Microsoft Confirms Halo Franchise Going Multiplatform, Starting With PS5

The End of an Era for Xbox Exclusives

In what represents one of the most significant platform strategy shifts in gaming history, Microsoft has confirmed that the Halo franchise will be multiplatform “going forward,” according to announcements made during the Halo World Championship livestream. The confirmation came after the reveal of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a ground-up remake of the original game that will launch simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation 5 in what appears to be just the beginning of Master Chief’s expansion beyond Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Halo Studios community director Brian “ske7ch” Jarrard explicitly described the series as multiplatform during the presentation, signaling a dramatic departure from Halo’s 25-year history as Xbox’s flagship exclusive. The Halo franchise has been synonymous with Xbox since the original console’s launch in 2001, making this platform expansion particularly noteworthy for industry watchers.

More Than Just a Remake

Halo: Campaign Evolved isn’t merely a visual upgrade. Sources indicate the project adds three new prequel levels and introduces four-player cooperative campaign support—a first for the original game’s story mode. Perhaps most importantly, the remake will feature full crossplay between platforms, allowing friends to team up regardless of whether they’re playing on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC.

This cross-platform approach appears to be central to Microsoft’s new strategy. Building on this foundation, Jarrard teased future Halo announcements for PlayStation 5 owners in a PlayStation Blog post, quoting Master Chief’s famous line: “I think we’re just getting started.” Industry analysts suggest this could indicate plans to bring the Master Chief Collection—which includes Halo games through Guardians—or even more recent titles to Sony’s platform.

Strategic Pivot Under New Profit Goals

The multiplatform move comes amid reports of Microsoft enforcing stricter profit targets across its gaming division. According to industry analysis, this has prompted a comprehensive reevaluation of Xbox’s business model, potentially explaining why what was once unthinkable—Halo on PlayStation—is now becoming reality.

Video game remakes have become increasingly common as publishers seek to monetize beloved franchises, but Microsoft’s decision to bring this particular remake to competing hardware marks a watershed moment. The company appears to be prioritizing ecosystem expansion over platform exclusivity, a strategy that could reshape console competition dynamics.

What Comes Next for the Franchise

If Microsoft follows through on making Halo truly multiplatform, the implications extend far beyond a single remake. The Master Chief Collection would be an obvious candidate for PlayStation 5, giving Sony console owners access to nearly the entire series history in one package. Even Halo Infinite, the most recent mainline entry, could eventually make the jump according to industry speculation.

This shift reflects broader changes in how major publishers approach platform strategy. As development costs soar and cooperative gaming continues to grow in popularity, maintaining walled gardens becomes increasingly difficult to justify financially. Microsoft’s decision to bring its most iconic character to PlayStation suggests the company believes there’s more value in expanding the Master Chief’s reach than in keeping him confined to Xbox ecosystems.

For longtime Halo fans, the news means potentially reuniting with old teammates across platform boundaries. For Microsoft, it represents a fundamental rethinking of what Xbox means in an increasingly platform-agnostic gaming landscape. And for Sony console owners, it opens the door to experiencing one of gaming’s most influential franchises for the first time—a development that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.