Microsoft is gearing up for a blockbuster 2026, this year is the Xbox brand's 25th anniversary year, and one of the big hitters this year appears to be Halo: Campaign Evolved. According to a new report from The Verge, sources at Microsoft indicate the remake of Halo: Combat Evolved's iconic campaign is tentatively targeting a summer release. This slots it neatly after Forza Horizon 6's May 19th debut and ahead of Fable in fall, with Gears of War: E-Day eyed for the second half, all timed to dodge Grand Theft Auto VI's November juggernaut.
The Verge's report, building on their earlier leak of the project last year, reveals Microsoft's push to spotlight its "four horsemen" franchises: Forza, Halo, Fable, and Gears Of War. They also noted that their sources within Microsoft told them about the internal efforts to hit these marks amid hardware sales dips and a refocus on Xbox exclusives turning multiplatform.
The broader Xbox 2026 slate shapes up with a schedule like this:
- Forza Horizon 6 - May 19th
- Kiln (Double Fine) - April
- Halo: Campaign Evolved - Summer
- Fable - Fall
- Gear Of War: E-Day - Second Half, Maybe Late Fall
Unveiled in October 2025 at Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries), Campaign Evolved is a ground-up remake in Unreal Engine 5 of the 2001 classic's campaign. It promises high-definition visuals, refined controls, expanded levels, new prequel missions, enhanced cinematics with motion-captured returning cast, remastered soundtrack, nine extra weapons (Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Needle Rifle), upgradable vehicles like a hijackable Wraith, and the most Skulls ever in a Halo campaign. Online co-op supports four players cross-platform with shared progression; consoles get two-player split-screen. Notably absent: multiplayer, which Halo Studios confirmed but did not elaborate on during reveal, sparking speculation it's a post-launch addition.
The PS5 port marks Halo's console debut outside Xbox, explained by executive producer Damon Conn as a bid to unite "series veterans who have been with us for the past 25 years on the Xbox and PC platforms" with newcomers. This multiplatform strategy follows titles like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush, aiming to grow the audience without diluting Xbox focus.
A summer drop aligns with the campaign-only scope, potentially minimizing polish hurdles. October's hands-on demos showed playable but rough performance, per attendees like KevinKoolx, who noted "playable but not great" frame rates. Without multiplayer beta testing, the single-player focus could mean it's "good to go," as the source material suggests, freeing resources for Fable and Gears.
A Summer release window would mean around the months of June-August, giving breathing room before fall heavy-hitters. With demos this far along, tweaks like performance and minor gameplay feel feasible. As Xbox's anniversary ramps, Campaign Evolved positions Halo as the emotional kickoff, bridging old guard and new via Cortana-Chief nostalgia. Official confirmation awaits, but Warren's track record bodes well. Get ready to mark your calendars and gear up, Master Chief's big fight on the first Halo ring awaits. Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates as we get them.
For those who are wanting to see more gameplay or what to expect with Halo: Campaign Evolved, here is the 13 minutes gameplay demo that was revealed a few months ago.