Not everyone is happy about the new remake of the classic. Several creators of the original Halo: Combat Evolved have criticized it, calling it “more visually refined but lacking soul and depth.”
The original game, developed by Bungie and released in 2001 as an Xbox exclusive, helped define sci‑fi shooters on consoles. Now, more than twenty years later, Halo Studios is working on a remake — Halo: Campaign Evolved — which it promises will serve as “a new chapter” for the series.
The remake is being built on Unreal Engine 5 and features upgraded 4K visuals, fresh animations, remastered music, and re-recorded voice work. The project will include three new narrative missions, plus weapons and vehicles borrowed from later entries in the franchise.
But not everyone shares the developers’ enthusiasm. Jamie Griesemer, one of the level designers on the original, wrote on X:
“I did everything the right way, and they’re just ruining it. I see dozens of changes — from reload speeds to the removal of health packs and fall damage — that make the game smoother but less interesting. When the budget balloons, developers lose the freedom to make bold, engaging choices.”
At the same time, Marcus Lehto, co‑creator of Halo and designer of Master Chief, praised the remake:
“My honest impressions of Halo: Campaign Evolved? I absolutely love the direction they’ve taken. The game looks and sounds authentic. It’s so polished that it would have been the stuff of dreams back in 2001. I’m very happy to see Halo CE presented this way.”
Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled for release in 2026 on Xbox, PC, and — for the first time — PlayStation.
Source: iXBT.games