10 Differences Between Halo Campaign Evolved and the Original
Microsoft finally announced what we had suspected: the Halo series is officially coming to PlayStation consoles. Alongside Gears of War and Forza, Microsoft’s “big three” are now fully available on rival platforms. However, the version being released is neither Halo Infinite nor the Master Chief Collection; it’s a complete remake of the classic version called Halo Campaign Evolved, set to be released in 2026.
This project is being developed by Halo Studios (the new name for the former 343 Industries), and its goal is to bring back the authentic Halo experience for a new generation of players; the same legend of Master Chief, but with a more modern look and redesigned graphics.
The studio has stated that its goal is to “convey the original feel of the game for today’s players,” not just to update its appearance. But the question is: what changes are there in this version? What is different compared to the original Combat Evolved?
Below, we take a look at 10 significant differences between Halo: Campaign Evolved and Halo: Combat Evolved.
4-Player Campaign Co-op
Co-op mode returns to the Campaign, also featuring two-player split-screen couch co-op, just like the classic Halo titles. However, this feature is currently only available on consoles, and the PC version does not support it.
Unlike the original game, up to four players can now join the campaign online; a feature first introduced in Halo 3 and now making a return. It’s still unclear which characters you will control in this mode, but in any case, exciting moments are expected.
Rebuilt Levels
The original Halo campaign was initially designed for single-player, but in the new version, Halo Studios has rebuilt all levels and encounters from the ground up to accommodate four players. According to Max Szlagor, the studio’s creative director:
We have almost entirely rebuilt every level and encounter with more detail and precision, and in doing so, we developed new technologies to preserve the feel of the original version.
In this remake, the size and layout of environments have been altered so that four players can operate in the battlefield without crowding or limitations. Released images of the famous Silent Cartographer mission clearly show these changes, yet the studio emphasizes that the main goal is still to maintain the authentic and nostalgic feel of Halo for long-time fans.
Improved Pathfinding
One significant improvement for both old and new fans is the pathfinding system. In the original version, the famous level “The Library” was known for its confusing design, but in Campaign Evolved, this issue has been resolved.
Now, the game improves the pace of levels, combat variety, and environmental storytelling with new dialogues from the character Guilty Spark, which provide more explanations and deeper lore, so that players don’t get lost during the game and connect more with the world of Halo.
Addition of Sprint
In terms of gameplay, aiming is now more precise, and controls are more responsive and smoother. But the biggest change is the addition of sprint. Interestingly, this feature was first introduced in Halo: Reach as an armor ability and became a permanent ability from Halo 4 onwards. However, if you prefer the classic, slower pace of the earlier versions, you can turn off the sprint option to have an experience similar to Combat Evolved.
Weapons
In Halo: Campaign Evolved, three weapons—the Needle Rifle (from Halo: Reach), Energy Sword, and Battle Rifle (from Halo 2)—return alongside classic weapons, bringing the total number of weapons in the game to nine for more diverse gameplay.
More Vehicles
The number of vehicles in the new version has increased slightly. In the original game, there were only four vehicles (Scorpion, Warthog, Ghost, and Banshee), and the Wraith was not controllable. But now you can get behind the wheel of a Wraith yourself, and you no longer have to worry about it flipping over. Also, the Warthog has a practical change: now, instead of three people (driver, passenger, and gunner), there is a fourth seat in the back.
Hijacking Enemy Vehicles
In the new version, you can steal or “hijack” enemy vehicles; a feature first introduced in Halo 2.This means you can jump onto an enemy vehicle, pull out the driver, and take control of it. This popular mechanic has finally made its way into the main campaign, making the game’s action feel more alive.
3 New Prequel Missions
Outside of the main storyline, there are three new prequel missions that focus on the adventures of Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. Not many details have been released yet, but these stages are expected to include new characters, environments, enemies, and mechanics. How they connect to the main story and the duration of each mission are still unknown, but it seems they will provide new information about the past of these two heroes.
Dozens of Skulls
Skulls, first introduced in Halo 2, now return in Halo: Campaign Evolved to completely transform the campaign experience. These items change the game’s challenge, such as randomizing weapons or making enemies tougher. The number of Skulls in this version reaches dozens, the most in the entire Halo series.
The studio says combining all of them in Legendary mode (or LASO) is practically impossible, but watching professional players attempt to overcome it will certainly be a sight to behold.
Cross-Play and Cross-Progression
The original Combat Evolved had no online multiplayer, but everything has changed in Halo: Campaign Evolved. Now you can play online and cross-platform with your friends on Xbox, PC, and PS5.
According to Brian Jarrard, Halo Community Director, this is just the beginning of the series’ presence on PlayStation platforms, an event that could pave a new path for the future of Halo.
No Competitive Multiplayer
The Halo studio has not yet provided any explanation regarding the competitive multiplayer section, and for now, it seems that the game’s focus is solely on the story campaign, and competitive modes are not present in this version.
However, at the Halo WCS event, there were hints of a separate project centered around multiplayer, which will likely be released as Free-to-Play and later connected to the remake. But as of now, the new Halo: Campaign Evolved lacks a competitive section.
About the Author
