Halo Remake Lets Master Chief Sprint — But It Breaks Some Iconic Tricks
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 by Halo Studios and planned for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
1. Key details
2. Visuals and art
3. Gameplay changes
4. Enemies and physics
5. Accessibility and settings
6. Demo and scope
Key details
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a modern remake of Bungie’s 2001 Xbox shooter. Unlike previous re-releases that used Halo’s proprietary engines, this remake is built in Unreal Engine 5 by Halo Studios. It is a full remake rather than a simple visual remaster, and it’s scheduled for a 2026 launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Visuals and art
The remake updates the original campaign’s visuals with higher fidelity assets, while keeping Halo’s signature sci-fi Brutalist aesthetic. Environments and textures are more detailed, lighting has been modernized, and overall presentation is significantly sharper than the 2001 original and the 2011 remaster.
Additionally, some voice lines were re-recorded for this version. Specifically, key actors Steve Downes (Master Chief) and Jen Taylor (Cortana) provided new audio for the remake.
Gameplay changes
Halo Studios has introduced several gameplay updates that align the campaign with modern shooter conventions. These changes are implemented across the remake and include control and combat adjustments.
Controls
- Left trigger now aims down sights, matching modern shooter layouts.
- Sprinting has been added; players can run using the sprint mechanic.
Health and items
- Traditional health packs from the original have been removed.
- Weapons and some item interactions have been updated for the new engine and systems.
Weapons and vehicles
- The original pistol remains but gameplay balance has been adjusted.
- Players can now hijack vehicles.
- The remake includes an energy sword option, though it was not playable in the demo provided to press.
Enemies and physics
Enemy behavior and physics have been revised in places to account for new player options like sprinting. For example, certain enemy reactions and vulnerabilities were adjusted.
One specific change noted in the demo: pistol shots no longer penetrate certain armored enemies in the same way they did in the original. This affects tactics that relied on older hit behaviors.
Also, some legacy exploits no longer function. The well-known “Warthog jump” exploit that used vehicle explosions to launch players does not work the same way in the remake; grenades in that scenario now result in player death in the demo build.
Accessibility and settings
Halo Studios is including more gameplay modifiers and customization options. The remake will feature more skulls (gameplay modifiers) than previous Halo campaigns, and there are settings to disable sprinting for players who prefer the original pacing.
One skull shown to press reportedly makes vehicles invincible, which is intended to allow physics-based tricks to be reproduced under that modifier.
Demo and scope
Press were shown a hands-on demo covering the first half of the original “The Silent Cartographer” mission, up to the moment where Master Chief kicks a rock off a ledge. The demo was conducted in person by Halo Studios and played on both Normal and Heroic difficulties.
Historically, this is not the first re-release of Combat Evolved. The 2011 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was an earlier remaster. Additionally, the game was ported to Windows PC in 2003 and included in the 2014 Master Chief Collection.
In summary, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full Unreal Engine 5 remake with modernized controls and systems, re-recorded voice lines from original cast members, revised enemy and physics behavior, and expanded gameplay modifiers. It is planned for a 2026 release on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.
