For over two decades, Halo has been inseparable from Xbox. It is the franchise that sort of launched the console, defined an era, and gave players the battle cry to “finish the fight.” But as reported by The New York Times, Microsoft is now taking its most symbolic step! They are bringing Halo to PlayStation! And not just any Halo, but a complete Unreal Engine 5 remake of the game that started it all.
A Historic First
Microsoft has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved, a full remake of Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), will release in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
It marks the first time ever that Halo, the franchise that sort of built Xbox’s identity, will appear on a rival console. Given the history between Xbox and PlayStation, it is definitely a move that surprised a ton of players.
A Reinvention for Halo’s 25th Anniversary
The remake focuses solely on the campaign, with modernized movement, new combat mechanics (like sprinting and energy swords), and four-player online co-op, and that is also a series first.
According to Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze, it is designed to “fully realize the original artistic vision” and reintroduce the franchise to a new generation.
For more information about the remake, you can check out our detailed article about it!
Why Halo Is Coming to PS5
This change is not just nostalgia, it is strategy. Xbox president Matt Booty said the company now “competes more with TikTok and movies than with other consoles.”
With Halo joining recent cross-platform launches like Gears of War: Reloaded and Forza Horizon 5, Microsoft’s goal is to “meet players where they are” rather than confine them to Xbox hardware.
The Bigger Picture
Xbox Series X/S sales (around 32 million) are sadly far behind the PS5’s 80 million, pushing Microsoft to expand its audience and recover investments from massive studio buys, including the $69B Activision Blizzard and $7.5B ZeniMax acquisitions.
Analysts suggest this is less about giving up exclusivity and more about “making Xbox an ecosystem that transcends devices“.
And every player can probably agree, that being able to play any game on any platform you want, is a good thing.
Financial Reality
As always, everything is business, and Halo showing up on PlayStation is too. Game Pass keeps getting bigger (and more expensive to maintain), especially now that it includes games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which reportedly cost Microsoft hundreds of millions in lost sales.
By opening up to PlayStation players, Microsoft can bring in new money and new fans, and maybe even get more people to try Game Pass later. The company is also testing a free, ad-supported cloud version of its service to reach players who do not own a console at all.
A Franchise Reborn
Once the face of console shooters, Halo has struggled to maintain its cultural impact in recent years. With Halo: Campaign Evolved, developers hope to recapture what made it legendary.
As COO Elizabeth Van Wyck puts it, “This is another era for Halo, one that’s more accessible, more global, and built to last.“
One thing is sure, PlayStation players wanted to join in on the fun for years, and it will now be possible!
For more information and guides, keep an eye on our latest news!
