Halo: Campaign Evolved Might Be the Game That Saves the Franchise
We recently went hands-on with the most updated version of the Halo: Campaign Evolved demo, and it’s left me feeling hopeful for the future of the series.
Without question, 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the most important games in video game history, having redefined what a first-person shooter should look and play like on a console when it was first released as a launch title for the original Xbox.
However, in recent years, perhaps following the 343 Industries (now known as Halo Studios) developmental takeover from Bungie, the Halo series hasn't quite been hitting the same heights as it once had. At least since 2015’s Halo 5: Guardians. But maybe, just maybe, the Unreal Engine 5 remake of the 2001 game, Halo: Campaign Evolved, which releases during the series 25th anniversary, might just help get Master Chief and friends back on track.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Left Me Wanting More
During the limited-time demo, I had two missions available: ‘Assault on the Control Room' and ‘The Silent Cartographer’. Sadly, the three new missions exclusive to this remake were not accessible. This demo is an updated version of the one GAMINGbible colleague, Sam, played in December 2025.
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The objective of the two interconnected missions is simple: Master Chief, along with fellow UNSC forces, lands on a beach on a Covenant-controlled island. They must enter a Forerunner structure and discover the location of the Halo control centre.
Everything from the iconic Halo music on the menu, the epic soundtrack for the beach landing, and the charismatic voice of the Master Chief was enough to give me goosebumps from the get-go. But more importantly, how does this demo of Halo: Campaign Evolved play and look?
The Unreal Engine 5 visuals are a sight to behold. The textures have been greatly improved, the lighting, thanks to ray–tracing, improved animations, all in a glorious 4K resolution. The remastered soundtrack also gives combat that added umph, not to mention the newly recorded voice lines sounding extra crisp.
When playing with the optional updated controls, this still very much felt like a Halo game in every sense. So if you were concerned that the remake might lose some of its charm, think again. This looks and plays as if Halo: Combat Evolved was a brand new game released in 2026. So, kudos to the developers in that respect.
By default, I used the modern controls that are more in line with recent Halo releases, but if you wanted to play the old-school control scheme, there are options to do that. When it comes to the action itself, it hasn't felt this satisfying to shoot the crap out of the Covenant for a long time, at least during the 343 Industries/Halo Studios reign.
The combat is fast and intense, and if you’re not careful, you can die very easily, even on the normal difficulty setting. The difficulty of the original game is a big factor as to why progression in its campaign felt so satisfying, and I’m glad to report that remains the same in the remake.
Cortana Looks a Little off in the Remake
And no, I’m not talking about evil Cortana in Halo 5: Guardians. Through the years, Cortana, one of the most popular supporting characters in video game history, has gone through some transformations. Most of which make perfect sense as the Halo franchise evolved with each new console generation.
From Halo: Combat Evolved (as well as its 2011 remaster) to Halo 5: Guardians, while her appearance has subtly changed, you’re still very aware that this is Cortana. In Halo Infinite, she probably had her most drastic transformation, but in my opinion, that made sense. Halo Infinite’s version of Cortana sounds the same as the original (voiced by Jen Taylor), but it’s not the same Cortana, and to signify this, she has a different personality and outfit.
However, in Halo: Campaign Evolved, Cortana still sounds the same; after all, the iconic voice of Jen Taylor returns. Even her outfit is somewhat faithful to the original version with some adjustments. You still know this is Cortana, but then I noticed her face.
If you change this Cortana’s voice, outfit and give her a human skin colour, this version would not look like Cortana. Perhaps unlike if you did this with the original versions. From what I’ve seen in the demo, she’s had the biggest adjustment, with the likes of Sgt. Johnson looking the same as much as the Unreal Engine 5 technology would allow.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not anything that is game-breaking, because my two hours spent with the demo were a blast, and I’m even more hyped for its full release. It’s just that when I noticed Cortana’s new facial structure, I couldn't unsee it, and I found it a little strange. If Halo Studios were so adamant on changing her face, I think using the character model from Halo Infinite would have at least offered some continuity.
Halo: Campaign Evolved will be released worldwide on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 28 July 2026, or five days earlier for those who pre-order the Premium or Collector’s Edition.
READ MORE: Halo: Campaign Evolved Pre-Order Guide: Everything Included In Each Version
Topics: Halo, Xbox, PlayStation, PC