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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved is a 2001 first-person shooter and the first game in the Halo series.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Halo: Combat Evolved is a 2001 first-person shooter and the first game in the Halo series. It was developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the original Xbox, with later releases for Windows and Mac OS X in 2003.

What it is

Halo: Combat Evolved is a first-person shooter built around infantry combat, vehicle use, and weapon swapping. It introduced the series’ signature shield-and-health combat loop and supports multiplayer modes in addition to the campaign. The story follows Master Chief and Cortana as they uncover the secrets of the ringworld Halo while fighting the Covenant and the Flood.

Why it matters

Halo: Combat Evolved became an influential console shooter and a defining title for the Xbox platform. It helped establish the Halo franchise as one of the most prominent series in video games.

Key details

The game launched first on Xbox in November 2001, then appeared on Windows and Mac OS X in 2003. Later remastered versions and anniversary editions expanded its availability on newer Xbox platforms.

In short

  • Released as a launch title for the original Xbox on November 15, 2001.
  • Developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
  • Set around Master Chief, Cortana, the Covenant, and the Flood on the ringworld Halo.
  • Windows and Mac ports were released in 2003.
Canadian angle

Halo: Combat Evolved helped define the original Xbox, which was sold in Canada alongside other major markets and became part of Canadian gaming culture.

Quick questions

When was Halo Combat Evolved released?
It was released on November 15, 2001 for the original Xbox in the US.
Who developed Halo Combat Evolved?
Bungie Studios developed Halo: Combat Evolved, and Microsoft Game Studios published it.
What is Halo Combat Evolved about?
It follows Master Chief and the UNSC after they discover a mysterious ringworld called Halo and fight the Covenant and the Flood.

Sources

  1. Halopedia — https://www.halopedia.org/Halo:_Combat_Evolved
    Supports: Release dates, developer, publisher, plot overview, and platform history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo:_Combat_Evolved
    Supports: Initial release date, developer, publisher, platform ports, and franchise context.
  3. Computing History — https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/9956/Halo-Combat-Evolved/
    Supports: Xbox launch title status, developer, publisher, and PC/Mac release in 2003.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo:_Combat_Evolved_Anniversary
    Supports: Later anniversary release context for the game.