Set before the game’s main campaign, these three missions are focused on Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson and feature new enemies. However, one of them apparently focuses on the “reignition” of an “old rivalry” between the ODSTs and SPARTANs. The Jiralhanae or Brutes, who were absent in the first game but appeared in Halo 2, will also reportedly appear in the new missions.

Which is interesting, because it could mean a potential connection to Joseph Stalin’s Halo: Contact Harvest. Set nearly three decades before Combat Evolved, the plot features Johnson and contains major revelations about the Forerunner’s artifacts. To that end, there will apparently be a new, “never before seen” Covenant faction with a source claiming that they’re built “entirely from scratch” and “where Halo Studios leadership decided to invest their resources into.”

Unfortunately, those who held out hope for Combat Evolved’s original art will apparently be disappointed, as Halo Studios is reusing the Banished Covenant and UNSC Marine models from Halo Infinite. “I’m told that despite the negative feedback about Campaign Evolved’s gameplay reveal, they have not made any changes and are still only using Infinite’s models for these missions,” said Rebs Gaming.

It’s similar to 343 Industries’ work on Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which also didn’t feature the original game’s art, instead cobbling together assets from other titles. With Campaign Evolved allegedly launching before September, there likely won’t be any last-minute pivot either. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.

Back in 2021, Abstraction was also noted as having worked with 343 Industries on the accessibility features for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Its work in this department included expansion of localization options, support for color-blindness, and subtitle customization.

Rebs Gaming cites a pair of sources: a former developer and a current one on the project. According to the former developer, Abstraction’s work as a co-developer on Halo: Campaign Evolved allegedly began in Summer 2023. The current developer has noted that Abstraction’s work on the project involves level and technical design, including the development of entire missions.

The work is said to be quite extensive and includes concept design, polishing, creation of scripted events, and retuning of combat gameplay to account for new mechanics like sprint and 4-player co-op.

Interestingly, the video also brings up the relationship between Abstraction and Virtuos—a studio known for its support work, as well as its remasters and remakes. January 2025 saw it acquire Abstraction thanks to the latter’s expertise in co-development and engineering. However, December 2025 saw the latter split from Virtuos, once more becoming independently owned. Both companies have noted that they maintain a positive relationship.

This becomes relevant in this case thanks to Rebs Gaming’s current developer source, who noted that Virtuos is also involved in the development of Halo: Campaign Evolved to some degree. The developer also spoke about one of their responsibilities being to maintain effective collaboration between development partners, which is strongly hinted to be both Virtuos and Abstraction. To what degree Virtuos is involved, however, remains unknown for now.

Recent rumors have indicated that Halo: Campaign Evolved is on track to be released later this year. While one report from February indicated that Halo Studios and Microsoft might be aiming for a Summer release window, another one noted that it will likely come out before September.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and will be the first entry in the entire Halo franchise to come out on one of Sony’s consoles. Along with the visual overhauls you would expect from a remake, it will also feature changes to levels, improved cinematics, and the inclusion of weapons that would show up much later in the franchise. The title won’t feature any competitive multiplayer, with the focus instead being on co-operative gameplay throughout the campaign.

For more details about Halo: Campaign Evolved, take a look at how Halo Studios wants to honor the franchise while also introducing it to an entirely new generation of gamers.

On ResetEra, he replied to a comment about a possible release in the month, which still falls under Summer, with “Not that far (at least for now).” Again, it doesn’t outright confirm when, but given that Microsoft (and most of the industry) wants to avoid clashing with Grand Theft Auto 6 in November, July/August seems like a safe bet. That’s assuming it doesn’t face any sudden delays, and at this point, it’s hard to say.

Currently in development for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, Halo: Campaign Evolved offers a graphically revamped version of the 2001 first-person shooter’s campaign. There’s no competitive multiplayer – only four-player campaign co-op, but cross-play is enabled. While it’s sticking to the original’s story with changes to level design and new weapons, there will be three brand-new prequel missions to run through.

We haven’t seen them yet, and at this point, Microsoft could be saving them for its next Xbox Games Showcase in June. As always, stay tuned for updates.

It may seem relatively soon, but it could technically mean a launch sometime between late June and late September. That gives Microsoft time to reveal more about the remake, including the three new prequel missions starring Master Chief and Sgt Johnson with new environments and mechanics. With the company seemingly looking into another Developer_Direct, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Campaign Evolved appear, even if the Xbox Games Showcase in June is more likely.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, marking the series’ debut on PlayStation (with future titles also planned to launch day and date for the same). It offers an extensive visual overhaul courtesy of Unreal Engine 5, along with level changes, improved cinematics, and even weapons that don’t appear until later in the trilogy, like the Energy Blade.

While it won’t feature competitive multiplayer, four-player campaign co-op and cross-play are confirmed. Check out all the biggest differences between the remake and the original here.

This is possible because Halo: Campaign Evolved will not feature any competitive multiplayer modes. Rather, the title will focus on its campaign, for both single-player and co-op play with up to four players, with full support for cross-platform multiplayer. Since it is also making its way to PS5—being the first Halo game to do so—it will also be an introduction to the Halo series for many gamers who only grew up with PlayStation consoles.

“We hope to bring along the series veterans who have been with us for the past 25 years and have them play with an entirely new generation,” said Conn. “There are people who have never been exposed to Halo. Maybe they’ve always been on Sony products, switched consoles at a certain point, or just missed it at the time. We want to bring players back together.”

Speaking further about a focus on community, Szlagor noted that the Halo franchise tends to be “best played” when there is a large and healthy community backing the games. “Halo is best played when we have a large, healthy community,” he said. “We see this as a way to grow, expand, and reconnect the Halo community.”

Cronn also noted that the title will serve as a way for Halo Studios to honor the franchise while bringing it to a new audience. “We want to honor the Halo legacy on PlayStation, and we’re paving the way to expand our Halo universe – that’s how we see it. And it’s not a small thing. We don’t and we won’t take it lightly. We definitely feel the weight of it,” he said.

Halo: Combat Evolved was originally released all the way back in 2001, and was a launch title for the original Xbox. It would also eventually make its way to PC. On the two platforms, the game saw quite a bit of success, and served as a foundation for an entire franchise that would go on to form a core pillar of the Xbox identity.

Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn’t yet have a release date. It is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and Halo Studios has confirmed that it is being made using Unreal Engine 5. Alongside brand new visuals and audio, the remake will also feature three new missions that focus on events set before the game’s story is kicked off. These new missions will focus on Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson.

For more details on what sets Halo: Campaign Evolved apart from Halo: Combat Evolved, here are 10 major differences between the two. Also check out what the original veteran developer Marcus Lehto, who also worked on the original Halo and the design of Master Chief, has to say about Campaign Evolved.

But what are they up to, and are their offerings going to be enough to either go toe to toe with the PS5, or, at the very least, gather enough momentum to attempt reversing the two consoles’ fading fortunes? We’re here to help answer those questions.

Join us as we take a look at what Xbox Game Studios is cooking up for a year that’s shaping up to be just as good as the one before it on the gaming front. It’s also a big year as the Xbox turns 25, and as such, there’s going to be a lot to be excited about if you’ve been a fan over the years. Let’s get started.

The Coalition

The studio behind the Gears of War franchise is all set to take the meta-narrative it has established over the years back to its roots, bringing back Marcus and Dom to the stage for a prequel that has fans excited to learn more about the gruff soldier’s turbulent relationship with his superiors and the events that led to the Locusts rising as a threat to his world in Gears of War: E-Day.

In a look back at the year it had at 2025, which featured studio heads discussing future projects, Mike Crump (who heads The Coalition) was pretty excited to assert that E-Day is the franchise’s “most ambitious title yet”, and confirmed that it was on track to release later this year with Polish studio People Can Fly joining the studio to lend a helping hand.

We’re going to be watching out with very sharp eyes for a release date announcement, and we’re sure that those among you who love Gears of War share our enthusiasm.

Compulsion Games

The South of Midnight developer has been basking in the success of the title, expressing gratitude for its excellent reception and confirming that a new project is already in the works. It has been stated that the lessons it picked up from developing South of Midnight have allowed it to grow and mature as a studio, and that this new project is going to reflect those learnings to be a game that is made to impress.

However, the studio is likely to focus on the multiplatform release for South of Midnight over this year, and its new project is likely not going to surface in 2026.

Double Fine

The studio has been relatively silent since the release of Keeper last year, and with little to no news about its next project surfacing in the months that followed, we can only guess that the team behind a very unique game is getting some well-deserved rest while they put down ideas for their next big thing on the drawing board.

That’s not to say we may not hear from the studio over the course of the year, though, and we’re hoping for more unique ideas, given its last project was a game with no dialogue that still managed to keep us glued to our screens.

Halo Studios

It looks like Halo is taking the Gears of War route this year, with Halo Studios all set to release Halo: Campaign Evolved sometime this year for the PS5, PC, and Xbox. A remake of a timeless classic, the new game is slated to bring several improvements to the original’s gameplay loop, such as the ability to hijack vehicles, weapon zooming, a redesign for the Warthog, up to 4-player online coop and 2-player couch coop, and so much more.

The visuals are also getting a leg up with Unreal Engine 5 powering the experience. The game’s iconic multiplayer being given a pass is a bummer, though. However, getting to see the campaign in a whole new light is something we’re definitely excited about. The bonus missions that act as a prequel are another nice touch that we’re curious about.

InXile Entertainment

We’ve been looking forward to Clockwork Revolution ever since this title was announced by inXile back in 2023. With a solid look into how the game works last year, and rumors that it could be slated for release this year, which must be taken with a pinch of salt, this is definitely one to watch out for.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, it brings a very interesting premise with some time-travel shenanigans that pits you against a manipulative antagonist and her quest to consolidate power with a customizable protagonist. It’s quite impressive, and we hope the rumors that it’s making its way to our screens later this year are true, although we’re only carefully optimistic on that front.

Mojang Studios

There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re into Minecraft, as Mojang is bringing eight new baby farm mobs to the game, replete with visual changes that make them quite adorable indeed. However, the drop is still in its testing phase, and you might have to wait a while for an official release announcement, depending on how things progress.

However, that’s still good news, and we’ll be sure to have an update for you as soon as we can confirm any changes to the status quo.

Ninja Theory

The studio behind Hellblade is reportedly working on a new title that’s focused on being more interactive and action-oriented than its past offerings while sustaining the cinematic quality that it is now known for, as per Windows Central’s Jez Corden.

While there is speculation that the new title could be Hellblade 3, it could very well be a new IP. Either way, it’s likely that 2026 might be a quiet year for Ninja Theory, but that could very well change in the coming months.

Obsidian Entertainment

There are reportedly four new projects in development, along with speculations that a remake of Fallout: New Vegas in the vein of last year’s Oblivion is likely coming this year. However, that remains currently unconfirmed, so hopefully this month’s Xbox Direct may bring news on that front.

But if you happen to miss it, fret not, since we’re definitely going to have your back on that one!

Playground Games

The long-standing staple of Xbox Game Studios is going to be front and center at the Developer_Direct event, with both Fable and Forza Horizon 6 slated to make an appearance in what is shaping up to be a big year for the studio.

With no gameplay currently available for both titles, we’re quite certain that we’ll be getting quite a close look at what each of them is bringing to the table. While Fable is poised to be a reboot of the franchise, aimed at modernizing it for a new generation of players, Forza Horizon 6 is going to take you to Japan this time around, with a map that’s touted to be the biggest one yet in the franchise and a lot to look forward to in it.

We expect a release date announcement later this month, although that could take a little longer. Both games are currently slated for a 2026 release, though.

Rare

While the cancellation of Everwild is sure to have been a blow to the Sea of Thieves developer, the appointment of Lousie O’ Connor as the Chief of Staff for Xbox Game Studios might help with dealing with that loss and the layoffs that affected the studio.

It’s looking like a quiet year that’s going to be spent figuring out a way forward for the studio; however, we’re hopeful that we at least get a hint at what it aims to do next.

Turn 10 Studios

The studio behind Forza Motorsport is going to stop updates to its flagship title in order to help Playground Games with Forza Horizon 6. While that news is bittersweet, we’re still happy that the studio has managed to survive the turbulence of last year and come out on top.

Who knows, we might even get news of a new project a little later down the line. But for now, it’s looking like a relatively quiet year for this one.

Undead Labs

We’re still waiting on news about State of Decay 3 after Undead Labs posted that very cryptic teaser ahead of the 2025 edition of Summer Games Fest. However, things have been very quiet on that front, and the studio’s layoffs from last year have us a tad worried about the title’s current status.

We’re still holding out hope, however, and would be delighted to hear some good news at Developer_Direct later this month. Fingers crossed, we’d say.

World’s Edge

The studio’s job postings from last year fuelled a lot of speculation that it was taking a more hands-on approach to Age of Empires, and that an Unreal Engine-powered new addition to the franchise was in the works. And while nothing is confirmed at this moment, that could very well change later this year.

It would make sense for the studio to bring out a new title in its flagship franchise, and you can bet that we’d be very happy to hear about it over the course of this year. Once again, we’re going to advise cautious optimism, but one can always hope, right?

And that’s a wrap on all of the big releases and potential announcements from Xbox Game Studios as it gears up for a year that’s quite the landmark for the iconic console. We can’t wait to get our hands on all of the titles that are coming our way, and hope to join you as we enjoy a year of great games from these talented studios.

According to a new video by Rebs Gaming, the reasons behind Microsoft and Halo Studios going with remakes of the classic Halo titles revolves around the fact that neither of the companies wants to risk releasing a brand new game that gets a negative reception from fans of the older Halo titles.

“Microsoft and Halo Studios leadership wants to ensure that Halo’s new era doesn’t fail by playing it safe and avoiding risks. Specifically, they want to avoid making another new Halo game that is heavily criticized by the OG Halo fans,” said Rebs Gaming, quoting their source. “So they’re playing it safe by remaking the original games because they can’t afford to fail again and the original Halo games were very successful and many people still play them.”

Rebs Gaming also revisits older rumours regarding the possible remakes of Halo 2 and 3 that first started popping back in 2024, when lead game designer Dan Gniady made references to working on a project that involves “Giving the Covenant back their bomb.” This is a reference to the events of Halo 2, where Master Chief throws the Covenant’s big bomb back at its own ship.

In the meantime, Halo: Campaign Evolved is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release in 2026. The remake would also mark the first time that a Halo title is released on Sony’s console. Halo: Campaign Evolved has been described by Halo Studios as a “faithful yet modernized” take on the game that started the franchise. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, the remake is slated to offer revamped visuals and cinematics, as well as gameplay improvements like improved pathfinding. The soundtrack is also getting the treatment, and the voice cast will be offering new performances to match the modernized take on the game.

On the gameplay side of things, Halo: Campaign Evolved will focus entirely on the campaign for both single-player and co-op experiences. There will also be a host of new content, including new weapons like the Needle Rifle, battle Rifle and Energy Sword which had originally made their franchise debuts in later games. On the campaign side of things, new additions include three new missions that pair protagonist Master Chief along with ally Sgt. Johnson, with the events of these missions being set before the story of Halo kicks off.

For more details, check here are 10 ways Halo: Campaign Evolved will be different from the original.

There’s a new Operation Pass available featuring five new armor sets, over 30 new customization options, and much more, but The Exchange is the real highlight. Along with containing cosmetics from past events and Fractures, it also received 200 “never-before-released” items to deck out your Spartan with.

As for new content, Ranked players can look forward to the start of a new season with a fresh map, Vacancy. Quick Play sees the new Yuletide map introduced to the Husky Raid and Super Husky Raid modes. And for those looking to progress quickly, Career Rank XP and Spartan Point have received 2x boosts.

While this marks the end of new content updates for Halo Infinite, 343 Industries is focusing on the franchise’s future, starting with Halo: Campaign Evolved. Launching in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5, it’s a remake of the 2001 classic developed on Unreal Engine 5 (while maintaining the same code base). Competitive multiplayer is absent, but it will allegedly return in the next mainline Halo, whenever it releases.

As confirmed on the latest Community Livestream by senior community manager John Junyszek, “The reason we started by talking about Halo: Campaign Evolved is because that’s our next game. That’s kinda the future of where our studio is starting to invest more and more of its time and resources. So this upcoming Halo Infinite update will be our last planned major content release.”

Over on Waypoint, Halo Studios says it remains “committed to supporting” the title “on the road ahead.” However, since there are several new Halo titles in the works, the “combined focus” of the entire team is required to “deliver new experiences with the same passion and care that our community has given us.”

Operation: Infinite will include a new Operation Pass with more than 30 new customization options for your characters, new weapon models, and five armor sets. The Exchange will also receive 200 “never-before-released customizations” alongside cosmetics from previous Operations and events.

The end of Halo Infinite’s support seemed a given sooner or later, especially with its retirement at the Halo Championship Series. However, it’s especially sobering considering its original plan as a “platform for the future,” at least according to former studio head Chris Lee. Its launch was middling, but numerous updates improved the multiplayer over time, adding new maps, modes and features. Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near the “next ten years of Halo” that was initially promised.

In the meantime, Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5, a series’ first. As a remake of the 2001 classic, it adds features such as sprint, four-player campaign co-op and three new prequel missions. There won’t be competitive multiplayer, though.

Halo 7 will reportedly include the latter, but Halo Studios has yet to officially announce it, instead confirming “multiple” new Halo titles in the works. It’s worth noting that the leaker previously revealed that Halo: Combat Evolved was getting a Resident Evil-style remake before its official announcement, when others alleged it would be a one-to-one remaster.

In the meantime, Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated to arrive in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Alongside sprinting, it features four-player campaign co-op, three weapons from other entries in the series, and level changes, which haven’t sat well with original level designer Jamie Griesemer. On the flipside, however, co-creator Marcus Lehto thinks the remake looks “gorgeous.”