Following a short beta test, Xbox announced today that the full version of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is available on PC. It is available through the Xbox Game Pass for PC, the Microsoft Store, and on Steam.
Halo: Combat Evolved is the first game in the Halo series, and part of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The original game was released with the original Xbox console in 2001, and the entire Halo series remains one of the most popular Xbox game franchises to date. Microsoft is launching The Master Chief Collection on PC game-by-game as each remaster is finished, leading up to the launch of Halo: Infinite later this year on the Xbox Series X.
The announcement regarding Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's PC release was made on Xbox Wire this morning. The game is remastered, featuring new customizations and enhancements, including 4K UHD support and more involved gameplay options. Players also have the choice to switch between the classic and remastered graphics, as well as between the updated and the classic Halo: Combat Evolved sounds, which was a highly requested detail when the anniversary edition was first announced.
There was a short beta period last month for Halo Insider members in order to test the game's servers and other general gameplay improvements. It was also supposed to test cross play between PC and Xbox, something that had only been briefly mentioned previously by 343 Industries. The Xbox Wire article did not specifically mention Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's cross play capabilities, so that may be a feature yet to come for the PC release.
There was some criticism of the release strategy for The Master Chief Collection, with some thinking that the games are too old to warrant a PC remaster, especially one with a build up like this. However, the point of this new PC release of the Halo games is to celebrate their legacy. Microsoft and 343 Industries are ensuring that they take their time with each game in order to deliver a quality Halo experience to new and old fans alike. Releasing each game individually instead of in a potentially rushed bulk package assures players that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, along with the rest of The Master Chief Collection, has been remastered with the care and the attention to detail they want and need.
Source: Xbox Wire