One of the biggest new Xbox games coming to Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S consoles, Windows PC, and even PS5 this year is Halo: Campaign Evolved, a full remake of the legendary 2001 shooter Halo: Combat Evolved that's built on Unreal Engine 5 (though the new engine is "layered on top of code and systems carried directly over from the original games").
The game was first announced in October late last year and we've seen additional screenshots and gameplay footage since then, though the sci-fi FPS still doesn't have an official release date. Thanks to a pair of new leaks, though, we may finally know when Campaign Evolved is taking us back to the Halo where it all began.
The first of these leaks came earlier this week when a report of a pre-sales survey about the game run by a Korean retailer surfaced on Reddit; the survey was allegedly quickly taken down, but not before people noticed that it stated Halo: Campaign Evolved's release date is July 28.
Notably, the game then passed its rating review by the Korea Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), and typically, other Halo games have completed this process a few months before their launch. This, many believe, is evidence that the July release date is accurate.
Halo dataminer grunt.api then posted a coded message alongside a GIF of a meteor — Campaign Evolved's codename — a few days later, and when decrypted, it suggests that Early Access to Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming on July 23, with the game's full release falling on July 28. Reportedly, grunt.api told reporter and YouTuber Rebs Gaming that Early Access will be offered in a "special edition" of the game.
While Windows Central can't corroborate the specific the game's specific release date or the existence of a Deluxe Edition that offers Early Access, we can confirm that our sources have indicated Halo: Campaign Evolved has a July release window. With that in mind, the chance that the above leaks are accurate is high.
Note that it's still unclear what the price of the game will be right now, though for a campaign-only remake of Combat Evolved, I think the range of $39.99 to $49.99 is a good guess. If there is a Deluxe Edition or "special edition" that includes five days of Early Access, it will likely be a bit pricier — $59.99 or $69.99, perhaps.
These leaks come just a few days after it was leaked that Halo: Campaign Evolved will have skins and customization for Master Chief's armor and weapons, which is something both the original game and 2011's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake lacked. It won't have a microtransaction shop, though (the community would be infuriated if it did, I'm sure, and I'd be with them).
They also come soon after former Halo Studios art director Glenn Israel claimed that instances of misconduct and other unethical acts occurred at the developer while he still worked at the company, raising concerns in the community and shining a spotlight on the studio's operations. An Xbox spokesperson told Windows Central that "we do take all claims seriously for both current and former employees."
Ultimately, I'm sure we'll learn when exactly Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming out during the Xbox Games Showcase in June, how much it will cost, and whether or not you can get Early Access to it. One thing we know for sure right now, however, is that it will be available on Xbox Game Pass when it launches, as all Microsoft first-party titles are.
💬 Are you excited for Halo: Campaign Evolved?
The fact Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming in just a few months is exciting news for those looking forward to the remake, though I've also seen many express disinterest in the game as well. After all, this is the second time it's being revisited, and I think a lot of Halo fans would have preferred the developers to focus on a wholly new project instead.
Are you looking forward to Campaign Evolved, or do you not really care about it? I'm curious to hear your thoughts, so share them with me in the comments and vote in our poll.
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