They’re Not Just Remaking It, They’re Evolving It
The news that Halo: Combat Evolved is getting a full, ground-up remake in Unreal Engine 5-and is coming to PlayStation 5-was big enough. But now, the dust has settled, and the team at Halo Studios has released a detailed Q&A to address the burning questions from the community. The main takeaway? This project, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, is far more than a simple visual upgrade. It’s a thoughtful and ambitious effort to modernize a classic, fix its most infamous pain points, and expand its story, all while obsessively preserving the “feel” that made Halo a legend.
This isn’t Halo: Anniversary 2.0. The goal isn’t just to make it look prettier; it’s to create the ideal entry point for a new generation of players while delivering a definitive version for veterans. And yes, they’re finally fixing The Library.
How Do You Evolve a Classic? Very Carefully.
One of the biggest concerns for any remake is preserving the spirit of the original. The developers stressed that their guiding principle is whether every change “still feels like Halo.” This has led to some fascinating decisions about how to update the 25-year-old classic.
The most discussed example is the infamous seventh mission, “The Library.” The team acknowledged that the level’s repetitive nature and confusing navigation were prime candidates for a modern overhaul. They are re-evaluating the pacing and enhancing the environmental storytelling. This includes adding new lines for 343 Guilty Spark to better guide players through the level and provide more narrative context, all without fundamentally changing the story. The aim is to balance nostalgia with the expectations of today’s gamers.
Modern mechanics like sprinting and aiming down sights are also being added, but with a crucial twist: you can disable them if you want a more classic experience. This player-first approach extends to the addition of 4-player online co-op, which has required the team to carefully rebalance encounters and spaces to accommodate more players without breaking the original design.
The Tech: Unreal Engine 5 on a Classic Foundation
The move to Unreal Engine 5 is what allows for the stunning 4K visuals, but the technical approach is more nuanced than simply rebuilding everything in a new engine. Game Director Greg Hermann explained that the new content created in UE5 is layered *on top of* code and systems carried directly over from the original games. This “legacy code” is instrumental in maintaining the authentic physics and gameplay feel that is so distinctly Halo. It’s a hybrid approach designed to deliver photorealistic visuals while ensuring the core simulation feels exactly as players remember it.
This has also led to a conversation about the use of AI. The studio clarified that AI is being used as a “tool in a toolbox,” much like the generative fill feature within Photoshop, to improve workflows. They stressed that it is not being used to replace the creative spark of their human developers and that there is no mandate to use generative AI.
New Ways to Finish the Fight
Beyond modernizing the old, Halo: Campaign Evolved is adding a significant amount of new content. The arsenal is being expanded with nine iconic weapons from later in the series, including the much-requested Battle Rifle and Energy Sword. For the first time ever in this campaign, you’ll be able to pilot the massive Covenant Wraith tank.
Most excitingly, the remake will feature three brand-new prequel missions set before the Pillar of Autumn’s crash landing, promising entirely new environments and story content. Combined with the largest set of game-modifying Skulls ever, the team is building a version of Halo designed to be replayed for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How is this different from Halo: Anniversary?
Anniversary was a remaster that layered new graphics over the original engine. Campaign Evolved is a full remake, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 with new content, mechanics, and re-recorded audio. - Are they changing the original levels?
Yes, but thoughtfully. The core story and layout will be the same, but levels like “The Library” are being improved with better pacing, wayfinding, and environmental storytelling to meet modern standards. - How does the game still “feel like Halo” if it’s in a new engine?
The developers are layering the new Unreal Engine 5 visuals on top of legacy code and systems from the original games. This hybrid approach ensures the core physics and gunplay feel authentic. - What new gameplay features are being added?
The game will add sprinting and ADS (which can be toggled off), 4-player online co-op, nine new weapons like the Battle Rifle, the ability to pilot a Wraith, and three new prequel missions. - Will there be split-screen co-op?
Yes, the game will support 2-player local split-screen on consoles, preserving a classic feature of the original game. - Is the studio using AI to replace developers?
No. The developers have clarified they are using AI as an integrated tool within existing software (like Photoshop) to improve workflows, not to generate creative content or replace human artists and designers.
Conclusion
The detailed Q&A from Halo Studios shows that Halo: Campaign Evolved is being handled with an impressive amount of care and ambition. This isn’t a cynical cash-grab; it’s a passionate effort to create a definitive version of a beloved classic. By listening to 25 years of fan feedback, modernizing the gameplay, expanding the story, and making a bold technological leap, the team is building a bridge between Halo’s past and its future. This project aims to do more than just remake a game-it aims to recapture the feeling of playing it for the very first time, for everyone.