Key Takeaways
1. Multiplatform Expansion: Halo: Campaign Evolved will be available on PlayStation 5 in 2026, marking the end of Halo’s exclusivity and expanding its reach to more players.
2. Full Remake with Enhancements: The game is a full remake of Halo: Combat Evolved using Unreal Engine 5, featuring improved visuals, gameplay enhancements, and 4-player cross-platform co-op.
3. Community Excitement: Community director Brian Jarrard expressed enthusiasm for welcoming new players to the Halo franchise, highlighting a new era for the series.
4. Milestone for Xbox: This move aligns with Xbox’s shift towards multiplatform games, which started in early 2024, allowing various Xbox titles to be available on PlayStation.
5. 25th Anniversary Celebration: The release of Halo: Campaign Evolved coincides with the franchise’s 25th anniversary, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for all fans.
During the Community Stage of the Halo World Championship 2025, Halo Studios introduced Halo: Campaign Evolved. Community director Brian Jarrard, wearing a bold PlayStation t-shirt, shared the exciting news that the series is set to expand its multiplatform reach. The highly anticipated Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated for a day-one release on PlayStation 5 in 2026.
A Big Step Forward
At the event, Jarrard expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s a huge deal. It’s a long time coming. We’re just super excited to be able to welcome even more players now into the franchise we love, to fall in love with Halo the same way we all did 24 years ago.” This marks a significant milestone for the franchise.
What’s New in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved from 2001, crafted using Unreal Engine 5. It features 4-player cross-platform co-op, enabling gamers on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation to enjoy improved visuals and gameplay enhancements like smoother controls, better movement mechanics, including sprinting, and an upgraded sound design.
The long-standing exclusivity of Halo has come to an end, marking a pivotal moment in the console wars.
A New Era for Halo
Jarrard added, “As a community guy, I know the Halo community is super excited to welcome in their friends as well. It’s just going to mean more Halo for everyone. It’s really a new era. Halo is on PlayStation going forward, starting with Halo: Campaign Evolved.” This sentiment captures the excitement swirling around the franchise’s new direction.
Echoing this sentiment, Halo Studios Executive Producer Damon Conn referred to the PS5 launch as an “incredible” chance. He emphasized, “What we want is for as many fans and players to be able to play the game as possible. To be on the Xbox Series X and S, PC, Steam, and PlayStation all at one time is a heck of a way to kick off the 25th anniversary.”
The Shift to Multiplatform
The move towards multiplatform games by Xbox began in early 2024. Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s gaming CEO, revealed that “just four games” from its first-party lineup would be available on PlayStation, including Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, and Grounded.
Fast-forward to 2025, and a plethora of Xbox exclusives have made their way to PlayStation, such as Helldivers 2, which has sold more than 19 million copies, Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl, Gears of War: Reloaded as a day-one PS5 title, and Forza Horizon 5. Additionally, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is expected to launch on the rival console on December 8, 2025.
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