Halo is looking for a fresh start, and today’s 2025 Halo Project Update livestream could give it just that.
Nearly four years removed from the launch of Halo Infinite, gaming fans from every corner of the industry are looking to today’s Halo World Championship 2025 festivities for a sneak peek at the future of the flagship Xbox franchise. What exactly the developers at Halo Studios (formerly known as 343 Industries) have cooking remains to be seen, but judging by a tease shared late last month, it sounds like the Halo universe could soon head into uncharted territory.
“Like last year we’ll be on the Main Stage to talk about it but this year we’ve also got a ‘deep dive’ panel planned for the Community Stage that you won’t want to miss,” Halo Studios said in a Halo Waypoint post last month.
The Halo World Championship 2024 presentation served as fans’ introduction to Halo in Unreal Engine 5, setting the series up for a new direction. We’ll keep track of everything Microsoft and Halo Studios have to announce at the 2025 Halo Project Update stream here, so be sure to check in when the presentation begins at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET for all of the latest news.
What Is Microsoft’s Mysterious Halo Studios Project Update?
The Halo World Championship 2025 broadcast is running a bit behind, but that isn’t stopping Microsoft from letting it slip that Halo: Campaign Evolved is on the way. An Xbox store page for the game, which is described as “a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign,” appeared online today, just moments after the Halo Project Update stream was set to go live.
“Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls, plus three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson,” its official description says. “A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying ‘Skulls’ – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.”
As revealed in a trailer shown on its store page, Halo: Campaign Evolved has a release window of 2026, with platforms including PC and Xbox Series X | S – and even PlayStation 5.
It’s Really Happening
Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Coming to PS5. Image Courtesy of Microsoft.
That’s right – Halo is coming to PlayStation for the first time in 24 years. It’s an achievement many believed would never come to be, as console manufacturers pushed for exclusive experiences throughout the 2010s. That all changes in 2026, when Halo: Campaign Evolved launches. No specific release date has been shared yet, but there’s plenty to dissect until more is announced.
Although multiplayer is not included in Halo Studios’ Unreal Engine 5 Halo remake, there is new story content. Three missions, specifically, are said to be in development, with the developers promising that players can expect to explore an arc focused on Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. It’s unclear how much Halo: Campaign Evolved will cost or how these new missions have been implemented.
“Join the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson in a brand-new arc set before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, featuring new environments, gameplay, characters, and enemies,” an official description says.
Halo fans aren’t strangers to refreshed versions of classic Bungie experiences, though. The Master Chief Collection remastered Combat Evolved and other Halo games for Xbox and PC many years ago. There’s no word on whether other Halo games, such as 2021’s Halo Infinite or 2010’s beloved Halo: Reach, will also make their way to PlayStation 5 in the future.
What Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?
IGN got to hands-on with Halo: Campaign Evolved to see just how Halo Studios has changed the classic FPS ahead of its 25th anniversary. Our sneak peek included a gameplay demo focused primarily on The Silent Cartographer, an early mission that takes Master Chief to serene beaches that are now polluted with Covenant Grunts and Elites. It’s a familiar scene that’s been recreated with even UNSC troops and the iconic Warthog intact, all for longtime Halo enjoyers and newcomers.
The Halo remake has been reimagined for modern audiences, but it’s not quite the same experience. Tweaks under the hood include vehicles that can be hijacked, with the Wraith now also driveable for the first time in the original Halo. Of course, the main difference between Halo: Campaign Evolved and the Combat Evolved original is the sleek new visuals it introduces thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5. Plus, the the primary cast form the original is back, too.
“Iconic vistas, alien architecture, and sci-fi wonders are reborn with all-new visuals, cinematics, and animations,” an official description says. “The soundtrack has been remastered, the sound design updated for greater immersion, and new voice performances recorded with the primary cast.”
The Halo Project Update Livestream Begins
Following a late start fueled by some tense matches of Halo Infinite, Halo Studios took the main stage at the Halo World Championship 2025 to talk about its not-so-mysterious project update.
The team’s Halo World Championship 2025 debut for the Halo remake includes behind-the-scenes details on the project, including interviews with the developers, where they promise two-player couch co-op on consoles and four-player online co-op. Don’t worry, the Warthog has been updated to account for those larger party sizes.
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Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
