It’s a big day for Halo, as Halo: Campaign Evolved launches today, July 23, in early access. Beyond the excitement that normally surrounds the launch of a new Halo game, the release is especially notable because today will also be remembered as the day Halo finally came to PlayStation after more than two decades of console exclusivity on Xbox.
The sci-fi series debuted in 2001 as a launch title for the original Xbox, and the franchise has been exclusive, at least on console, to Xbox ever since–until today.
Why now?
Why is Halo now, after all these years, finally coming to PlayStation? According to developers, the aim is to “bring players back together” and help the franchise reach new audiences.
“There are people who have never been exposed to Halo. Maybe they’ve always been on Sony products, switched consoles at a certain point, or just missed it at the time. We want to bring players back together,” executive producer Damon Conn said.
Creative director Max Szlagor added that, “Halo is best played when we have a large, healthy community.” Releasing Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5 is a “way to grow, expand, and reconnect the Halo community,” Szlagor said.
“We want to honor the Halo legacy on PlayStation, and we’re paving the way to expand our Halo universe–that’s how we see it,” Conn added. “And it’s not a small thing. We don’t, and we won’t, take it lightly. We definitely feel the weight of it.”
Also, money
That all may be true, but another factor at play here is money. Microsoft bringing Halo to PlayStation is also a way to make more money, and that’s important for Xbox given how unhealthy the business is currently.
Microsoft’s new multiplatform strategy has already helped Microsoft generate hundreds of millions of dollars bringing its games to PS5, so it’s not surprising to see Microsoft bring another major franchise to a rival console.
The pivot to releasing Xbox games on rival consoles came from the Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond days, and now that they are gone, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has suggested the company will return to more exclusives.
Halo veteran Brian Jarrard said in 2025 that Halo games will be on PlayStation going forward, so Campaign Evolved may not be the last Halo game on a Sony console. Whether or not Sharma and her team could change this, however, remains to be seen.
What Halo games are coming next?
Years ago, Microsoft announced that multiple new Halo games were in development at Halo Studios, and they will be developed using Epic’s Unreal Engine. Halo: Campaign Evolved is the only one that’s been announced, but Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes are reportedly also in the works. Beyond those, a report said Microsoft is working on a new live-service Halo game.
For more on Campaign Evolved, check out GameSpot’s breakdown of how to play with your friends across platforms. Campaign Evolved’s early access starts today for people who buy the game’s $70 premium edition. The standard edition ($50) unlocks on July 28. Game Pass members get the game with their subscription, but they can buy a $20 upgrade to the premium edition to start playing today.
Campaign Evolved is a remake of the original Halo, with improved graphics and features. It also includes new prequel missions. However, there is no multiplayer.
