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As of October 16, 2024, Halo: Campaign Evolved – a modernized version of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign – is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox handheld devices. This marks the first time many PlayStation users can officially step into Master Chief’s armor, and early player reactions are all over the map.
A tale of two reviews
One first-time PS5 player didn’t hold back: “Never played Halo before, never understood the hype behind it. Just finished it on PS5 and I can confirm with no doubts in my soul this game is absolute garbage. It’s a badly designed IKEA floor with bullet sponge enemies that look too goofy for how dramatic the story is.”
Another player gave it a 9/10, praising the visual overhaul: “Runs at a steady 60 fps in Performance mode on PS5 Pro. The Unreal Engine 5 graphics make lighting, explosions, and environmental detail look stunning.” They also appreciated new mechanics like sprinting, faster reloads, aim-down-sights, and vehicle hijacking.
The reviewer noted that three new prequel missions are fun but not essential. They liked two‑player local co‑op and four‑player online co‑op, but pointed out the absence of competitive multiplayer. DualSense support felt “underused,” with only basic vibrations and no adaptive triggers. Their final verdict: “An essential shooter from 2001 properly remade with deep respect for the original game.”
What the remake brings
The campaign retells the classic story of Master Chief crash‑landing on the ringworld Halo, along with AI partner Cortana. The team rebuilt cinematics, revamped controls, and redesigned levels using Unreal Engine 5.
New additions include nine weapons borrowed from later Halo titles (Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle), vehicle hijacking, and an optional sprint mechanic. Competitive multiplayer is absent, but the game supports two‑player split‑screen on consoles and up to four‑player online co‑op with full cross‑play and cross‑progression.
Three new missions
Beyond the base campaign, Halo: Campaign Evolved adds three brand‑new missions featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. These missions introduce fresh environments, new enemy types, and story elements designed to expand the Halo universe. The soundtrack has been remastered, and the cast recorded new dialogue to match the updated scenes.
To boost replay value, the game includes collectible Skulls – optional modifiers that change combat rules – plus additional vehicles and weapons.
Exclusive perspective
The PlayStation release is significant because Halo has historically been an Xbox exclusive. While the remake doesn’t include multiplayer, it does bring the franchise to a wider audience. According to industry analyst Victoria Tran, “This move signals a major shift in Microsoft’s exclusivity strategy. It’s a test balloon – if sales are strong on PlayStation, we may see more Halo titles follow.”
Early sales data isn’t available yet, but forum discussions suggest the remake has generated unusual attention on PlayStation Reddit and Discord servers. Some longtime Xbox fans worry the franchise is losing its identity, while others welcome the new players.
Bottom line
Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers a polished single‑player and co‑op experience – but its lack of multiplayer and polarizing reception among first‑time players shows that even a beloved classic can’t please everyone.
The game costs $39.99 on all platforms. A free trial for the first mission is available on PC and Xbox.
