Halo: Combat Evolved Remake – Sooner Than Expected? Here's What We Know

The rumored remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, the iconic first title in Xbox's renowned sci-fi first-person shooter franchise, might be further along in development than previously expected. Speculation about this project began earlier this year, but recent developments suggest progress is moving faster than anticipated. The developer behind the Halo series, 343 Industries, recently rebranded itself as Halo Studios, signaling a significant shift. The studio also announced that future projects, including the rumored remake, will be developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, abandoning its in-house Slipspace engine that powered Halo Infinite. This decision was revealed shortly after rumors of the Halo: Combat Evolved remake began circulating.

Considered one of the most influential games in Xbox’s history, Halo: Combat Evolved launched a franchise that defined the first-person shooter genre during the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras. The game received a remaster in the form of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in 2011, which was later included in the 2014 anthology Halo: The Master Chief Collection, alongside Halo 2 Anniversary. Although Halo Infinite had a strong launch in 2021, post-launch content underwhelmed some fans. However, Halo Studios has made notable improvements in the years since, showing its commitment to the franchise's legacy.

Fans eager to relive the early days of Halo may not have to wait as long as initially thought. In a recent episode of the XboxEra Podcast, insider Shpeshal_Nick discussed the rumored remake, hinting that the project might be further along than many believe. While he suggested the game isn't likely to launch in 2025, he speculated that it could arrive in 2026. This is, of course, still just speculation, but it offers hope for those excited about a return to the original Halo.

Halo: Combat Evolved Remake Could Be Closer Than Expected

It seems reasonable that Halo Studios might be well into the development of this remake, given that nearly three years have passed since the release of Halo Infinite. It's likely that this new project has been in the works alongside the studio's ongoing support for Halo Infinite. Though it's unclear exactly when Halo Studios transitioned to Unreal Engine 5, many believe that the Combat Evolved remake will be built using this new engine, freeing the studio from the challenges posed by its own Slipspace engine. The shift to Unreal could also enable the studio to release smaller titles more frequently, like remakes or standalone experiences, similar to Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach, between the major mainline releases.

In the meantime, Halo Studios continues to support Halo Infinite with new updates and events, including the ongoing limited-time Operation: Halloween event. Additionally, a third-person mode for Halo Infinite is expected to be introduced later this year. As for the Halo: Combat Evolved remake, while Shpeshal_Nick doesn't anticipate a release in 2025, there's a possibility the game could be officially revealed as early as next year. Halo fans should stay tuned for more updates from Halo Studios.