For several months now, rumors and leaks have suggested that Halo Studios may be working on two upcomingHalogames:Halo 7and aHalo: Combat Evolvedremake. While none of these developments have been confirmed by Halo Studios, one new rumor on theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake suggests that the upcomingHalogame may release in late 2026, but without multiplayer. It’s unknown if this lack of multiplayer is only limited to traditional PvP matches or if it will include the lack of local and online campaign co-op as well. While this rumor may be disappointing to someHalofans, the lack of multiplayer for theHalo: CEremake may turn out to be a good thing in the long run.
Halo: Combat Evolved Remake’s Potential Conflict With Halo 7
If the rumors of Halo Studios developing bothHalo 7and theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake turn out to be true, the lack of multiplayer in the remake may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. TheHalo: Combat Evolvedremake may launch in late 2026 to coincide withHalo’s 25th anniversary, butHalo 7could debut in late 2027. YouTuber and notable leaker Rebs Gaming, who originally disclosed the rumor of theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake lacking multiplayer, claimed that his sources confirmed that the remake began development in 2023, so having it launch in late 2026 makes sense. If Halo Studios began working onHalo 7around 2023 or 2024, possibly with help from other studios, having that game release in 2027 could be possible.
However, having twoHalogames released within a year of each other with two different multiplayer systems would undoubtedly split both games’ playerbases and risk both titles having lower multiplayer interaction. While manyHalofans might expect aHalo: Combat Evolvedremake to feature an updated form ofCE’s original multiplayer, it could be difficult to replicateCE’s nostalgic multiplayer for modern audiences without making many older fans upset.Halo’s original multiplayer, while groundbreaking in 2001, could be seen as slow and boring to young gamers if the remake retainedHalo: CE’s multiplayer core aspects. By having the remake focus on campaign, it could allow Halo Studios to work more onHalo 7’s multiplayer and ensure it launches in a more complete state thanHalo Infinite’s multiplayer launch.
Halo: Combat Evolved Remake’s Potential Relationship With Halo Infinite
Should theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake launch without a traditional PvP multiplayer system, it could encourage new players to try outHalo Infinite’s multiplayer untilHalo 7releases. This relationship could function similarly to howHalo: Combat Evolved Anniversarydebuted in 2011. Instead of remastering every aspect ofHalo: CE, 343 Industries and Saber Interactive prioritized remastering justCE’s campaign, but they made remakes ofHalo: CEandHalo2 maps for 2010’sHalo: ReachinAnniversary. This encouraged gamers to continue playingHalo: Reach’s then one-year-old multiplayer a little longer untilHalo 4released with its own dedicated multiplayer in 2012. A similar relationship could appear with theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake andHalo InfiniteuntilHalo 7releases in 2027.
The Benefit of the Halo: Combat Evolved Remake Focusing on Campaign
Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaignis often regarded as one of the best campaigns released for the sixth console generation thanks to its characters, story, cinematic presentation, and fun gameplay. DespiteHalo: Combat Evolvedbeing nearly 24 years old, its original and 2011 anniversary campaigns still hold up relatively well. However, if Halo Studios is truly working on rebuildingCEfrom the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, it should strive to expand uponCE’s campaign in numerous ways without comprising the game’s core themes.Halo: Combat Evolved’s development is well-known for being forced to cut many features that went on to be implemented in futureHalogames, but Halo Studios could use the remake to bring back some of these cut elements inCE’s campaign.
For example,Halo: Combat Evolvedwas originally going to feature the Engineers or Huragok and the massive Sharquoi as a part of the Covenant, but they were cut and later considered to be introduced inHalo 2. Engineers went on to debut inHalo 3: ODST, while the Sharquoi have yet to appear in aHalogame. Halo Studios could make the Engineers, Sharquoi, and the insectoid Drones, as they do appear in theBattle of Installation 04 as shown inHalo: Fireteam Raven, a part of the Covenant in theHalo: CEmake to boost gameplay variety.
The Sharquoi have shown up in severalHalobooks such asHalo: Envoy.
Other Cut Enemies and Vehicles That Should Appear in the Halo: CE Remake
On top of these aforementioned Covenant enemies, Halo Studios could feature the menacing Flood Juggernaut in theHalo: CEremake as the once cutHalo 2enemy does appear inHalo: Fireteam Raven. This could make some Flood encounters in the remake become terrifyingly intense. Halo Studios could even populate Installation 04 with interactive wildlife such as the dinosaur-like Blind Wolf and Thorn Beast to truly make Alpha Halo feel alive.Halo 2’s Covenant Spectre and Gauss Warthogvehicles were originally supposed to appear inHalo: CEso Halo Studios could bring them back in the remake, especially if the remake retains local or online campaign co-op.
Halo: Combat Evolved Remake’s Potential Story Expansion
The story ofHalo: Combat Evolvedis beloved by gamers worldwide, but it could be expanded upon in theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake. In 2003, Bungie, Microsoft, and Del Rey Books published a novelization ofHalo: Combat Evolved’s campaign calledHalo: The Flood, written by William C. Dietz. The book covered all ofHalo’s 10 levels, and it expanded upon the Battle of Installation 04 by featuring sections that followed UNSC Major Antonio Silva and Lieutenant Melissa McKay establishing a foothold on the ring and the Special Operations Elite Zuka ‘Zamamee hunting down Master Chief. Halo Studios could fully implement these characters into theHalo: Combat Evolvedremake and feature entirely new levels where Chief has to fight ‘Zamamee and help defend the UNSC Alpha Base.
Halo Studios has long been known now for featuring short video terminals throughoutHalocampaign levels that expand upon certain characters and events. While it’s expected that Halo Studios will bring back theirHalo: Combat EvolvedAnniversaryterminalsin the remake, they could feature more that focus on Alpha Halo stories separate from Master Chief.
For example, one new terminal could depict Rtas ‘Vadumee’s battle against the Flood fromThe Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor, while another could depict Sergeant Johnson’s survival against the Flood fromBreaking Quarantine. If there won’t be PvP multiplayer in theHalo: CEremake, Halo Studios could still make a local co-op Firefight-esque mode separate from the campaign, possibly recreating Fireteam Raven’s last stand against The Flood.
