In 2026, however, the mood around the once-universally beloved first-person shooter is a little…odd. Halo: Campaign Evolved finally launched worldwide on July 29th after arriving in advanced access a few days prior. The first new entry, even if it is a remake, in almost five years. A return to where it all began in stunning detail courtesy of Unreal Engine 5, complete with new content in the form of three Prologue missions. Four-player co-op! No multiplayer, though, because Halo Studios aren’t wizards, for crying out loud.

But despite generally positive reviews from critics – an 81 Metascore on PS5 based on 50 reviews and an 84 on Xbox based on 34 – this is far from a homecoming, especially for a franchise as illustrious as Halo (or at least previously). On Steam, advanced access hit nearly 20,000 peak concurrent players – not too shabby at all. How did that translate at launch? A peak of almost 26,000 concurrent – far below what Halo Infinite achieved back in 2021 when it peaked at almost 273,000

“Didn’t that have multiplayer and was also free-to-play?” you’re probably wondering, and you’re correct. That Halo Studios, then 343 Industries, suddenly shadow-dropped it in November – a month before the campaign – really helped with the numbers. However, as we saw with Infinite over the months, interest cratered and never really reached those same highs.

Besides, even if you discount that, Halo: The Master Chief Collection performed far better when it debuted in December 2019 on the platform, peaking at slightly over 161,000 concurrent players. Seeing Campaign Evolved debut to about a sixth of that is perplexing, especially since it’s supposed to be the first title following 343’s big rebrand and shift to Unreal Engine 5.

Of course, if it simply underperformed on Steam – which we’ll come back to – that would probably be the end of it. What makes this all the stranger is how it comparatively performed on consoles. According to Circana’s Mat Piscatella, Campaign Evolved ranked fourth in daily active users on Xbox in the United States. About eight percent of the total console share “launched” the game.

Game Pass is probably the big equalizer here, with the average Xbox player spending over two hours in-game. You would think PS5 would be far weaker, and you are correct – about one percent of active players booted the game up. Even lower than the two percent of Steam players. But therein lies the twist as well.

Piscatella noted that Campaign Evolved had topped the PlayStation Store’s best-sellers in the US (which I can confirm at this time). Considering it’s ahead of EA Sports College Football 27, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and Black Ops, that’s pretty impressive. And as the analyst notes, when it comes to Game Pass, “The game is not ‘free.’ Subscriptions cost money.” Which we’ll also come back to shortly, don’t worry.

All these figures seem to tell the story that Halo is thriving on consoles somewhat. However, a quick peek at the UK PlayStation Store shows Master Chief’s triumphant return is the sixth best-selling title on the list. Well, if there are options, we’re likely going with Performance on this one.
Portugal? Not even in the top ten.

This speaks to several things, including the franchise’s popularity in the United States, particularly on Xbox above all platforms. Subscriptions certainly cost money, but there’s a difference between paying $22.99 for Game Pass Ultimate and $49.99 to play, at best, a roughly eight-hour campaign, that too for a game that was already remastered in 2011 and then re-released in 2014 with five other games. As many subscribers as it might garner (and lest we forget, those figures aren’t exactly booming for Xbox), it eats into full game sales all the same.

And speaking of which, what does Xbox have to say? Well, it has long since ceased announcing sales numbers – player numbers have been the go-to for a while now because of Game Pass. Not with Campaign Evolved, however. In fact, the last tweet from the official Twitter account celebrates its launch day.

There’s still time for it to proclaim “one million players” in the coming weeks. However, again, for a franchise like Halo, which dominated the industry at several points in history, this feels like a lukewarm reception. Look at the triumphant sales milestones for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – the enthusiasm from both its game director and the company for the future. None of that here, not even a customary “so many of you online~!” Just on to the next big game.

I won’t say whether the remake’s success affects the potential of further remakes in the series, as rumors have suggested. Or if it will cause Halo Studios to pivot once more, especially after Ekur, its rumored extraction shooter turned Super Big Team Battle turned battle royale that was seemingly cancelled to prioritize Campaign Evolved. But it once again highlights the sheer lack of a plan from Halo Studios and Xbox as a whole.

When it was first revealed, the response around the remake was mixed, especially for performance and the addition of features like sprint. While we enjoyed it immensely and praised its technical wizardry on consoles, the story on PC has been very different. Complaints about blurriness and input delay, Achievement track issues – but beyond all that, there’s just this overwhelming feeling of apathy.

Sure, plenty are annoyed at how much it changes, from the art direction of the Forerunners’ structures to sprint slotting in awkwardly amid the older level design (though to be fair, you can turn it off). The response to cutscene changes, the new dialogue and Prologue missions has also been mixed. All in all, several players are just left wondering, “Why?”

My theory is that Halo Studios is yet another victim of this grand juncture of plans between the old and new leadership at Xbox. Under Phil Spencer, Halo: Campaign Evolved would have been yet another big addition to the company’s multiplatform plans, finally marking the series’ debut on PlayStation. After new leadership took over, it feels like the remake was simply sent out without any real fanfare. Sure, it had those livestreams and blogs, telling fans what they could and could not expect, but all the hullabaloo around the PS5 Pro trailer and how it allegedly skipped the last State of Play became a bigger story than Halo finally releasing on PlayStation.

Maybe it’s just early days, and Halo Studios – which has faced backlash, much of it deserved – over the series’ direction since the release of Halo 4 needs more time. Perhaps it’s just another remnant of the old Xbox guard, and going forward, leadership will push it like The Elder Scrolls or Fallout. It’ll once again return to prominence, the brand’s destined crown jewel.

Or maybe it will awkwardly shuffle around, simply existing just for the sake of those who remember how good it used to be. Maybe a few more remakes to really stir up nostalgia before another change in direction. “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them,” is another popular saying, and with Halo, it hits all the harder, given how much longer the not-so-good days have been.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

This guide for the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake is a listing of all weapons to be found, split by faction, as well as any alternate firing modes and strategies against specific enemy types.

All UNSC And Forerunner Weapons

M6D Magnum Pistol

Heavy-hitting semi-automatic pistol with a 2x optical scope for ranged fire, this weapon can dependably one-shot headshot kill unshielded enemies, with just three shots needed for shielded foes.

Rely on this in encounters with Hunters, as you sidestep their rush attack in an effort to blast them in their lower back weak spot.

Aim for the gap in Jackal shields to stagger them, rather than worthlessly expending your ammo directly at it.

MA5B Assault Rifle

This fully automatic rifle has the ammo counter right on it, and a compass as well. The shortened 36-round magazine can be modified with the Magnified Skull for a larger 60-round magazine.

M90 Shotgun

A pump-action, semi-automatic shotgun for all close up occasions, but especially devastating for Flood encounters, as well as charging Brutes. An excellent weapon for claustrophobic corridors aboard downed ships, and underground passages.

S2 AM Sniper Rifle

Long range semi-automatic rifle good for downing vehicles and aliens alike. Two levels of zoom at 4x and 10x make for excellent one-shot headshot opportunities.

M41 Rocket Launcher

An even better anti-materiel weapon, this 2x scoped, dual round launcher can send high-explosive homing rockets at targets and deal splash damage to mobs.

BR55 Battle Rifle

A burst-fire rifle for close to mid-range targeting using its 2x scope. Makes for good shield breaking, with a quick followup to headshots for the kill.

M7 Submachine Gun

Fully automatic 60-round crowd suppression weapon, especially effective against Flood rush mobs in close combat, if you can maintain control of your fire.

Z-130 Sentinel Beam

An energy cannon with an overheat mechanic that must be managed if you hope to use it effectively against Flood forms charging you. 

M9 HE Frag Grenade

Bog standard pineapple grenade that can be timed with its short fuse and bounced into position if needed.

All Enemy And Brute Weapons

Type-25 Plasma Pistol

The semi-automatic alien counterpart to the M6D Magnum may not pack as much of a punch, but makes up for it with an interesting alternate fire: charging the round by holding the trigger launches a bolt of plasma that actively tracks the target, and completely depletes the shields of both Jackals and Elites on impact.

Vehicles are temporarily disabled by the EMP effect, which is especially devastating to flying enemies if timed correctly.

Rapid firing the normal semi-automatic mode can also overload shields, but is prone to overheating if not managed properly.

Type-25 Plasma Rifle

Fully automatic plasma bolt firing rifle great for dropping shields, but it really has to be pulse fired if you want to avoid overheating it and sitting passively as it cools down again.

Type-33 Needler

A fully automatic weapon with the ammo clearly visible, the fired rounds home in on targets and embed themselves in them. With enough shards in a single enemy, you can trigger a significant explosion with a very effective splash damage radius.

Type-51 Needle Rifle

Fire non-homing needles at medium-long range with this automatic rifle, but trigger the same kind of explosion while landing fewer shots.

Type-33 Fuel Rod Cannon

The Hunter weapon of choice, this enemy counterpart to the M41 Rocket Launcher has a higher velocity, but does less damage.

Type-50 Beam Rifle

This sniper rifle is semi-automatic and fires high-velocity plasma beams off of a battery, with heat management being a factor when firing rounds in quick succession.

Type-1 Energy Sword

A lock-on melee weapon that is effectively a one-shot lunge kill on infantry, though it can simply be slashed with as well.

Type-25 Brute Plasma Rifle

The Brute variant of the Type-25 Plasma Rifle fires at a faster rate, does more damage, and overheats quicker to balance things out.

Type-25 Spiker

The Brute exclusive fully automatic weapon is akin to the M90 Shotgun, devastating to unshielded victims, and has melee capability with the attached bayonets.

Type-1 Plasma Grenade

This sticky grenade will attach to any enemy or vehicle and deliver massive plasma damage in a fairly large blast radius. Stick it to a Grunt and let it escape back to its Elite commander for best results. Launch a vehicle into space by tossing multiple grenades at it.

Those are all of the weapons to be found in the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake, and any alternate fire modes available.

In terms of concurrent players, it peaked at 25,376 roughly ten hours after launch. While that’s a massive drop compared to 2021’s Halo Infinite and its lifetime peak of 272,586, the latter offers free-to-play multiplayer. Then again, it is also nowhere near the 161,024 peak of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which launched in December 2019 for Steam.

And while the rating slowly crawled up to “Mostly Positive” during advanced access, it’s dropped back down to “Mixed” with 68 percent of the current 6,119 user reviews giving the thumbs-up. When viewed against the backdrop of other Xbox Game Studios titles, Campaign Evolved is the 17th biggest launch on Steam. It’s just a bit ahead of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (24,863) and a long way from Forza Horizon 6 (302,645), currently the publisher’s biggest launch ever on the platform.

Mileage may vary on the PC version, but we found the remake to be quite enjoyable on PS5. Check out our review, where we scored it 9 out of 10, and our performance analysis, in which the PS5 Pro version proved surprisingly competitive against PC.

Of course, the question remains: Which platform is the best, and if you’re not playing on PC, what’s the console of choice? The answers may or may not surprise you. Without further ado, let’s outline exactly what you can expect, starting with…

A Surprisingly Strong Console Showing

Regardless of your console, be it Xbox Series X, PS5 or PS5 Pro, you have two graphics modes to choose from: Quality, which runs at 30 FPS and, obviously, prioritizes resolution and graphical fidelity, and Performance, delivering 60 FPS at the cost of image quality and some dialled-back settings.

Each platform uses dynamic resolution scaling, but in different ways. PS5 and Xbox Series X rely on Unreal Engine 5’s Temporal Super Resolution while PS5 Pro relies on Upgraded PlayStation Super Spectral Resolution.

PC is a whole different conversation. We tested Campaign Evolved on an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, and 32 GB of RAM. Even with the console versions remaining competitive, the PC version ultimately wins out.

PS5 Quality vs Xbox Series X Quality – Almost Identical

As the first Halo title to ever grace PlayStation’s consoles, you have to wonder how the PS5 matches up to Xbox Series X. Surprisingly, very well. When testing Quality mode on both consoles, they delivered similar results in frame rate and image sharpness.

Environmental density, foliage and geometry shine through in the remake, as does global illumination, reflections, shadows, and lighting, with neither console showing a distinct advantage over the other. Textures and material quality look near identical, and both work well enough in hitting that 30 FPS target. But what about when performance is the main benchmark?

PS5 Performance vs Xbox Series X Performance

As noted earlier, Performance Mode on consoles targets 60 FPS. Dynamic resolution scaling is in effect on both platforms, resulting in lower rendering resolution and a softer overall image. The fidelity takes a hit in places, which is most noticeable in the environmental detail and lighting. It may not affect your overall immersion, but it is noticeable.

This may not matter for those who prefer performance over fidelity, especially in a shooter. To that end, both consoles hit 60 frames per second, even if there’s the infrequent dip here and there.

PS5 Pro – The Clear Console Winner

But of course, it’s the PlayStation 5 Pro that pulls ahead in both Quality and Performance Mode, offering better fidelity. PSSR 2 delivers better image reconstruction, which translates to superior visual quality when playing at 60 frames per second. Furthermore, because of the stronger GPU, that performance is far more stable than the base consoles. You won’t find any 120Hz or uncapped framerate modes but kudos to Halo Studios for ensuring the basic modes excel.

PS5 Pro Quality vs PS5 Quality

So you didn’t want to buy a PS5 Pro when it launched for $699, and now it costs $899. Surely it doesn’t make that much difference when compared to the base PS5 in terms of fidelity for Campaign Evolved, right? Well, surprise, surprise, at least on Quality Mode, because they’re actually closer than you might think.

While they differ in their reconstruction methods, and the PS5 Pro edges ahead thanks to a cleaner image overall (especially when it comes to the finer, temporally unstable details), the remake still looks very good on PS5. Both hit 30 FPS pretty consistently, so you really can’t go wrong with either.

PS5 Pro Performance vs PS5 Performance – The Biggest Pro Upgrade

But as we noted before, performance is ultimately what matters for a first-person shooter, especially one that needs to make some visual compromises on base consoles. PS5 players will need to deal with softer image quality and reduced graphics settings for a reasonably solid 60 FPS. A significant sacrifice but still not enough to deliver the absolute best performance among all platforms.

The PS5 Pro suffers none of this, though. Besides hitting the 60 FPS target more consistently and boasting better image quality courtesy of PSSR 2, it also retains some settings from Quality Mode. As a result, the difference in fidelity is incredibly stark, putting it ahead of the PS5. Again, Quality Mode will deliver the best possible visuals – even going as far as competing with the PC version, which we’ll get into later – but as far as the best possible console configuration, the PS5 Pro in Performance Mode easily wins out.

The PC Version – Much More Scalability

If you’re playing Halo: Campaign Evolved on PC, it’s for two reasons: First, mouse and keyboard- no further details needed. But second is the scalability and amount of control over different settings. For instance, you can tweak the geometric quality, global illumination, reflections, lighting quality, and more, which the console versions don’t allow.

Is this the most extensive range of graphical options in a PC release? Not even close, but it’s far from nothing, and the results are pretty stunning at 4K with all settings maxed and DLSS set to Medium.

PC Performance

How does all this fare during actual gameplay, though? With so much detail on-screen, and how hectic things can get during a typical Halo mission – grenades flying, Grunts exploding, vehicles overhead – you would think Campaign Evolved would buckle under the weight of its technical ambition. But thankfully, that’s not the case. It manages to stay around 60 FPS while more demanding sections drop into the mid-50s.

Your mileage may vary, of course, but though we didn’t test it first-hand, dropping the resolution to 1440p would likely help, given the abundance of GPU headroom.

PC vs PS5 Pro Quality – The Real Graphics Comparison

So with these parameters established, how does the PC version with maximum settings fare against the PS5 Pro on Quality Mode? Surprisingly, the latter’s fidelity is strikingly close to what the higher PC settings offer, making it roughly akin to playing on High to Ultra preset. Considering this is Halo Studios’ first release on PS5 Pro, it’s pretty impressive.

Now, that said, the PC version is superior overall because its individual effects manage to go further than the PS5 Pro, resulting in noticeably higher fidelity.

PC vs PS5 Pro Performance – Bigger Difference

Performance Mode on PS5 Pro makes the differences with the PC version all the more stark. Even with some Quality Mode settings carrying over, and PSSR 2 delivering well, its overall fidelity ranks lower. Even if the PC version is relying on DLSS, it has the benefit of reconstructing images at the maximum graphical settings into 4K. However, just because PS5 Pro’s Performance Mode pales in comparison to PC doesn’t mean that the actual performance is a let-down.

Where the Consoles Beat Our PC Configuration – Consistency

Because even with more fidelity, the PC version ultimately falls behind when it comes to consistency. While our configuration averages around 60 FPS mostly and drops to mid-50 FPS where justified, the PS5 Pro delivers better stability, more consistently targeting 60 FPS throughout. It’s a slight trade-off for those incredible visuals, and even if the consistency is by no means awful – hitting 60 FPS more often than not is still worth praising – this does show just how well the console versions, especially PS5 Pro, have been optimized.

Pre-Rendered Cutscenes – The Disappointing Part

On a side note, perhaps the most disappointing thing about Halo: Campaign Evolved is that all the pre-rendered cinematics are in 30 FPS. That’s the case across all platforms, and while not sticking out as much if you’re playing on Quality Mode, it’s painfully obvious when playing at 60 FPS, especially when going to 30 FPS and then back to 60. The fact that the PC version suffers the same even with more powerful hardware is also a shame.

Final Verdict

Once again, to no one’s surprise, the PC version wins out when it comes to fidelity, thanks to its wider range of customization and optimization. Still, the PS5 Pro is a close second, followed by the PS5 and Xbox Series X pretty much neck and neck. And while the overall winner is still the PC version, the PS5 Pro wins out among consoles for its balance of quality and performance. The Xbox Series X comes in second, only slightly ahead of the PS5 due to a more stable frame rate on Performance Mode.

Regardless, the fact that Halo Studios can deliver such strong results across the board, bringing the PS5 version so close to PC in terms of quality while also ensuring that the base consoles don’t fall too far behind. If those rumored Halo 2 and 3 remakes end up happening, then this may be the start of something special for Halo on Unreal Engine 5.

Of course, even if fans expected it, the higher-ups at Xbox apparently didn’t. Sources speaking to Windows Central’s Jez Corden claim that the reboot has gone “uncomfortably” beyond budget. Further details, including the actual budget, remain unknown, but given that Xbox is in reset mode and desperately trying to improve its accountability margin, this probably isn’t the best news.

That said, the purported high budget may also be due to Fable’s long development cycle. Lead engineer Tom Golton said he had worked on the game for four years…in 2021. If it launches early next year, that would mean the open-world action RPG has been in the works for over eight years. Not necessarily its current iteration either, which is seemingly the result of the team adjusting its scope.

Which probably explains why Xbox wants to keep it multiplatform rather than a console exclusive like Gears of War: E-Day (also reportedly touting a massive budget) and Clockwork Revolution. Of course, that also puts more pressure on the reboot to exceed expectations.

We’ll find out how it fares when Fable arrives on February 23rd, 2027, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out the latest gameplay here.

As far as the graphics are concerned, Campaign Evolved is certainly the clear winner, but it isn’t just because it brings Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals to a rebuilt world. The question is whether it manages to make those changes mean something to a game that has held an almost reverential spot in modern gaming, and add value to every frame of the reworked experience.

Well, we’re happy to tell you that there’s good news, and a lot of it. Here are a bunch of ways Campaign Evolved sets itself apart from 2001’s Combat Evolved, and the 2011 Combat Evolved Anniversary release. There’s 25 years of evolution over the three titles, and it’s a lovely showcase of how far games have come as an entertainment medium, so strap in.

1. The Art Direction

It’s been a minute, but we remember how Combat Evolved featured clean environments, simple shapes, and vibrant colors that helped light up the sparse scenery on offer. All of those served it well, making for an extremely readable image that the hardware on offer at the time could work with. Anniversary took that up a notch, with denser detailing, more visual flourishes, improved complexity of surfaces, and a presentation that felt brighter overall.

Well, Campaign Evolved has given a layer of modern realism to the experience, largely managing to capture the original experience with greater environmental density and modern, sophisticated materials and lighting systems. The image is as readable as it’s ever been, though, and this one feels like the final form of an art style that’s managed to stay unique and true to itself over the years.

2. Environmental Geometry

You’re probably not going to be surprised that Combat Evolved’s physical construction of environments is quite basic in comparison to its subsequent editions. Cliffs, rocks, interior spaces, hills, tunnels, and pathways were certainly serviceable, and were certainly immersive back in the day. But when you think about how Anniversary did so well to dress them up even better, you’re going to be all the more appreciative of what Campaign Evolved is offering.

Natural shapes and environmental complexity are now on par with modern standards, making for environments that look so darn real, you’d be forgiven for thinking they actually exist. It’s in how seamlessly individual elements of a scene meld together and interact with each other so naturally that it really sells the experience in this area, and it’s clear that Campaign is certainly the definitive way to play the classic title.

3. Lighting

Once again, there’s no surprise that Campaign Evolved brings hardware ray-traced Lumen global illumination alongside MegaLights, producing one of its most immediately noticeable generational upgrades. Rays of sunlight now stream across surfaces, gently bouncing off of some while creating realistic reflections on others. That all this happens irrespective of whether you’re exploring or taking on Covenant forces in intense, all-out firefights is a hallmark of current-gen hardware at this point.

We’re especially happy with how dark areas handle light, and how transitions between exterior and interior areas don’t disrupt things too much to be distracting. It’s been a boon in battles that necessitate such transitions, to be sure.

4. Shadows

If we were to compare Combat and Campaign side by side, it’s clear that the former’s approach to shadows was limited to what the hardware the game was meant to run on was capable of. The original game’s shadow rendering was naturally much simpler, with far less definition, range, and interaction with environmental lighting than what modern rendering techniques allow. The shadows weren’t convincing (by modern standards, at least).

Well, that’s a thing of the past as objects are considerably more grounded within the environment, and thus respond to its various parameters, light included, more organically and definitely more convincingly this time around.

Anniversary substantially improved shadow definition and environmental shading, but Campaign Evolved goes much further with dynamic lighting and substantially more nuanced contact and indirect shadowing.

5. Texture Quality

While we’re on the subject of objects responding naturally to environmental stimuli, the textures on offer deserve a special mention. The terrain, floor, walls, weapon and vehicle surfaces, uniforms, and props in Campaign Evolved are definitely housing some excellent textures. It isn’t just about improved resolutions, but how those improvements are used to convey natural wear and tear, scratches and other damage, dirt, and other material variations that help sell the history, wear, and physical construction of objects throughout the environment.

The original release and Anniversary did well for their respective time periods, but Campaign is where the evolution is at, and displayed with pride.

6. Materials

Another crucial differentiator between the three games we’re looking at in this one is how they represent different materials, and Campaign handles that part so well that it gains yet another distinct advantage over Combat and Anniversary. While both early releases did manage to distinguish different surfaces like metal, glass, sand, stone, snow, ice, water, fabrics, and painted surfaces well enough, Campaign has almost lovingly handcrafted each of those surfaces to respond so well to the new lighting and textures that they feel almost alive.

As far as being able to visually distinguish between different materials on surfaces is concerned, Campaign takes the original release in a very immersive new direction.

7. Vegetation and Environmental Density

When you’re outdoors, you begin to see how Campaign has been careful about balancing the original experience in Combat with additions that make every scene it presents feel reminiscent of the original, but far denser and naturalistic. Combat used open spaces quite intentionally, allowing them to be staging grounds for battles more than anything else. Anniversary did a lot to add in environmental dressing, making things more believable.

But Campaign has made things real, and it’s evident in every blade of grass, the clutter on the ground, in bushes, plants, trees, fallen branches, and small objects whose presences don’t interrupt the action, but serve to make the battlefield a living, breathing part of it all.

8. Draw Distance and Background Detail

When we look back at both Combat and Anniversary, we think about how we’ve come to take the level of detail in a game’s world for granted. Looking into the distance in both those titles was definitely great at the times of their respective releases, but doing the same thing for distant mountains, trees, or structures in Campaign just hits different.

With tangible foliage, environmental objects, terrain detail, and fogging for as far as your in-game eye can see working overtime to give it a layer of realism, the remake communicates a sense of scale far better than its predecessors have managed to, and it is visually better off for it.

9. Skyboxes and the Halo Ring

Of course, the land isn’t the only stunning part of a Halo title, and it’s time to look to the skies, where the titular Halo resides amongst stars, clouds, distant planets, the sun, mountains, distant horizons, and atmospheric effects that serve to make every look one that invokes a sense of wonder. Combat Evolved has a sky that felt almost surreal because of how clean it was, and Anniversary did well to make it look richer.

But Campaign Evolved’s systems make the entire skyline look and feel so active, and yet so subtly believable that you don’t really think it intrudes on what’s in front of you but is always bewitching to see when you do look at it. It’s definitely among the highlights of our visual examination of the game. The Halo Ring is a stunner, and is absolutely mesmerizing in this one.

10. Fog, Volumetrics, and Atmospherics

This is an area where Campaign Evolved just steals the show away from the previous iterations of weather-based effects and atmospherics in scenes. With an enhanced weather system taking over from the ancient one in previous editions, you’re going to see fog, mist, snow, rain, haze, and the particles that come with each effect in immense detail.

It automatically makes the presentation feel so realistic, with a lot of atmospheric depth and volumetric light helping bring life to each scene in ways that the previous releases were simply not equipped to handle back in the day.

11. Water

Just land on a beach, and the chances are that Campaign’s water effects are going to have you stopping to watch the waves gently caress a shoreline before receding back into the ocean so naturally, they lend a serene beauty to beaches. Rays of light dance along the water’s surface, while the shorelines throw up foam effects in tandem with the rhythm of waves. Looking through and into the water also produces substantially more convincing distortion and surface interaction without compromising readability.

Campaign’s water systems are a great showcase of how it evolves the original experience on the visual front.

12. Master Chief Himself

As a sort of mascot for an entire console’s life, and a debutant in another one’s play at mass appeal, Master Chief is no stranger to being the front face of a successful franchise. He already cut an imposing figure in Combat and Anniversary, but the level of detail in his character model in Campaign could have us rambling on for hours about how deliciously detailed it is.

The armor geometry is exquisite, while his helmet reflects light gently off its visor and rounded surfaces. The materials on his armor and undersuit are tangibly different, while wear and tear effects like scratches and weathering, along with proportions, are all cooked to perfection. It’s clear that the frontman spent a lot of time looking the part in this one.

13. Human Characters and Facial Details

Like Master Chief, the rest of the game’s cast is noticeably better-looking this time around; we’d say that Cortana is the best representation of how much those makeovers matter. While Captain Keyes, Sergeant Johnson, and the Marines are all decidedly more detailed with better facial geometry, expressions, lip syncing, and lighting, the representation of an AI that’s been a franchise mainstay is definitely something that truly shines.

Her expressions are now better geared towards conveying her dialogue, while the added detail in her face, eyes, and hair creates an interesting contrast with the unmistakably holographic nature of her appearance, but a welcome one thanks to her central role in the story. We can’t get enough of how her glowing aura is now resplendent thanks to the new lighting, and the way environments react to her presence, factors that work very well with her new character model.

14. Weapons and Vehicles

We’re not going to get into the gameplay part of the weapons and newly drivable vehicles in this one, but you should know that they come with excellent levels of model detail, and come with excellent levels of model detail, including weathering, scratches, dents, and other surface imperfections. They interact with different surfaces quite accurately, while their interior details are top-notch.

The same goes for Campaign’s weapons, with recurring ones like the Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and Rocket Launcher looking decidedly more ominous while also coming with tangible indicators of the duress you put them through as you play the game. Campaign definitely takes things up a notch over Combat and Anniversary in this area.

15. Explosions, Smoke, and Particle Effects

Naturally, this is an area where things were quite basic in Combat, while the spectacle was substantially beefed up in Anniversary. But of course, Campaign is the biggest leap in terms of how the absolute chaos of its battlefield is brought to life.

Explosions ring out with substance, lighting up the battlefield with their glow even as smoldering particles pepper the air around you. Dust, sparks, and debris rise and swirl with the impact, while fires break out and nearby vehicles take a beating right in front of you. It’s the current generation of gaming hardware working its magic on an experience that’s familiar to make it feel so fresh, it’s a new direction altogether.

And that’s essentially what Campaign Evolved does to a title that’s been redone before. It might be the most technologically advanced of the three versions, but that isn’t what makes it special. That’s reserved for the way it uses modern technology to make its visual detailing feel distinct, and in line with the experience that the original Combat Evolved was meant to be. It’s used what made it so memorable to create a new take on the classic that is surely a generational leap worth diving into.

The answer is a resounding yes, and that goes beyond simply letting our excitement for what’s new blend with the nostalgia of what already feels familiar. The original Halo was always a legendary title, and it continues to retain that quality in its latest iteration aside from a few quirks. Master Chief returns to one of his earliest chapters, bringing with him many of the mechanics and refinements introduced in later games, along with a few entirely new additions. A flamboyant movement system has been added which works well with returning strengths such as solid grenade physics, shield management, melee attacks, and a rather infectious combat rhythm that continues to be quite catchy despite its familiarity and age.

"Master Chief returns to one of his earliest chapters, bringing with him many of the mechanics and refinements introduced in later games, along with a few entirely new additions."

The movement’s probably the best starting point to outline everything that works in this excellent remake, and sprinting is a feature that stands out instantly. It’s the first indicator that had me thinking about how much of the gameplay loop from the original had been switched up to accommodate it. The original version’s maps didn’t support swift traversal mechanics, but the faster encounter pacing now makes an aggressive approach feel like a viable strategy, and I soon found myself weaving in melee attacks to sustain forward momentum.

It’s great, then, that none of the locations I was tearing apart felt too small to adversely affect my obsession with carving the quickest possible path through them, my foes be damned. Sprinting feels so naturally woven into the original game’s design in Campaign Evolved, and simply makes traversal feel better paced by its presence. The early level structure remains quite familiar, but some of the later ones have some genuine surprises in store for you, with revamped enemy encounters and expanded traversal routes to make them exciting.

Of course, it also helps that vehicular movement improvements blend more seamlessly into the gameplay loop. The Warthog handles considerably better this time around, and vehicle controls in general feel more responsive than they ever have in previous iterations of the game. The classic ragdoll physics are still here too, and they’re so ingrained in Halo’s identity at this point that I probably would have noticed immediately had they been missing. Of course, I’d been looking forward to the newly player-controllable vehicles ever since they were revealed, and finally taking control of a Wraith proved exactly why.

Its heavy armor and devastating firepower make you feel like an overwhelming presence on the battlefield, but with enemies constantly trying to reclaim their vehicle, you still have to stay mobile and be smart about when and where you use its cannons. There’s no denying the power trip, though, and hijacking enemy vehicles quickly became another part of the gameplay loop that I found myself looking forward to whenever the opportunity arose.

Between exploring different places on foot and in vehicles, you can bet that I got into quite a few scraps along the way, and one of the things that stood out was the enemy AI. It remains as impressive as it was back in the day, with enemies coming at you with excellent coordination. They flank you the moment an opportunity presents itself, and retreat if things aren’t going their way. That’s especially true of the Elites, whose shields already make them a pain to deal with.

"The new prequel bonus missions set roughly a year before the main campaign do deserve a bit of discussion, with Chief and Sergeant Johnson teaming up to investigate something that leads into the campaign; they feel like well-crafted stories that are fleshed out, instead of tacky add-ons or low-effort DLCs."

Enemies dodge your grenades, try to commandeer your vehicles, and use their wits instead of merely relying on superior numbers or larger health bars. That makes them a potent catalyst that brings out the most chaotic outcomes that stem from your efforts to deal with them en masse. A single grenade explosion is a great source of some seriously amusing ragdoll physics if you can manage to get one to go off in the middle of a large group. Trust us.

We’re not getting into story spoilers in case this is going to be your first time with this one, but the new prequel bonus missions set roughly a year before the main campaign do deserve a bit of discussion. With Chief and Sergeant Johnson teaming up to investigate something that leads into the campaign, they feel like well-crafted stories that are fleshed out, instead of tacky add-ons or low-effort DLCs. They bring context, some excellent banter between Chief and Johnson, and feel like classic Halo. There’s nothing more I could have expected of them, and that makes me very happy indeed.

Of course, cooperative campaign is now on board, and it’s more than just dumping a four-member squad into the old 2001 maps, but has been subtly redone with corridors, pathways, and room sizes getting alterations that avoid bottlenecks, making them great to guide a four-player Fireteam through. It all retains the atmosphere of the original game, and with enemies putting up quite a good fight, things were a lot of fun. The crossplay support is seamless, but you’re going to need a Microsoft account to facilitate it. It is what it is, I’m afraid.

Campaign Remix is another addition that I found quite interesting thanks to how it undermines your familiarity with the original campaign. You could, for instance, completely change weapon placements and enemy positions via the Adaptation and Reload options, negating the knowledge you’ve carried over the years, or the muscle memory you cultivated as you acquired it. With randomized weapons and enemies, you’re forced to switch tactics in places you might have otherwise sailed through, and it’s a superb way to make you stay on your toes.

Armistice is another fascinating option, as it removes all conflict between enemy factions, and that immediately changes something that I realized I relied on far too much in the original game: taking advantage of enemies fighting each other. It was such a natural advantage that felt like free damage to me, and I never questioned what things could be in its absence until now. They’re pretty darn chaotic and challenging to boot, and a passive approach isn’t really an option when every hostile you see is now trying to make a meal out of you.

The resulting campaign is one where you’re going to need adaptability, often going against your own trained instincts in familiar places if you’re a returning veteran. It also helps make the same mission feel different on subsequent playthroughs, which adds a lot of replay value in tandem with the expanded role that Skulls now throw into the mix. For those who are unaware, they’re a returning feature with a different implementation. They’re now tucked away in obscure corners of maps, and finding one permanently unlocks a gameplay modifier that you toggle on or off before hopping into a mission.

"It feels strange but weirdly good to say it: I played Halo: Campaign Evolved on a PlayStation 5 Pro."

They’re a curious bunch, with ones like Perspective giving you a third-person view, Speed Limit that turns off sprinting for those of you who like a more methodical approach, and of course, the Floor is Lava, which is exclusive to Campaign Evolved and does exactly what it says on the cover. They’re really fun to find and mess around with, and bring further variations into a gameplay loop and campaign that could otherwise become repetitive after some time with it.

It feels strange but weirdly good to say it: I played Halo: Campaign Evolved on a PlayStation 5 Pro. We will be diving into the graphical improvements it brings over the other two console versions in detail in another of our articles, but the results from my time with it are very positive. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with the new lighting and textures bringing familiar scenes to life in ways that were not possible when those scenes were originally written and crafted.

The environmental density, architecture, materials, character models, facial animations, atmospheric effects, and the readability of every scene on display were top-notch, making this one a very visually pleasing addition to a potent lineup this year. The game’s mysterious aesthetic has largely managed to remain intact in the light of its shift to Unreal Engine 5, while all-new animations and updated cinematics work well with the remastered soundtrack and rebuilt sound design. It all comes together to sustain the spectacle of the original while modernising it to make it a superb visual direction for the future.

I can see some of you preferring the original version’s look and feel, but as a remake that aims to usher in a new era for the franchise, Campaign Evolved is exactly where it needs to be on the visual front, making the most of current-gen hardware to make Halo look and feel as good as anything I’ve seen recently. However, on the PS5 Pro, I just couldn’t bring myself to play in Quality mode, which locks the game to 30fps. For a first-person shooter, that simply didn’t feel responsive enough, and I found myself switching to Performance mode almost immediately.

And it is what I would recommend, although I did see a few instances of frame drops during intense scenes such as ones involving explosions. They were an oddity rather than a regular occurrence, though, and the frame rates were fine for the most part. All in all, Halo’s PlayStation debut makes good use of what the console has to offer, and the PS5’s SSD made the load times go by in the blink of an eye.

Coming to the combat, Bungie’s excellent balancing of weapons in the original version has translated well into the remaster’s combat system. The Assault Rifle’s as good as it’s ever been, and I quickly picked up a Sniper Rifle that’s now even more useful thanks to improved draw distance and visual details in the places I used it in. No matter the weapon I had in hand, returning or new ones, they were all great to use and felt suitably weighty in my controller as I let off shot after shot at enemies that were quite vicious in their effort to end my campaign. But with weapons that felt this good to use, denying enemies the chance to gain the upper hand became an enjoyable part of the experience in itself, as I used every tool in my arsenal to stay one step ahead of even the most cunning foes. Of course, the Legendary Difficulty was quick to humble me, with difficulty spikes that were reminiscent of the original game.

"The lack of competitive PvP is a bummer, and immediately sets the remake apart from the original. Campaign Evolved cannot replace it on that front, but does it really need to? "

Every enemy gets a bump to their tactical thinking, their health, and damage resistance, making them quite a challenge. It’s probably worth noting that health packs are gone, and you’re now left with a single bar of health that recharges on its own over time. It makes for a more involved combat loop where you’re actively trying to maximize your effectiveness in the field before you’re forced to fall back. It’s sort of a contest for the momentum of a fight, and if you have your enemies doing the same, you know you have the advantage.

Of course, the lack of competitive PvP is a bummer, and immediately sets the remake apart from the original. Campaign Evolved cannot replace it on that front, but does it really need to? I believe both games have their own spaces, and the remake’s longevity isn’t going to be a factor as long as Skulls and Campaign Remix are a part of it. Plus, the $49.99 USD price tag works in its favor, placing it comfortably below the cost of a full-priced release and helping set more reasonable expectations for what’s on offer.

The lack of PvP and those minor performance issues do not take away from the fact that Halo: Campaign Evolved is one hell of a remake, and a very welcome step in the right direction for the franchise and Xbox in general. If the rest of what the brand has planned on the remake front is as good as this one, we say bring it on! It’s been a joy to see Master Chief in action, and a very interesting time watching him go to work on a PlayStation.

It’s definitely been worth it, and Halo fans should find plenty of reasons to jump back into the fray, regardless of which console they’re playing on.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Note: Varun Karunakar contributed to this review.

It seems we underestimated the power that Halo commands even today, and some players are already looking to the future after blazing a path to victory against the game’s Legendary difficulty. They’ve discovered an alternate ending cutscene in which Sergeant Johnson says “see you in the sequel.”

If you’ve been paying attention to rumors as of late, you’ll know that remakes of Halo 2 and 3 are reportedly in the works (and apparently dependent on Campaign Evolved’s success). Regardless, it would make sense to remake the original trilogy, especially after the strongly positive reception that the first has received.

Whether such remakes are going to continue the new cross-platform strategy, and perhaps consider adding in competitive PvP, is a question for later. But for now, Campaign Evolved’s more than enough to keep you enthusiasts and newcomers occupied for a good while yet. Stay tuned for more updates en route to the Standard Edition’s launch on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Getting to dive into the action five days before the official release date has probably been a factor behind many of us picking up the Premium Edition, or perhaps upgrading on Game Pass. Unfortunately, it seems the former are being locked out of joining in on the fun, per reports by Insider Gaming.

Multiple users booting up the game have been told to wait for the official release date, leaving a lot of potential warriors frustrated at being locked away from tearing through Covenant hordes. It’s especially egregious considering that the upgrade isn’t cheap. Forking out an additional $20 on it only to be denied entry is an oversight that the developers are going to want to address satisfactorily.

Halo Support is looking into the issue and recommends quitting Steam completely, closing the launcher, and trying again if you’re on Steam. For Xbox and PlayStation, we recommend sitting tight while a fix is being looked into.

As for Standard Edition owners, Halo: Campaign Evolved is out on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Developed on Unreal Engine 5 while maintaining the original’s codebase, Campaign Evolved sees Master Chief awakened to combat the Covenant. The latter are on a mission to activate Alpha Halo, which could effectively wipe out humanity and the rest of the universe. Cue Chief fighting through Elites, Grunts and other forces to stop them.

Beyond the incredible visuals, however, is the array of gameplay improvements. You can now sprint by default and equip weapons from other games in the series like the Plasma Sword. Split-screen co-op is also available for two players, but you can team up with four through online play. Campaign Evolved has made various subtle level changes to accommodate the increased player count and introduces 42 Skulls to radically alter the gameplay.

This includes a third-person perspective, which changes how you’ll see the world of Halo. If you’re keen on a more challenge-focused run, LASO returns and features a curated selection of Skulls for a tougher experience. Alternatively, there’s Campaign Remix, which changes up the base game (and the three new Prologue missions) in unique ways.

For more details, check out our feature on Halo: Campaign Evolved, and stay tuned for its worldwide launch on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.