Return to Halo Almost 25 Years Later With Xbox Game Pass

July 21, 2026 - 20:04

Nearly 25 years after its original release, the first Halo game is making a return to Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft has announced a new wave of games coming to the subscription service over the next few weeks, including remastered versions of the original Halo: Combat Evolved and the classic first-person shooters Hexen and Heretic. The additions are part of a regular monthly update, but the company is also pulling eight games from the library at the same time.

The Halo addition is a notable one for longtime fans. The remastered edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, brings updated graphics and sound to the 2001 launch title while keeping the original gameplay intact. It joins the rest of the Master Chief Collection, which is already available on Game Pass. Alongside the sci-fi shooter, Microsoft is adding the dark fantasy shooters Hexen and Heretic, both of which have been remastered for modern consoles. These games, originally released in the 1990s, are known for their fast-paced action and gothic themes.

Other titles arriving soon include a handful of indie and smaller studio games. The full list covers a range of genres, from action to puzzle games. However, subscribers will also lose access to eight games on the same day the new ones arrive. The departing titles include several well-known games, so players should check the list before they disappear from the service.

Microsoft continues to rotate its Game Pass catalog monthly, adding new experiences while retiring older ones. For those who want to revisit the game that started the Halo franchise, or try some classic shooters from the 90s, the coming weeks offer a good chance to do so.