Halo Campaign Evolved: A Retrospective on Combat Evolved's Legacy

Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches July 28, 2026 with Early Access on July 23

Microsoft confirmed today that Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch on July 28, 2026, with early access beginning July 23 for Premium and Collector's Edition owners. The game arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, cloud, and is included with Game Pass. It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing seamless play across console and PC at no extra cost. For the first time, the title launches on Steam and PlayStation 5, marking a significant platform expansion for the franchise.

Halo: Campaign Evolved faithfully remakes the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign while introducing new content that expands the story.

Pre-orders are live now across Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation, with the Collector's Edition available exclusively through HaloWaypoint. The multiple edition strategy — Standard, Premium, and Collector's — mirrors the approach taken with recent Xbox first-party releases, offering flexibility for different audiences. The July 23 early access window gives Premium and Collector's Edition buyers a five-day head start, a tactic that has proven effective for driving pre-order conversions in the industry.

The decision to bring Halo to PlayStation 5 is a significant shift in Microsoft's platform strategy, reflecting a broader trend of cross-platform availability for first-party titles. It also positions Halo: Campaign Evolved to reach the largest possible audience, a move that aligns with the upcoming Xbox Series X25 and Microsoft's push toward ecosystem agnosticism.

Operation: METEORITE Adds a Three-Mission Story Arc Featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson

Today's New Missions Trailer, debuted at the Xbox Games Showcase, provided the first look at Operation: METEORITE — a three-mission story arc included with every edition of the game. The arc takes place one year before the events of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, sending Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson behind enemy lines aboard a Covenant research vessel. What begins as a simple smash-and-grab mission escalates as the duo encounters unexpected threats.

This narrative addition extends the campaign beyond a faithful remake, offering new locations, enemy variants, and weapons from across the Halo series. The developers have emphasized that Operation: METEORITE is designed to feel seamless within the original campaign's structure, leveraging the same sandbox philosophy that made the first game enduring. For long-time fans, it's a chance to revisit the iconic partnership of Chief and Johnson with modern gameplay mechanics.

"Operation: METEORITE gives players a chance to expand their experience with new locations, new enemy variants, more weapons from across the Halo series, and new ways to play within the Halo sandbox."

The trailer also hinted at new narrative beats that could connect to later Halo titles, though 343 Industries has remained tight-lipped about specifics. What is clear is that this is the most substantial new campaign content added to a Halo remake since the series began remastering its classics. The three-mission structure suggests a focused, high-quality experience rather than a padded expansion.

• Three-mission arc set one year before Halo: Combat Evolved.
• Features Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson in a clandestine UNSC operation.
• Includes new enemy variants and weapons from the wider Halo series.
• Available in all editions at no extra cost.

Pre-Orders for Halo: Campaign Evolved Include Standard, Premium, and Collector's Editions

Pre-orders are now open for Halo: Campaign Evolved across all platforms. The Standard Edition includes the base game and Operation: METEORITE. The Premium Edition adds early access and likely additional digital bonuses, while the Collector's Edition — available exclusively via HaloWaypoint — promises physical collectibles and exclusive in-game content. This tiered approach allows players to choose their level of investment, with early access reserved for higher tiers to incentivize premium purchases.

The Premium Edition's five-day early access window is a proven tactic in the industry, used effectively by games like Elder Scrolls 6 to build momentum ahead of the official launch. For Halo, this strategy could help drive Game Pass subscriptions while also satisfying dedicated fans who want to play as early as possible.

The decision to include Operation: METEORITE in every edition ensures that all players experience the new content, avoiding the fragmentation that often plagues multi-edition releases. It also reflects 343's commitment to delivering value across the board, especially as Halo competes for attention in an increasingly crowded shooter market.

1. Standard Edition: Base game + Operation: METEORITE.
2. Premium Edition: Base game + early access + digital extras.
3. Collector's Edition: Premium content + physical collectibles (HaloWaypoint exclusive).

Key Takeaways

• Release date: July 28, 2026, with early access July 23 for Premium and Collector's Editions.
• Platform expansion: First time on PlayStation 5 alongside Xbox and PC, signaling a new multi-platform strategy for Halo.
• New content: Operation: METEORITE adds a three-mission arc set before the original game, featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson.
• Pre-order options: Three editions — Standard, Premium, Collector's — available now on Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and HaloWaypoint.
• Game Pass inclusion: Included with Game Pass, supporting Xbox Play Anywhere for cross-buy across console and PC.
• Legacy focus: Campaign Evolved remakes the original while adding new narrative depth, appealing to both new players and veterans.