Despite its absence at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, Halo may return with a Combat Evolved remake, a multiplayer overhaul, and a campaign sequel—all powered by Unreal Engine.
Fans of Halo who watched the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase were let down because Microsoft’s most popular sci-fi shooter wasn’t there. Although people had high hopes and rumors kept going around, the Master Chief or the next step for the franchise was not revealed in the presentation. However, there was complete silence onstage, behind the scenes, and in the community. However, there are more and more leaks, rumors, and clever timing that point to a major Halo revival being very close.
Not showing up… for now.
Some insiders knew that Halo wouldn’t be at the Xbox Showcase, but it still hurt many fans. Content creator of Halo videos on YouTube, Rebs Gaming, recently stated that the Halo World Championship in October is likely when the game will be showcased soon. Although it’s a good place for the community to gather, many say it doesn’t have the same impact and reach as a global Xbox presentation.
Smaller events for fans are great for rewarding longtime players, but many people think that a big reveal, like a rumored remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, should have the spotlight. This year, the Xbox event didn’t have many big announcements (except for Gears of War: E-Day), so Halo could have easily taken the lead.
It looks like 2026 will happen.
IGN and Rebs both say that a remake, not a remaster, of Halo: Combat Evolved is being worked on. The game is set to release in 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of both the Xbox and the original game. Phil Spencer hinted that 2026 would be a “massive year” with games like Fable, Forza, Gears of War: E-Day, and the “return of a classic that’s been with Xbox since the beginning.” That doesn’t look like Halo; what does?
It is said that the remake will be made from scratch using Unreal Engine. This will be a new start for the franchise, both technically and in terms of the story. Early leaks suggest that the story will be “loosely based” on the first Combat Evolved, but it could go in different directions. The hope is that this remake will be the start of a full reboot of the series. In the future, Halo 2 and 3 may also be remade.
There are several projects in the works.
Some other things are also in the works. It looks like Microsoft and 343 Industries are working on more than one Halo project:
Halo: Combat Evolved Remake is a new take on the original 2001 classic, developed in Unreal Engine and featuring potential story changes and improved graphics, slated for release around the end of 2026.
Certain Affinity’s Multiplayer Project is a separate game that has been rumored for a long time to be a battle royale or extraction shooter. It is now thought to be the definitive Halo multiplayer experience and gets regular updates. This game, which also uses Unreal Engine, could change how Halo’s online mode works.
Halo: Infinite Campaign Follow-Up
An add-on to the Infinite storyline that might continue the stories of Master Chief, The Weapon, and Spartan Locke. Even though there aren’t many specifics, the fact that the next Halo book will be a direct follow-up to Infinite suggests that the story is still moving forward.
The lack of rain is almost over.
Most people who work for the company agree that Halo Infinite will keep getting updates until the first Unreal-based game is ready to go. Halo: The Master Chief Collection looks like it’s coming to an end. Most of the new content is likely to come from modders rather than the game’s official developers.
Halo Infinite has not been given up on, though. The popular Hayabusa armor is back in a new update coming out June 10; you can get it for free without having to buy it. There was also a mysterious 11 GB preload that hinted at more content than was first said. Long-term, the Infinite sandbox might still get updates every three months, and there might be something to do with Halo 5’s 10th anniversary coming up.
The community is still hungry.
Interest in Halo is still high, even though it hasn’t been shown at a showcase. It’s crazy that Halo only had 700 tweets behind Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 after it was announced on social media—Halo didn’t have any big news of its own. There is a real appetite, and there are players who aren’t just die-hard fans.
This excitement might give Microsoft the confidence it needs to start over with the franchise, put a lot of money into marketing, and make Halo once again the best shooter game out there. “Halo isn’t dead—it’s just quietly getting ready for war”, said one fan.
Halo for the PlayStation?
In an unexpected turn of events, a reliable data miner named gruntapi leaked backend data that suggests Halo may eventually come out on PlayStation. If true, this would be a huge change in Microsoft’s strategy, in line with recent trends of Xbox games being able to be played on more than one platform. Not even ten years ago would someone have thought of this move. Now, it’s a very real possibility.
Last thoughts
It was clear that there wasn’t any Halo at the Xbox Showcase, but it looks like the quiet will only last for a short time. As more rumors, leaks, and confirmations from inside the company mount up, 2026 looks like it will be the most important year for Halo since Bungie’s time in charge. The Halo series isn’t over yet; it’s just about to reload with a remake, a multiplayer relaunch, or the next part of Chief’s story.
