《光環：戰役進化》（Halo: Campaign Evolved）是預計於2026年推出的第一人稱射擊遊戲，由重新更名後的Halo Studios開發、Xbox Game Studios發行。2001年經典作品《Halo: Combat Evolved》的全面重製版，不同於2011年僅進行畫面升級的《週年紀念版》，《戰役進化》選擇以Unreal Engine 5從零打造整個戰役內容，在視覺、敘事與玩法系統上全面進化，同時保留原作精神，被視為「為新世代玩家重新定義光環起點」的重要作品。

在劇情與世界觀方面，仍以士官長（Master Chief）與UNSC在神秘環狀世界「Halo」上的生存與戰鬥為核心，延續人類對抗星盟、洪魔（Flood）等威脅的主軸。不過，本作並非單純重現舊劇情，而是在原本10個經典任務的基礎上，新增三個前傳任務，時間點設定於原作故事之前，聚焦士官長與強森士官（Sgt. Avery Johnson）的行動經歷，補足過去只存在於小說或背景設定中的敘事空白。所有過場動畫與音效皆重新製作，並邀請原主要配音陣容重新錄音，使故事情感表現更貼近現代敘事標準，也讓角色關係更加立體。

在操作與玩法上，以原作為骨幹，但大量吸收後續系列的設計成果。最明顯的改變，是士官長預設具備「衝刺能力」，這項自《Halo: Reach》起成為系列標準的機制，讓戰鬥節奏更靈活，同時也提供選項讓玩家關閉衝刺，以追求更貼近2001年的操作手感。關卡結構在保留經典路線的前提下重新設計，增加垂直空間與戰術選擇，讓探索與交火更加自由。

載具系統同樣獲得顯著強化。玩家現在能像後期作品一樣劫持星盟的各式載具，包括可被破壞的幽魂號與聖甲蟲戰車，而疣豬號（Warthog）也重新設計，在車尾新增座位，使單一載具可容納四人小隊，進一步強化合作體驗。敵人種類亦全面更新，洪魔加入《Halo 3》後才出現的「純形態」，讓戰鬥多樣性與壓迫感明顯提升。

武器方面，在原作武器庫之外，新增多達 九種經典後期武器，包含能量劍、戰鬥步槍、燃料砲、哨兵光束，以及來自《Reach》的針刺步槍等，使戰鬥風格不再受限於早期設計。同時延續系列傳統的「骷髏頭（Skulls）」系統，加入全新與經典效果，從高難度挑戰到惡搞型隨機效果一應俱全，提升重玩價值。

本作專注於戰役體驗，不包含任何競技型對戰模式，但在合作遊玩方面反而大幅進化。遊戲支援最多四人線上合作，並首度實現全平台跨平台連線與進度同步；主機版本則保留雙人分割畫面，延續光環系列在沙發同樂文化上的傳統。

在技術與製作背景上，具有象徵性意義。這是Halo Studios在放棄自家Slipspace Engine後，首款全面採用Unreal Engine 5的作品。透過Lumen即時光照與Nanite幾何技術，場景細節、光影層次與互動物件數量都有質的飛躍。同時，開發團隊仍保留部分源自Bungie時代的Blam引擎底層邏輯，用以維持光環系列特有的物理手感與AI行為，避免「畫面變好但手感變味」的問題。

市場評價與期待方面，自公布以來便引發高度討論。它不僅是光環系列首次登陸PlayStation 5的作品，更被視為微軟正式推動多平台戰略的象徵。對老玩家而言，這是一封寫給2001年回憶的情書；對新玩家來說，則是一個技術現代化、敘事完整、門檻更低的入門版本。雖然取消競技對戰模式讓部分核心玩家感到可惜，但多數市場聲音認為，本作清楚定位為「戰役體驗的最終進化版」，反而讓焦點更加集中。

整體來看，《光環：戰役進化》並非單純的重製或懷舊作品，而是一場結合經典精神與現代設計的再創作。它既是對光環系列起點的重新詮釋，也是Halo Studios 踏入新引擎、新世代與新平台的重要宣言。對於想重新體驗士官長傳奇，或首次踏入光環宇宙的玩家而言，這款作品很可能成為未來多年內最具代表性的「光環戰役版本」。

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a first-person shooter scheduled for release in 2026, developed by the newly rebranded Halo Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a full remake of the 2001 classic Halo: Combat Evolved. Unlike the 2011 Anniversary edition, which focused primarily on visual upgrades, Campaign Evolved rebuilds the entire campaign from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, delivering comprehensive advancements in visuals, storytelling, and gameplay systems while preserving the spirit of the original. As such, it is widely regarded as a key title that redefines the starting point of Halo for a new generation of players.

In terms of story and world-building, the game continues to center on Master Chief and the UNSC’s fight for survival on the mysterious ringworld known as Halo, maintaining the core conflict between humanity, the Covenant, and threats such as the Flood. However, rather than simply recreating the original narrative, the remake expands upon it. In addition to the ten classic missions, three new prequel missions have been added, set before the events of the original game. These missions focus on the actions of Master Chief and Sgt. Avery Johnson, filling in narrative gaps that previously existed only in novels or background lore. All cinematics and audio have been fully remade, with the original principal voice cast returning to re-record dialogue, bringing the emotional presentation closer to modern storytelling standards and adding greater depth to character relationships.

Gameplay builds on the foundation of the original while incorporating design philosophies and mechanics introduced in later entries in the series. The most notable change is that Master Chief now has sprint enabled by default, a feature that became standard starting with Halo: Reach, allowing for a more fluid and dynamic combat pace. At the same time, players can disable sprint to achieve a control feel closer to that of the 2001 original. Level layouts have been reworked to preserve iconic routes while adding more verticality and tactical options, giving players greater freedom in both exploration and combat encounters.

The vehicle system has also been significantly enhanced. Players can now hijack a wider range of Covenant vehicles, as in later Halo titles, including destructible Ghosts and Wraith tanks. The Warthog has been redesigned as well, featuring an additional seat on the rear, allowing a full four-person fireteam to operate from a single vehicle and further strengthening cooperative gameplay. Enemy variety has been expanded across the board, with the Flood now including “pure forms” that were first introduced in Halo 3, greatly increasing combat diversity and intensity.

In terms of weaponry, the game goes far beyond the original arsenal by adding up to nine classic weapons from later titles. These include the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, Fuel Rod Cannon, Sentinel Beam, and the Needle Rifle from Halo: Reach, ensuring that combat is no longer constrained by early-series limitations. The traditional Skull system also returns, featuring both new and classic modifiers that range from high-difficulty challenges to humorous, chaotic effects, significantly boosting replay value.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is firmly focused on the campaign experience and does not include any competitive multiplayer modes. However, cooperative play has been substantially expanded. The game supports up to four-player online co-op, with full cross-platform play and cross-progression for the first time in the series. Console versions also retain two-player local split-screen, continuing Halo’s long-standing tradition of couch co-op.

From a technical and production standpoint, the game carries strong symbolic importance. It is the first Halo title developed entirely in Unreal Engine 5 following Halo Studios’ departure from its proprietary Slipspace Engine. Leveraging technologies such as Lumen for real-time lighting and Nanite for high-density geometry, the game achieves major leaps in environmental detail, lighting fidelity, and interactive object density. At the same time, the development team has preserved elements of the underlying logic from Bungie’s original Blam engine to maintain Halo’s distinctive physics feel and enemy AI behavior, avoiding the risk of improved visuals coming at the cost of familiar gameplay identity.

In terms of market reception and expectations, the game has generated intense discussion since its announcement. It marks the first time a Halo title will be released on PlayStation 5, and is widely seen as a symbol of Microsoft’s broader multiplatform strategy. For longtime fans, it serves as a love letter to the memories of 2001; for newcomers, it offers a modernized, narratively complete, and more accessible entry point into the Halo universe. While the absence of competitive multiplayer has disappointed some core players, the prevailing sentiment is that the game’s clear positioning as the definitive evolution of the Halo campaign allows it to maintain a strong and focused identity.

Overall, Halo: Campaign Evolved is not merely a remake or a nostalgic exercise, but a creative reimagining that blends classic Halo spirit with modern design sensibilities. It represents both a reinterpretation of the franchise’s origins and a bold statement by Halo Studios as it enters a new era defined by a new engine, a new generation of hardware, and new platforms. For players looking to relive Master Chief’s legendary journey—or to experience it for the first time—this title is poised to become one of the most representative Halo campaign experiences of the coming years.