Halo: Campaign Evolved early access is live for Premium Edition owners, giving players a five-day head start on the remake before its full July 28 launch.
The biggest new addition is Operation: METEORITE, a three-mission story arc set roughly a year before the original Halo campaign. According to the official Xbox post, the bonus missions follow Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson, adding more context before the opening events aboard the Pillar of Autumn.
Halo Studios has also rebuilt the campaign for up to four-player online co-op with cross-platform play. The original Combat Evolved campaign was designed around two-player co-op, so the remake adjusts level spaces, vehicle access and weapon spawns to support larger squads. Xbox says weapon spawns scale with player count, while wider encounters can now support groups using vehicles such as Ghosts, Wraiths and the Scorpion tank.
The early access launch follows the earlier confirmation of the remake's release date and preorder details. It also comes after Xbox clarified PS5 co-op requirements, with local split-screen no longer needing PS Plus.
Skulls are getting a larger role too. Halo Studios has moved the original Skull locations, added new Skulls and included one modifier that introduces an optional third-person mode. Collecting any three Skulls unlocks Campaign Remix, a replay mode that automatically enables three additional modifiers: Adaptation randomizes enemy types, Reload randomizes weapon placement and Armistice makes enemy factions fight together against the player.
Campaign Remix also adds two visual effects. Nightvision gives Chief a permanent green view with enemies and points of interest outlined, while Spore Visibility covers levels in fog and Flood spores that reduce visibility.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally on July 28 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, cloud, Steam and PlayStation 5. It is included with Game Pass, supports Xbox Play Anywhere on console and PC and includes cross-play and cross-progression across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and PlayStation 5.
The Halo Waypoint purchase page lists the Premium Edition with the full game, Alpha Halo Armory Pack, digital art book, Halo: Hungry Buzzards digital short story and digital game manual. Preorders include the Foundry Armory Pack, with Classic 2001 Mark V armor and Assault Rifle skins among its listed bonuses.