Tag Archives: Halo

Halo: Campaign Evolved Goes Gold — SG Early Access Starts This Thursday

Halo Studios has officially confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved has gone gold — development on the 1.0 version is complete, and the game is on track for its July 28 global release. For Singapore players, that means the wait is almost over: early access kicks off this Thursday, 24 July, for Premium and Collector’s Edition owners, with the full launch following on Tuesday, 29 July.

As we covered earlier this month, this marks the first time a mainline Halo campaign has ever come to PlayStation — so PS5 owners in Singapore are finally getting their shot at the Chief.

Master Chief faces off against a Covenant Elite in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

When Can Singapore Players Start?

The global release date of July 28 at 8 AM PDT works out differently for the Asia-Pacific region. Halo Studios confirmed in the official launch FAQ that Singapore and other Asia-Pacific markets are on the same schedule as Japan:

  • Premium & Collector’s Edition early access: Thursday, 24 July 2026 (SGT)
  • Standard Edition global launch: Tuesday, 29 July 2026 (SGT)

If you were planning to buy a physical copy at local game retailers and electronics shops, the disc should be on shelves for the 29 July date — physical availability in retail was confirmed as part of the July Community Q&A.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | Cinematic Story Trailer — via HALO on YouTube

What the July Community Q&A Revealed

Alongside the gold announcement, Halo Studios published a detailed community Q&A on Halo Waypoint answering fan questions ahead of launch. A few highlights that were not part of earlier coverage:

  • Machinima Mode is included — it supports freecam, lowered weapons, and controlling a Spartan without needing skull unlocks, so content creators and long-time fans of the original’s machinima scene will have tools to work with from day one.
  • Weapon dropping works differently here: you can drop a weapon for a teammate without automatically swapping to whatever is on the ground, which sounds small but makes co-op much cleaner.
  • Friendly fire can be toggled on or off by the fireteam leader — handy for co-op sessions where you’d rather not grief your squadmates.
  • AI behaviours have been improved since the earlier preview build that media played ahead of launch.
  • LASO mode uses a curated assortment of skulls rather than all 42, making it — per the team — “technically more like LAASO.”
A Warthog with turret blazes through an icy Forerunner cave in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Operation: METEORITE — The Three New Story Missions

Every edition of the game includes Operation: METEORITE, a brand-new three-mission arc set a year before the events of the original Halo. The prequel follows Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson on a clandestine UNSC operation aboard a Covenant research vessel — it is effectively new canon, filling in story that Halo: Combat Evolved only implied.

Cortana rendered in stunning detail in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Editions, Pricing and Game Pass

The game launches at USD 49.99 for the Standard Edition. The Premium Edition (USD 59.99–69.99) adds five days of early access — so Thursday 24 July in Singapore — along with a digital art book, weapon skins, armour cosmetics, and a digital manual. The Collector’s Edition at USD 199.99 is available via Halo Waypoint and mirrors the Premium digital bonuses with physical extras.

If you are on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, the Standard Edition is included in your subscription at launch — no extra charge. That is genuinely one of the better deals in gaming right now if you have not picked up Game Pass yet.

Pre-ordering the digital version before 7:59 AM PDT on 28 July also nets you the Foundry Armory Pack — legendary-style cosmetics for the Master Chief’s Mark V Mjolnir armour — which is also bundled with physical copies.

Sgt. Johnson leads a UNSC squad in Halo: Campaign Evolved's Operation Meteorite prequel missions
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Steam Deck Verified, Handheld Optimized on Windows

One more piece of good news for portable players: the July Q&A confirmed Halo: Campaign Evolved has earned Steam Deck Verified status (the highest Steam Deck rating) and is rated Handheld Optimized on Windows handhelds. Given how popular handhelds are becoming in Singapore’s gaming scene, that is worth flagging — the Chief plays just as well lying on your sofa as he does at a desk.

The interior of Installation 04 stretches out against a breathtaking planetary vista in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Xbox

Nine days to go — or four if you have the Premium Edition. You can follow all our gaming news coverage here on GameTrader.SG.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches on PS5 July 28 — SGD 79.90, First Halo on PlayStation

After 25 years as an Xbox and PC exclusive, the Halo franchise is finally coming to PlayStation. Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on PS5 on July 28, 2026 at SGD 79.90, with Premium Edition owners getting early access from July 23 — and the Singapore PlayStation Store has it live for pre-order right now.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | Cinematic Story Trailer — via HALO on YouTube

The Franchise-Defining Moment: First Halo on PlayStation, Ever

Halo: Combat Evolved launched on the original Xbox in 2001 and single-handedly defined what a console first-person shooter could be. For twenty-five years, the Master Chief has never set foot on a Sony platform. That changes on July 28.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is a new entry in the franchise published by Microsoft Corporation, available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC simultaneously. Singapore PS5 owners — a platform that has outsold Xbox locally by a wide margin — now have direct access to one of gaming’s most iconic campaigns for the very first time, with no Xbox or PC required.

Halo: Campaign Evolved — the Halo ring world beach environment rebuilt with new visuals
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

What Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?

The game centres on the Halo ring — an ancient superweapon the size of a small moon, orbiting a gas giant in deep space. The Master Chief crash-lands on its lush surface after a desperate battle against the alien Covenant fleet, and what follows is one of gaming’s greatest campaign structures: open environments, Warthog sorties, Flood-horror corridors, and a story that introduced millions of players to the universe Bungie built.

Halo Studios has rebuilt the experience with new visual fidelity, bringing the alien beaches, dark forerunner interiors, and sweeping exterior vistas to a standard the original hardware — or even the 2011 Anniversary remaster — could never achieve. The images released through the official Halo Waypoint show a game that looks genuinely stunning on current hardware.

Halo: Campaign Evolved — Master Chief aboard a Pelican dropship in a new cinematic
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

Singapore PS5 Pricing, Editions, and Release Dates

The Singapore PlayStation Store listing confirms two editions with SGD pricing:

  • Standard Edition — SGD 79.90: releases July 28, 2026 at 11 PM SGT
  • Premium Edition — SGD 109.90: early access from July 23, 2026 at 11 PM SGT (5 days ahead)

The SGD 79.90 standard price sits in line with major PS5 first-party releases. If you want to be playing over the July 24-27 long approach, the Premium Edition’s SGD 30 premium gets you five extra days — worth considering if your schedule opens up that week. Both editions are available to pre-order now.

Local Co-op, Asian Language Support, and More

Halo: Campaign Evolved — two-player local split-screen co-op confirmed
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

Halo has always been a co-op game at heart — the two-player split-screen on the original Xbox became a defining social experience of early 2000s gaming. Halo Studios has confirmed local split-screen co-op returns in Campaign Evolved, alongside online co-op for playing with friends across the globe.

The Singapore PS Store listing also confirms English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese language support — strong regional coverage that makes this accessible for Singapore’s multilingual gaming community as well as players across Southeast Asia. The game carries a 16+ age rating for the Singapore listing.

For the complete game news breakdown and pre-order options, head to the PlayStation Store Singapore or Halo Waypoint for the latest official updates ahead of the July 28 launch.

Halo Lands on PS5 for the First Time — Singapore Gets It July 29

Mark the date: 29 July 2026. That is the day Singapore PlayStation 5 owners get to play a Halo campaign for the very first time. Halo: Campaign Evolved — a ground-up Unreal Engine 5 remake of the 2001 original, plus three brand-new missions — launches globally on 28 July, with Asia-Pacific (including Singapore) going live one day later on 29 July at the same 8 AM PDT moment. After 25 years as an Xbox exclusive, Master Chief is officially coming to PS5.

What Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?

This is not a remaster — it is a full rebuild. Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) has reconstructed every one of the original ten missions using Unreal Engine 5, with completely new visuals, remastered audio, rewritten cinematics, and refined level design. On top of the classic campaign, Operation: METEORITE adds three new prequel missions co-written with sci-fi novelist Troy Denning, sending Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson into new locations before the events of Combat Evolved. The total mission count comes to 13.

Halo: Campaign Evolved gameplay screenshot showing a Halo ring level
Image courtesy of Xbox / Halo Studios

Gameplay is also expanded: you can now hijack Warthogs, pilot Wraith tanks, and access weapons from later Halo entries. Skull modifiers return for a Campaign Remix mode that lets you tweak difficulty and behaviour rules. Cross-play and cross-progression are fully supported, so PS5 players and Xbox players can squad up together.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | New Missions Trailer | XBOX Games Showcase 2026 — via XBOX on YouTube

Singapore Pricing and Editions

The game is available on the PlayStation Store Singapore in two editions:

  • Standard Edition — SGD 79.90: Base game plus the Foundry Armory Pre-Order Pack (available while pre-orders are open).
  • Premium Edition — SGD 109.90: Adds up to five days of early access (Singapore early access begins 24 July), the Alpha Halo Armory Pack, and a Digital Story & Art Collection featuring an artbook and a short story by Troy Denning.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers get the game day one at no extra cost — the Standard Edition’s Foundry Armory Pack is not included with Game Pass, but the game itself is fully playable from launch.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Premium Edition bonus cosmetic armour packs
Image courtesy of Xbox / Halo Studios

A Collector’s Edition priced at USD 199.99 — which includes a Master Chief statue, a Cortana LED chip replica, and a SteelBook case — is not available in Asia-Pacific, limited to North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania. Singapore fans who want the full physical collector’s experience will need to import.

Co-op, PS5 Features, and What Singapore Players Should Know

The PS5 version is PS5 Pro Enhanced and supports DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Online co-op supports up to four players with full crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Two-player split-screen is available on console only.

One thing to note for Singapore: the game carries an IARC 16+ rating (Horror, Strong Violence), which is consistent with what PlayStation Singapore already lists. PS Plus subscription is required for online play on PS5.

For PlayStation fans who grew up watching their Xbox-owning friends rave about Halo but never got to play it — 29 July is your day. You can browse the latest game news on GameTrader for more upcoming PS5 releases this month.

Halo Comes to PS5: Singapore Pricing and What’s New in Campaign Evolved

For the first time in gaming history, a Halo game is landing on a PlayStation console — and Singapore PS5 owners can pre-order it today. Halo: Campaign Evolved, developed by Halo Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios, launches on 28 July 2026 globally, with PlayStation Asia regions including Singapore going live on 29 July. The Standard Edition is priced at S$79.90 on the Singapore PlayStation Store, with a Premium Edition at S$109.90 that unlocks up to five days of early access — beginning 24 July in Singapore.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | New Missions Trailer | XBOX Games Showcase 2026 — via XBOX on YouTube

A Historic First: Halo Finally on PlayStation

Microsoft’s flagship shooter franchise has been a cornerstone of Xbox since the console’s debut in November 2001, when the original Halo: Combat Evolved shipped as a launch title. For over two decades, playing Halo meant owning an Xbox or a gaming PC. That exclusivity ends this July. Halo: Campaign Evolved is a ground-up remake of that original campaign — rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls — and it is launching natively on PlayStation 5 at the same time as Xbox Series X|S and PC.

For Singapore PS5 owners who grew up hearing about Halo but never had a reason to pick up an Xbox, this is the definitive entry point into one of gaming’s most celebrated storylines.

Halo: Campaign Evolved gameplay screenshot showing the Halo ringworld environment
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

What’s New Beyond the Original Campaign

Halo: Campaign Evolved is more than a visual upgrade. Halo Studios expanded the game to 13 total missions — the original 10, plus three new pre-campaign missions that follow Sergeant Avery Johnson in the lead-up to the ring’s discovery. These additions fill in story beats that fans have wanted for years.

The arsenal is expanded too: nine weapons from across the broader Halo series are now available, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, and Needle Rifle. Vehicle hijacking — a fan-favourite mechanic from later games — is implemented throughout. Dozens of Skulls return to toggle gameplay modifiers. Cinematics have been rebuilt with full motion capture and returning voice actors, and Martin O’Donnell’s iconic soundtrack has been remastered with rebuilt sound design.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Master Chief combat gameplay
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Co-op, Crossplay, and Game Pass

The game supports two-player split-screen co-op on consoles and up to four-player online co-op across all platforms. Full crossplay and shared progression mean a Singapore PS5 player can team up with friends on Xbox Series X|S or PC without any barriers. Progress carries over if you ever switch platforms.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers get Halo: Campaign Evolved on day one at no extra cost. The game is also coming to PC via Steam for those who prefer that platform.

Halo: Campaign Evolved four-player online co-op
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Singapore Editions and Launch Dates

Two editions are available to pre-order on the Singapore PlayStation Store now:

  • Standard Edition — S$79.90: The full 13-mission campaign plus the Foundry Armory pre-order cosmetic pack.
  • Premium Edition — S$109.90: Everything in Standard, with up to five days early access (from 24 July in Singapore), the Alpha Halo Armory Pack, and a Digital Story & Art Collection with lore content.

For most Singapore players, the Standard Edition at S$79.90 is solid value for a campaign that comfortably clears ten hours. The Premium Edition is the pick if you want to play the moment early access opens on 24 July, or if the bonus cosmetics and lore collection appeal. The full standard launch for Singapore follows on 29 July.

Stay across all the biggest game releases hitting Singapore as July 2026 shapes up to be one of the strongest months on recent record.

Xbox Games Showcase 2026: Your Singapore Watch Guide

If you’re a Singapore gamer staying up late tonight, point your browser to YouTube.com/Xbox — the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 kicks off at 1am SGT on Monday, 8 June, followed immediately by the dedicated Gears of War: E-Day Direct. Between Halo finally coming to PlayStation and a Gears origin story running on Unreal Engine 5, there’s a lot on the table.

Xbox Games Showcase 2026: Singapore Watch Times

Xbox officially confirmed the event on Xbox Wire. Here’s when it hits for key time zones:

  • Singapore (SGT): Monday 8 June, 1:00am
  • Japan (JST): Monday 8 June, 2:00am
  • Australia (AEST): Monday 8 June, 3:00am
  • UK (BST): Sunday 7 June, 6:00pm

Streaming on YouTube.com/Xbox and Twitch.tv/Xbox in 4K60 — both are freely accessible in Singapore without a VPN or subscription. The Gears of War: E-Day Direct begins the moment the main Showcase wraps.

Gears of War: E-Day Direct — The Prequel We’ve Been Waiting For

Gears of War E-Day key art showing Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago
Image courtesy of Xbox

Developed by The Coalition and People Can Fly, Gears of War: E-Day is the prequel that takes the saga back to the beginning — Emergence Day, the catastrophic moment 14 years before the original Gears of War when the Locust Horde first surfaced. You play as a young Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago as Sera falls around them.

Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts “over 100 times more environment and character detail” than Gears 5, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a new destruction system, and rebuilt gore mechanics. It’s confirmed for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026. Tonight’s Direct is expected to go deep on gameplay, story and release timing.

Gears of War: E-Day | Official Announce Trailer (In-Engine) — via XBOX on YouTube

Halo: Campaign Evolved — Finally Coming to PlayStation

Halo Campaign Evolved key art with Master Chief
Image courtesy of Xbox

This is the one Singapore’s large PlayStation base has been quietly hoping for. Halo: Campaign Evolved — a ground-up remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign by Halo Studios — is confirmed for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. It’s the first time a mainline Halo game has ever launched on a Sony console, and cross-platform play and shared progression between Xbox, PC and PS5 are built in from day one.

What’s New in the Remake

Halo Campaign Evolved gameplay screenshot
Image courtesy of Xbox

Beyond the rebuilt HD visuals and remastered soundtrack, Halo Studios confirmed these additions over the original 2001 campaign:

  • 4-player online co-op (plus 2-player split-screen on consoles)
  • 3 new pre-campaign missions featuring Sergeant Avery Johnson
  • 9 additional weapons, including the Energy Sword and Battle Rifle
  • Enemy vehicle hijacking and a four-seat Warthog
  • “Dozens of Skulls” gameplay modifiers for randomised chaos

The game arrives in 2026 — a specific release date may be confirmed at tonight’s Showcase. It’s available to wishlist now on the Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation storefronts.

What Else Could Drop Tonight

Xbox hasn’t announced a full games list ahead of the show, but reliable leakers have pointed to several other titles making appearances — including Persona 6, State of Decay 3, and updates on other first-party Xbox titles. Take those as unconfirmed until the show airs. Check back here after the showcase for our full breakdown of everything announced.

You can also catch other gaming news from this week’s Summer Game Fest lineup on GameTrader.SG.

Last words

For Singapore gamers who’ve never owned an Xbox, Halo: Campaign Evolved coming to PS5 is arguably the biggest Xbox Showcase story in years — the iconic shooter finally lands on hardware most of us already own. Set your alarm or leave the stream open; the Gears of War: E-Day Direct should give us a proper first gameplay look at one of 2026’s most anticipated Xbox titles. We’ll be back with a full recap once the dust settles.