Out of nowhere – barring some teases  – 343 Industries has released Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for PC. It’s available standalone and with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, so if you picked up the latter when Halo: Reach first launched, then it should be ready to download. Check out the trailer below.

The first Halo needs no introduction – it was the defining console FPS for a generation of players, after all. The PC version comes with support for 4K Ultra HD resolution, 60 frames per second, and Ultra-wide support. Keyboard and mouse bindings can be customized, while graphical settings like field of view can also be changed.

Since this is the Anniversary version, players can choose to experience the original Xbox graphics or the new remastered visuals. Multiplayer consists of 19 different maps with an “updated progression system”. We’ll have to wait and see how it all holds up, especially if playlists with maps from both Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo Reach are available. Stay tuned for more details.

343 Industries and Microsoft kickstarted the slow drip of Halo releases on PC last year. With The Master Chief Collection planned to launch on the platform on a game-by-game basis in chronological order, and with Halo: Reach having launched in December (and seen quite a lot of success, too), next in line is the very first game in the series.

Beta testing for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on PC has been going on for a while, though the game’s full release might actually be closer than you’d think. 343 Industries recently shared an update on The Master Chief Collection’s progress on PC, talking about the changes they’ve made to Combat Evolved Anniversary in response to fan feedback, and also revealing the addition of a new feature (the ability to toggle multiplayer audio from the original release).

Along with that update, they also dropped a new teaser trailer, which seems to briefly show what will be the new main menu for the MCC on both Xbox One and PC soon. Notably though, the trailer might also be hinting that a release for Halo: CEA on PC isn’t too far away. Add to that the fact that the folks over at TrueAchievements also recently spotted a listing for the game on PC on the Microsoft Store (though that listing has since been taken down), and that possibility becomes even likelier.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is available in full on the Xbox One, and offers just Halo: Reach on PC. All mainline games in the series – with the exception of Halo 5: Guardians – will be arriving to the collection eventually.

343 Industries may have impressed with its latest trailer for Halo Infinite (launching in Holiday 2020 with Project Scarlett). But the more immediate development is Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which is coming to PC. You don’t need the entire collection though – each game can be purchased separately, and in a new Xbox Wire post, prices for the same were outlined.

On Steam and the Microsoft Store, Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4 will cost $10 each. The campaign for Halo 3: ODST will only cost $5. The first among these releases is Halo: Reach, out sometime this month.

Though a price for the entire package wasn’t provided, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is currently available on Xbox Game Pass. It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC, which recently launched and is available to new subscribers for $1 per month. For current owners of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One, Halo: Reach’s multiplayer will be free, while Campaign and Firefight will be purchasable separately.

Guess who’s back, bitches.

To answer that simply, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is every bit as good as the original CE, released on the Xbox back in 2001. It may not be as revolutionary (none of us expected it to be), but it’s damn good nonetheless. For those of you who’ve forgotten all about it in the course of the last 10 years, those who have never played a Halo game before, or those who were initiated into the franchise with the newcomers Reach or ODST, Combat Evolved Anniversary is an excellent game, one that you have to play, no matter what your level of love for the franchise is.

We all still remember just how iconic the game’s story was- the story of how humanity first discovered the ring world called Halo, of how the Flood was unleashed upon the galaxy, of the war between the Covenant and humanity and the terrifying Forerunners, of Master Chief and Cortana captivated and awed millions of fans back in the day. The plot is still strong today, especially now that we have played Halo: Reach, which takes place right before the events of this game. And with the addition of Terminals, which add a whole lot to the narrative experience, the plot’s more engrossing than ever.

The visuals may not be the best in the genre, but they’re outstanding nonetheless.

The single player campaign is brilliant- majority of the Halo fans do say that Combat Evolved’s campaign is the best in the story, but some say that it’s not good enough to stand the test of time. For those of you who do say so, let me tell you, the campaign is still as thrilling and excellent as it was 10 years ago. The level design is still excellent (except for, of course, the infamous Library level), the enemy AI is exceptionally strong and competitive, weapon variety is exactly what you’d expect from a Halo game, and the mission structure is probably the best in series, outdoing even the final missions of Halo 2 and Halo: Reach. Action is intense, as intense as we remember it to be, and faithful to the original game. Practically zero changes have been made to the gameplay, and yet, it still doesn’t feel dated. In fact, it feels much better and much more fluid than several modern day shooters- a testament to how incredibly Bungie designed Combat Evolved all those years ago.

There is, however, the fact that the campaign can be completed in just a little over 6 hours, depending on your skill level. It’s not a very long campaign, especially for the Halo veterans. And after having completed it, there’s not much incentive in coming back, other than the Skulls and Terminals, which may not be enough to grab hold of your attention the second time over all throughout your playthrough. You can play the campaign co-operatively with your friend, but still, it doesn’t do enough to add to the replay value of the single player side of the game.

Like all Halo games, Combat Evolved Anniversary has a multiplayer component, and like all Halo games, it’s a great experience. The leveling and upgradation system from Reach has been included here, and it’s as deep, fleshed out and addictive as it was when it was first introduced in the series last year. Armour abilities from Reach have also been included, and it’s a great deal of fun to watch your opponents- and yourself- use jetpacks or armour lockups and other such “newer” abilities on maps that you remember so well from 10 years ago.

Ah, the maps- unfortunately, this is where the game falls short. Out of the total 19 maps in the original Halo (Xbox and PC versions put together), only 6 have made the cut in Anniversary. It’s disappointing to see that so many maps weren’t included in the game, many of which were unfortunate and baffling omissions. However, the maps that did make the cut are faithfully redesigned, and look extremely good. I felt a pang of nostalgia when I first saw Battle Creek (now Battle Canyon) in glorious HD. There may not be a lot of maps here, but the few that did make the cut are excellent- each and every one of them.

For those who’ve recently played Reach, Anniversary will be a blast. For those who haven’t, Anniversary will still be a blast.

There’s also a single Firefight map here, based on the second mission of the game, and I have to say, it’s rather well designed. I was disappointed, as with the multiplayer maps, that there’re not more of these maps, but I was still happy with the one I got, and I’m pretty sure, this is the one I’ll prefer from now on whenever I play Firefight in Reach.

One of the biggest and best features in this game is the graphics toggling system. At the press of a button, anywhere, any time (except for when you’re watching cutscenes), you can switch to how Combat Evolved looked 10 years ago. You can play the entire game with the original game’s graphics, and this mode not only is a great addition for all the nostalgia freaks, it also shows just how much the series has evolved over the course of ten years, and what an excellent job 343 Industries has done with Combat Evolved Anniversary and its visuals. Each area in the game is faithful to areas from Combat Evolved on the Xbox, yet still beautifully rendered, and a different take.

The soundtrack was also a very iconic aspect of Halo: Combat Evolved when it was first released. To this day, people call it one of the best soundtracks in video games, and I was glad that Anniversary has an equally good soundtrack, using remastered versions of the original’s tunes that we remember so well now.

There are a few features in the games that don’t work so well. For one, some of the levels, like the first level (Pillar of Autumn) have too many corridors, and they make the game a little restrictive, something that is not expected of Halo. Then, the added Kinect voice commands are downright useless, and not needed at all. 343 could have done away with them, and it would have made no difference to the overall experience.

Beginning the fight.

Ultimately, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is an excellent game. Fans have been clamouring for the series to go back to its roots, and with Anniversary, it looks like they’re not being ignored. 343 Industries has done an excellent job here, making a faithful and thrilling adaptation of the game that changed our lives a decade ago. We can all rest assured that the franchise is in good hands, and I honestly cannot wait to see what 343 will do in Halo 4. Doesn’t matter if you’ve ever played Combat Evolved or not- this is a game you have to get.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary embargo is finally up. It’s scoring well but nostalgia fails to evoke a better response from the critics as the reviews are quite mixed. Halo: Combat Evolved was a genre defining game on consoles, and the quality of the HD port by 343 is finally under scrutiny.

You can check out the review round up below.

Planet Xbox 360 – 96
If you have never played Halo: CE before or just want to Pistol 3-Shot your friends once again, Halo: CE Anniversary is a must buy for all Xbox 360 owners, especially those that are fans of Master Chief in any way.

Gaming Age – 91
343 have done a fantastic job updating a 10 year old game into something that feels entirely modern.

Eurogamer Sweden – 90
An ambitious remake. One of the most memorable campaigns in the history of first person shooters can now be relived with wonderful HD graphics. And six of the best multiplayer maps from the original rounds off what is a fantastic package with great value.

EDGE – 90
Halo exhibits a single-minded focus that the modern FPS, with its choreographed set-pieces and thrilling scripted sequences, largely disregards. This is a game about the arc of a perfectly thrown grenade, a game about tense games of cat-and-mouse with foes as powerful as you, a game about constant improvisation with the tools at your disposal. It’s a game that always feels tactical, and a game that – even now – has the capacity to surprise.

Destructoid – 90
At the end of the day, I think Halo: Anniversary is primarily designed for hardcore Halo fans. If you don’t already own Halo: Combat Evolved or are still addicted to Halo: Reach, then I highly recommend getting Anniversary.

Meristation – 85
A good remake for one of the most important FPS in the last decade, with good Saber3D engine, but not like Halo 3 or Reach. Multiplayer has seven new maps, not enough in comparision with ODST, and online co-op is only for two players, but it’s a great experience in general.

Official Xbox Magazine – 85
This feature-rich ode to the classic that started it all is an impressive upgrade – one that deserves a place in any fan’s library.

Metro GameCentral – 80
Halo’s 10th anniversary certainly deserves celebrating but a HD remake only serves to underline how little the series has moved forward over the years.

Videogamer – 80
Bungie’s iconic title was clearly an ambitious project, and this modern remastering sufficiently highlights what it was that made the original Halo: Combat Evolved such a landmark gaming moment to begin with.

IGN – 80
If you can approach the experience with an open mind and are willing to take a few frustrating old-school design choices, and you’re fine with a ‘best of’ map pack versus a full redo, then this is a great way to bide the time before Halo 4.

CVG – 80
Take Halo’s combat model and place it in the worst spaces imaginable and you can still have fun with it – it’s that good. 

Eurogamer – 80
It’s an awkward reinvention that manages to be at once faithful and a little wide of the mark. But such is the strength of Combat Evolved, this is still an Anniversary that’s worth celebrating.

1UP – 75
Anniversary edition is a collection of some of the best pieces of Halo. It revives a classic campaign that sports a fresh look. The multiplayer package adds classic maps into Reach’s larger framework and re-enables classic CE behaviors for multiplayer fans to revisit the original, and even Kinect brings something unique to the table.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Sumthing Else Music Works, through its licensing relationship with Microsoft, has announced a Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Soundtrack featuring new orchestrations of the classic Halo: Combat Evolved music originally created Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Soundtrack will be available as a 2-disc CD album released to retail outlets worldwide on November 15th through Sumthing Else Music Works and for digital download here, Amazon MP3, iTunes and other digital music sites.

Halo: CE Anniversary is now out and has been receiving great reviews.

Our own review will be up soon, so stay tuned.

Microsoft have released more information about Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Check them out below.

Analyze Mode – Analyze Mode is a Kinect-exclusive feature that allows players to “scan” items of interest within the “Halo:Anniversary” campaign to populate the Library, an interactive encyclopedia of “Halo” lore. Once in Analyze mode, new articles of interest can be added to the Library by focusing the reticule on them and saying “Scan.”

The Library – The Library is an expansive index that provides detailed information on items of interest players have scanned through “Analyze Mode,” such as vehicles, characters, enemies and weapons. Through the use of gesture controls, players can explore the entire Library at any time and then return to the campaign to continue unlocking more secrets within the “Halo” universe.

Voice Commands – Harness the technology of Kinect for Xbox 360 to reload your weapon, throw grenades, switch seamlessly between Classic and Re-mastered graphics and more, using only your voice.

New Halo Waypoint Interface – A revamped design and user interface lets players navigate Halo Waypoint and access the content they want more easily than ever before, whether they’re online, on their Xbox 360 or on their Windows Phone.

Halo Waypoint ATLAS – Available on Windows Phones this Christmas, Halo Waypoint ATLAS (Advanced Tactical Assault System) is a new mobile experience that offers players a detailed, top-down view of any “Halo: Anniversary” or “Halo: Reach” map in real-time, letting them monitor teammates’ movements and positions as they play. This innovative app encourages strategic gameplay and offers a fun companion experience to any multiplayer match.

Custom Challenges – Building upon the “Halo” series’ genre-defining user-creation toolset, 343 Industries is empowering the community even further by introducing Custom Challenges in “Halo: Anniversary” and “Halo: Reach.” For the first time, players will be able to issue custom Challenges and create friendly competitions with Xbox friends, unlocking infinite creative possibilities to invent and test their “Halo” skills against one another.

“Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” is a spectacularly remastered version of the original “Halo” campaign, created in celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history. With a bounty of new features including cooperative play over Xbox LIVE, a bundle of some of the most beloved multiplayer maps in “Halo” history reimagined for Xbox LIVE, new challenges and a new story to uncover, “Halo: Anniversary” is a must-have experience, coming exclusively to Xbox 360 on Nov. 15, 2011.

343 Industries has given us some details on Halo: Anniversary’s multiplayer. First and foremost, one of the most beloved maps in Halo history with Breakneck, the spectacular remake of the classic map Headlong, will be included in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Announced today at the Tokyo Game Show, Breakneck (also known as Headlong in classic mode) takes you back to Halo 2’s fan favorite large-scale multiplayer map.

Have a look at some of the multiplayer footage revealed:

Headlong provides a large, skyscraper-hemmed construction site with numerous vantage points for clever snipers as well as a large central basin for excellent vehicle combat, a map for 8-16 players.

Also in Tokyo, 343 Industries revealed new details around the title update for Halo: Reach. The update features the return of the iconic Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum pistol and classic playlists.

The update will also introduce a myriad of multiplayer fixes fans have been clamouring for, including balancing armour abilities like Armour Lock and Active Camo. Players will be able to experience a first taste of some of these changes when beta playlists become available on 4 October. The beta will be open to all Halo: Reach players with an active Xbox Live Gold membership, and will culminate with the launch of a full suite of classic playlists and map variants when Halo: Anniversary arrives on 15 November.

Stay tuned for more info.

Microsoft has detailed the pre-order incentives for November’s HD remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, now called Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. An official art booklet will be shipped with the game to all those who pre-order it from GAME or Gamestation stores… wow, thanks, MS.

The art collection will be based on the art book “Halo: The Art of Building Worlds”.

Microsoft explains: “This 24 page, 170 x 135mm booklet contains a collection of ground-breaking art from the history of the Halo games including concept art, sweeping landscapes from the Halo universe, and of course the evolution of the Master Chief.”

Stay tuned for more info.