s really kind of a ground-up thing versus what we had done previously with Halo Anniversary,” Conn said. 

The developers stressed that the remake isn’t intended to replace the original game, but to stand alongside it.

“The goal of remaking this original, iconic first episode of the franchise was not to replace the original. The original is a masterpiece, and what we’re doing is making something that can stand up next to that masterpiece again,” he said.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to introduce a range of quality of life improvements, including the return of splitscreen co-op alongside four-player online co-op with cross-play and cross progression across all platforms.

This marks the first time Master Chief’s story will appear on a PlayStation console.

Conn said the move to PlayStation represents a major step for the series. 

“We’re coming out to PlayStation for the first time. It’s a fantastic opportunity to introduce a whole new set of fans to Master Chief’s story and allow them to have the same kind of experience and joy that gamers have had on Xbox for the past 25 years,” he told 9news.com.au.

Hermann said the studio is also working closely with Sony to explore DualSense features, though specifics are still being finalised. 

“They came over and gave us a lot of food for thought when it came to the things their controllers do, and we’re still working through those specifics,” he said.

While this release focuses on the campaign, Halo Studios confirmed that discussions around multiplayer will come later. 

Herman said the goal of the remake is to unite veterans and newcomers alike. 

“Come back, experience the Halo ring for the first time — again. It recognises you’ve been there before, but it really is an entirely fresh take,” he said.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to release in 2026 across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.