Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Composer(s)
SeriesHalo
EngineSaber3D Engine
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Xbox One
Windows
Xbox Series X/S
Release
  • Xbox 360
  • November 15, 2011
  • Xbox One
  • November 11, 2014
  • Microsoft Windows
  • March 3, 2020
  • Xbox Series X/S
  • November 17, 2020
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a 2011 first-person shooter video game developed by 343 Industries, Saber Interactive, and Certain Affinity. It is a remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), developed by Bungie. Publisher Microsoft announced Anniversary alongside Halo 4 at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo. It was released in November 2011, the 10th anniversary of the original Halo, for the Xbox 360 console, and re-released as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One in November 2014. A Windows version was released in March 2020.[1]

343 Industries, overseers of the Halo franchise, approached Saber Interactive to develop a remaster of Halo for the anniversary. Saber used its proprietary game engine to reproduce the graphics and the original Halo engine for gameplay. A development tool for toggling between the old and new visuals became a game feature. Anniversary's enhancements include a complete high-definition visual overhaul, support for cooperative and multiplayer gameplay via the Xbox Live online service, new and remastered sound effects and music, and extras such as achievements and in-game collectibles. It is the first Halo game to include Kinect support.

Critical reception to Anniversary was generally positive. The updated graphics, sounds, and ability to toggle between the remastered and original visuals were praised. Complaints included technical glitches, faults with the original game's level design, and the multiplayer implementation.

  1. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (March 4, 2020). "Halo: Combat Evolved is now on PC". Polygon. Retrieved March 4, 2020.