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The Halo: Campaign Evolved bonus missions add a new chapter to the story before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. Set in 2551, about a year before the original campaign, the three-mission arc follows Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson as they take on a dangerous mission against the Covenant. It also offers a closer look at their working relationship before Chief meets Cortana.
What the Halo: Campaign Evolved bonus missions add
Halo: Campaign Evolved remakes the full story of Combat Evolved and supports campaigns with up to four players. Alongside that main story, the bonus missions expand the setting with new situations and characters while drawing on elements introduced in later Halo games.
Halo Studios aimed to make those weapons and enemy types feel like a natural part of the wider universe, rather than additions that only appear because they were created for later games. The missions focus on Chief and Johnson, with the story providing more context for a partnership that players see again in the original campaign and its sequels.
Creative director Max Szlagor described the missions as an opportunity to explore the history between Chief and Johnson, as well as the connections between ODSTs and Spartans. The added context may be especially useful for players who know Johnson mainly from his appearances in later games.
The story was overseen by senior franchise story lead Jeff Easterling, with longtime Halo novelist Troy Denning contributing to the writing. Easterling noted that Johnson’s role in the original Combat Evolved is smaller than his later presence in the series. These missions give the character more room to develop. Denning, who previously wrote Chief and Johnson together in Halo: Silent Storm, helped shape the arc around the search for navigation coordinates connected to the Covenant homeworld.
Boarding Action begins the mission arc
The first mission, “Boarding Action,” sends Chief and Johnson aboard the Covenant ship The Triumph of Tolerance. Their goal is to recover navigation data that could help humanity strike back after a planet has been glassed. The opening encounters pit Chief against Grunts, Jackals, and an Elite before Johnson joins him inside the ship.
The dialogue establishes a familiar, conversational dynamic between the two characters. Johnson handles tasks Chief cannot complete alone, while their exchanges hint at technology and events that will become more significant later in the timeline. Executive producer Damon Conn said the team included lore references for longtime fans while also making the story accessible to players encountering those details for the first time.
Weapons and combat variety
The missions bring in a broad selection of weapons, including the battle rifle, fuel rod cannon, energy sword, needle rifle, and the powerful pistol associated with Combat Evolved. A Covenant sparring room stands out as a combat sandbox: weapons are spread across the area, giving players room to switch tactics as enemy waves arrive. A stocked armory follows, offering another chance to adjust a loadout.
For practical play, it helps to experiment with the available weapons rather than relying on one choice throughout. Different encounters reward different approaches, and having several options can make it easier to respond as the enemy mix changes.
New enemies and tougher encounters
Alongside familiar foes such as Elites, Grunts, Jackals, and Hunters, the missions introduce the Brutes. These aggressive enemies first appeared in Halo 2, and their arrival changes the pace of combat. Players must be ready for tougher fights and should pay attention to positioning, particularly when enemies attack from multiple directions.
The second mission moves away from the enclosed ship corridors and purpose-built arenas into an outdoor environment. The third raises the challenge further, including a moving-platform sequence where enemies fire on the player from several angles. Newcomers to Halo, and returning players who are out of practice, may want to play the original campaign first: Halo Studios recommends it because the bonus missions reach higher difficulty quickly.
A change of pace in the finale
The three-part story concludes with a space-combat sequence. Players pilot a Covenant Seraph, shifting from ground combat to a distinct style of action inspired by Halo: Reach. This change gives the finale a different rhythm without revealing the story details behind the mission.
Why the prequel story matters
Expanding a well-known story can be challenging, particularly when the original game has a strong place in the series. By setting these missions before Combat Evolved, focusing on Chief and Johnson, and using ideas from across the Halo universe, Halo: Campaign Evolved builds a compact prequel around familiar characters and new encounters.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled to arrive on July 28 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. For players interested in the history behind the original campaign, the Halo: Campaign Evolved bonus missions offer additional character context, varied combat, and a look at events that precede Chief’s partnership with Cortana.
