Halo: Campaign Evolved — Everything You Need to Know About the July 2026 Release

Halo fans have been waiting for this moment since the original Xbox launched in 2001: Master Chief is finally coming to PlayStation. Halo: Campaign Evolved — a complete Unreal Engine 5 remake of the genre-defining campaign — has gone gold and is set for release in late July 2026. Here is everything confirmed about the launch, pricing, platforms, and new content, sourced directly from official store pages and Microsoft announcements.

Release Dates and 'Going Gold'

The game has reached the "going gold" milestone, meaning the final build is locked and ready for manufacturing and digital distribution . Pre-orders and advance-access countdowns are live on Steam and the Xbox Store .

• Early Access (Premium & Collector's Edition): July 23, 2026, at 8:00 AM PDT (July 24 in Japan and select Asia-Pacific markets ).
• Full Launch (Standard Edition & Game Pass): July 28, 2026, at 8:00 AM PDT (July 29 in Japan and select Asia-Pacific markets ).

Supported Platforms

Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), and Xbox Cloud Gaming . It is the first Halo game in the franchise's 25-year history to release on a Sony console .

Pricing and Editions

Edition	Price	Early Access
Standard Edition	$49.99	No
Premium Edition (Digital)	$69.99	Yes (5 days)
Collector's Edition (Physical)	$199.99	Yes (5 days)

• The Premium Edition includes 5-day early access and the Foundry Armory Pack (legendary Mark V Mjolnir armor skins) .
• The Standard Edition includes the base game only, with no early access .
• A Premium Edition upgrade path is available for Game Pass subscribers at an additional cost (reported as £20 in some regions) .

Game Pass Availability

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a day-one title on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no extra cost, beginning on the full launch date of July 28 . Early access on July 23 requires a paid Premium or Collector's Edition purchase .

Content Features

• Ground-up remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 for modern hardware .
• HD visuals and updated cinematics with refined controls and improved wayfinding .
• Three new prequel missions set one year before the original game (codenamed "Operation METEORITE"), featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Avery Johnson in a new story arc with new environments, characters, and enemies .
• Two-player local split-screen co-op on consoles (Xbox Series X|S and PS5) .
• Up to four-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC .
• Weapons and vehicles from later Halo titles are integrated into the remake .
• No competitive multiplayer at launch — this is a campaign-only experience .

Historical Significance

Halo: Campaign Evolved marks the first time a mainline Halo game has been released on a PlayStation platform, ending a 25-year run of Xbox exclusivity . Microsoft confirmed the PS5 version alongside the Xbox and PC versions at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026 . Observers have described the move as a major shift in Microsoft's console strategy, signaling a platform-agnostic approach that prioritizes reach and Game Pass subscriptions over hardware exclusivity . GameStop even issued a tongue-in-cheek "declaration" marking the end of the console wars, using Halo's arrival on PlayStation as the symbolic end point .