Halo: Combat Evolved Remake reportedly planned to release in late 2026

Microsoft’s recent Xbox Games Showcase revealed a tonne of new games and even the first look at an Xbox PC handheld, but few of the brand’s flagship franchises were present. However, in a final tease, Xbox boss Phil Spencer alluded to the teased Halo: Combat Evolved Remake actually releasing sometime in 2026.

Halo: Combat Evolved Remake teased for 2026

Just before the whimpering ending that was the reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, head of Xbox Phil Spencer explained that 2026 will be a huge year for the Xbox brand. Alongside the release of the exciting Gears of War: E-Day prequel, Xbox gamers will also have a new, unannounced Forza game.

However, bookending the segment, Spencer explained that the year will end with “the return of a classic that’s been with us since the beginning”, teasing the often-leaked plans for the newly-rebranded Halo Studios’ full remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved.

This tease was backed up by The Verge reporter Tom Warren who claimed that 2026 will see the release of a full Halo: Combat Evolved Remake releasing on the 25^th anniversary of Xbox and the popular FPS series.

As a long-running insider for the Xbox brand, Warren’s comments on the existence of the Halo: CE Remake have been consistent for a number of years. According to the very accurate reporter, the upcoming remake will launch on Xbox and PC, but is also in consideration for a PS5 release at a later date.

Xbox and Halo Studios also teased the existence of a CE remake with its studio update video last year. While the game wasn’t outright confirmed, the Unreal Engine 5 showcase for the game showed a Mark V Master Chief with a Magnum and Energy Sword as well as environments from the first game in shiny new visuals.

There’s no word on how different the new remake of the first Halo game will be, but hopefully significant changes will be made. Enemies like Brutes, Engineers and more could be added as well as an expanded weapons sandbox, and cutscene changes could be made to bring the lore more in line with books like The Fall of Reach, First Strike and more.

At the same time, there’s no word on whether the remake will also include a multiplayer suite, or if online Halo will be left for the still-updated free-to-play game Halo Infinite. With the latter still being updated, there is a possibility that the game will be kept alive as the multiplayer component for the series, similar to how Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary multiplayer was part of Halo Reach.

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