Halo: Campaign Evolved is keeping split-screen alive on consoles, but PS5 players will need more than a second controller. In a new Halo Waypoint community Q&A, Halo Studios said local split-screen on PlayStation 5 will require both accounts to have PlayStation Plus and both accounts to be linked to Microsoft accounts.
The same answer also confirms that every player needs a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag to play Halo: Campaign Evolved, regardless of platform. Halo Studios says that requirement supports cross-platform play and cross-platform progression. On Xbox Series X|S, split-screen requires the second player to use a unique Microsoft account, while online co-op needs an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. On Steam, players will also need to link a Microsoft account.
That is a notable catch for a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, a game whose identity is tied closely to couch co-op. Halo: Campaign Evolved still supports two-player split-screen on console and four-player online co-op across PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, but the PS5 setup makes local play more account-heavy than many longtime Halo fans may expect.
Halo Studios answers more launch questions
The Q&A also settles a few smaller Campaign Evolved details. Sgt. Johnson's Stanchion, shown in footage from the new prequel missions, will not be usable by players. Halo Studios described it as Johnson's personal weapon and said it will not appear outside his own use in those missions.
Player customization also will not carry into cutscenes. The studio said the choice is meant to keep the narrative as faithful to the original game as possible, even though Halo: Campaign Evolved adds new armor and weapon skins through pre-order bonuses and premium editions.
Halo Studios also said there are no current plans for Photo Mode or Theater Mode, no public demo before launch and no plan to turn Halo: Campaign Evolved into a live-service game with continued content or feature additions. The remake is focused on the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign and three new prequel missions.
Co-op itself is getting more than simple player count support. Halo Studios said missions can scale when played in co-op, with more Covenant resistance, possible enemy rank upgrades and smarter enemy behavior depending on the number of players and difficulty. The game will also include per-player Difficulty Modifiers, though some Achievements will not be earnable when those modifiers are active for anyone in the Fireteam.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches July 28, 2026. Players who pre-order the Premium Edition can start up to five days early on July 23. The remake is coming during a busy stretch for the series, with reports also claiming that Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes are in active development, but this Q&A is about the first game's return and the exact rules players will face at launch.