New ‘Halo Campaign Evolved’ Trailer Reveals Official Release Date

‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ now has an official release date. The game is set to launch globally on July 28, 2026, with early access beginning on July 23 for players who purchase the Premium or Collector’s Edition. This announcement was made alongside a new trailer showcased at the Xbox Games Showcase, providing fans with a first look at the new story content added to the remake.

The game will be available on Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox on PC, cloud streaming, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It will also be included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one. The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms, allowing players to continue their progress wherever they choose to play.

According to Halo Studios, this release is more than just a remake of ‘Halo: Combat Evolved.’ While the original campaign is fully included, the new version also introduces a separate story expansion titled Operation: METEORITE. This three-mission arc takes place one year before the events of the original game.

Operation: METEORITE features Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson collaborating on a UNSC mission. The story begins as a covert operation aboard a Covenant research vessel, quickly escalating into a more perilous situation than anticipated. The missions will introduce new enemy types, weapons, and expanded environments that go beyond the original campaign structure.

In the trailer presented during the showcase, players witness UNSC forces engaging Covenant enemies in various locations. The footage also reveals a new enemy type called the Brute Berserker. The trailer concludes with combat scenes that extend into space, hinting at larger-scale battles compared to the original game.

The story expansion was developed with the assistance of science fiction author Troy Denning. Halo Studios has stated that his involvement significantly influenced the tone and military science fiction style of the new content. The aim is to remain faithful to the Halo universe while enriching the narrative with new depth and characters.

Brian Jarrard explained the intent behind the expansion in the official update, stating “Operation: METEORITE gives players a chance to expand their experience with new locations, new enemy variants, more weapons from across the Halo series, and new ways to play within the Halo sandbox.” This new content will be included in every edition of the game.

Pre-orders for ‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ are now available across Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation. Players who pre-order any edition will receive a bonus Foundry Armory Pack, featuring classic-inspired armor and weapon skins based on the original 2001 Halo designs.

The game will launch in three editions. The Standard Edition includes the full game with both the original campaign and the new Operation: METEORITE missions. The Premium Edition offers up to five days of early access, along with bonus cosmetic packs and digital extras such as a story collection and art materials. The Collector’s Edition encompasses all Premium content along with physical items like a Master Chief statue, an LED Cortana chip, a Steelbook case, concept art prints, and a physical game disc for console versions.

The Collector’s Edition is the most expensive version and is available through HaloWaypoint. Digital editions can be found on all major platforms, with varying pricing based on region and platform.

The development team confirmed that the game will launch globally at 8 AM PDT on July 28, 2026. Early access begins at the same time on July 23 for eligible editions, with some regional timing differences for Asia-Pacific markets.

Halo Studios has also confirmed that this release aims to broaden the franchise’s audience. By launching on Xbox, PC, Steam, and PlayStation, the team is striving for full cross-platform support. The inclusion of Game Pass at launch means many players will be able to access the game without additional purchase.

With the addition of Operation: METEORITE and full cross-platform support, ‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’ is positioned as both a remake and an expansion of the original story. The development team describes it as a way to revisit the beginning of the Halo universe while also providing new material for long-time fans.

More gameplay details are expected in future updates leading up to the release.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!