Microsoft brings Halo to PlayStation for first time with Campaign Evolved remake

Microsoft released Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, marking the first official Halo release on a PlayStation console. For a franchise long tied to Xbox, the launch is a notable platform shift as Microsoft continues putting some first-party games on more devices.

The new release is a ground-up remake of the campaign from 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, the game that introduced Master Chief and helped establish the original Xbox. This version is focused on the story campaign rather than a full franchise package: Microsoft and Halo Studios announced no competitive player-versus-player mode at launch.

The game includes up to four-player online co-op, with cross-play and cross-progression across Xbox, PC and PS5. Console players also get two-player local split-screen. Microsoft said the game is available on launch day through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, alongside standalone availability on Steam and the Xbox app for PC.

That PS5 debut carries weight because Halo has been one of Microsoft’s signature game series for nearly 25 years. The original Halo: Combat Evolved launched in 2001 and became one of the defining franchises of the Xbox brand, helping turn the sci-fi shooter into a cornerstone of Microsoft’s gaming identity. Bringing an official Halo release to Sony hardware breaks with that long history.

Microsoft and Halo Studios had telegraphed the move last year. In an Oct. 24, 2025, post on the PlayStation Blog, Brian “ske7ch” Jarrard, community director at Halo Studios, wrote: “Today’s announcement is one I’ll never forget: Halo is coming to PlayStation.” Xbox Wire has framed the new launch even more broadly, calling it “This is Halo for everyone.”

The release also highlights the current shape of the franchise under Halo Studios, the developer formerly known as 343 Industries, which rebranded in 2024. The remake was built in Unreal Engine 5, according to Microsoft, and it adds three new prequel missions collected under the title Operation: METEORITE. Together with the day-and-date launch across PS5, Xbox and PC, those additions position Halo: Campaign Evolved as both a remake of a landmark game and a clear sign of Microsoft’s wider multiplatform strategy.