Halo: Campaign Evolved will enter Early Access for Premium Edition pre-orders on July 23 at 8:00 a.m. PDT, giving players an advance run through Alpha Halo and the rebuilt classic campaign. Ahead of launch, 343 Industries and Halo Support have published the schedule for pre-loads and platform availability, explained account linking and cross-platform play, and laid out modding guidance and PC requirements. Here’s everything you need to know to get into the ring without delay.
Early Access windows and localized launch times
Players who pre-ordered the Digital Premium Edition unlock Early Access starting Thursday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m. PDT. That time translates to local starts in major cities worldwide:
- Seattle: July 23, 8:00 a.m. PDT
- Mexico City: July 23, 9:00 a.m. CST
- New York: July 23, 11:00 a.m. EDT
- São Paulo: July 23, 12:00 p.m. BRT
- London: July 23, 4:00 p.m. BST
- Berlin: July 23, 5:00 p.m. CEST
- Riyadh: July 23, 6:00 p.m. AST
- New Delhi: July 23, 8:30 p.m. IST
- Hong Kong: July 23, 11:00 p.m. HKT
- Tokyo: July 24, 12:00 a.m. JST
- Sydney: July 24, 1:00 a.m. AEST
- Auckland: July 24, 3:00 a.m. NZST
Pre-ordering the Premium Edition grants the Foundry Armory Pack and up to five days of Early Access starting July 23. Pre-order bonuses remain available through July 28, 2026.
Pre-load schedule by platform
To minimize wait times on launch day, staggered pre-load windows have been assigned by platform and edition:
- July 22, 8:00 a.m. PDT — Xbox Series X|S (Collector, Premium, Standard), Windows PC (Premium, Standard), PlayStation 5 (Collector, Premium)
- July 23, 8:00 a.m. PDT — Steam (Standard Edition). Note: Steam Premium and Collector Edition owners can download when Early Access opens at 8:00 a.m. PDT on July 23.
- July 26, 8:00 a.m. PDT — PlayStation 5 (Standard Edition)
All editions become available to install and play on any supported platform beginning July 28 at 8:00 a.m. PDT. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers gain Day 1 access at that time.
Microsoft accounts, linking, and cross-platform play
Campaign progress, collectibles, and customizations are tracked via Microsoft accounts and Gamertags. Returning players should sign in with their existing Xbox Gamertag when prompted. New players can create a free Microsoft account online or via mobile and select a Gamertag to use across platforms.
PlayStation 5 and Steam players will be asked to link their platform ID to a Microsoft account on first launch; this step is required to access friends lists and enable cross-platform party invites. Halo Support provides step-by-step instructions for account linking.
To add cross-platform friends you will need their Gamertag. Xbox friends can be added through the Xbox.com website, the Xbox Game Bar on Windows, or the Xbox mobile app. Once added, cross-platform friends appear in the “Cross-Platform Friends” pane in the Play Co-Op menu when they are online. Look for a blinking indicator beside the Play Co-Op option to see when friends are available to join or invite to a Fireteam.
PC specifications and optimization
Minimum PC hardware to run Halo: Campaign Evolved is listed as:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-10700K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super / AMD Radeon RX 6600 / Intel Arc A580
- VRAM: 8 GB
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 100 GB SSD
- OS: Windows 10 22H2 64-bit or Windows 11
Halo Support also published an advanced optimization guide covering graphics quality, upscaling, resolution, GPU async workloads, frame generation and limits, and other settings to help players tune performance for higher visual fidelity or smoother framerates.
Accessibility, Twitch Drops, and modding guidance
The title includes a broad set of accessibility options — from custom control bindings and aim settings to audio narration, UI language, HUD adjustments, and menu animation controls — enabling players to tailor the campaign experience.
Twitch Drops will reward viewers with an exclusive Stream of the Crop Mark V Armor Style. Players interested in claiming Drops should link their Twitch account in advance so rewards can be claimed through Halo Waypoint when details are published on Halo’s social channels.
On modding, Halo Studios and Microsoft say they deliberately avoided blocking modder activity but will not provide official mod tools, Workshop support, or liability for modded content. Rules include prohibitions on distributing substantial parts of the game’s copyrighted code, selling or monetizing mods, circumventing entitlement or authentication checks, and creating inappropriate or infringing content. Microsoft reserves the right to shut down modded experiences that conflict with platform or legal requirements.
Support and what’s included
For technical help and the latest information, follow @HaloSupport on X or visit the Halo Support website to search resources or file a ticket. The release packages the lovingly rebuilt Halo: Combat Evolved campaign alongside Operation: METEORITE recon missions, 42 collectible Skulls, Campaign Remix options, two-player split-screen on consoles, four-player cross-platform co-op, and the LASO challenge.
As the team puts it in the build-up to launch: “The object we found. I’m going to try to land the Autumn on it.” Whether you’re a veteran Spartan or new to the ring, Early Access beginning July 23 provides the first opportunity to revisit Alpha Halo ahead of the full launch on July 28.
Source: Halo Waypoint