Halo: Campaign Evolved Is Getting Firefight in a Free Update This Winter
Xbox has confirmed Firefight is coming to Halo: Campaign Evolved as a free four-player co-op mode this winter, with more details due at Halo Fest in December.
Xbox has announced that Firefight, the long-running wave-survival co-op mode from the Halo series, is heading to Halo: Campaign Evolved. The update will be free, and Halo Studios' Tahir Hasangjekaj said it is due out "this winter", according to Push Square. There is still no firm release date.
What we know about the Firefight update
According to VGC, Firefight will arrive as a 4-player PvE mode. The mode has appeared in several earlier Halo games, where players team up to hold off waves of enemies.
The update costs nothing extra for people who already own the game. Push Square describes it as free for all existing players. No specific date has been given beyond "winter".
Attendees at Xbox FanFest are set to get hands-on time with the new Firefight later on the day of the announcement. Push Square suggests watching for early impressions from those players.
Halo Fest is the next checkpoint
VGC reports that more details on the update will come during Halo Fest, which runs December 12–13. Until then, the confirmed facts are limited: the update is free, it adds Firefight, and it lands sometime in the winter.
The sources do not say what maps, modes, difficulty options or customization Firefight will include. Nor do they say whether it will have the same features as earlier versions of the mode.
For context, Xbox is also using FanFest events to mark 25 years of Xbox on November 15. Xbox Wire says the tour's final stop is at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle on Thursday, November 12, 2026, and the events include hands-on gameplay.
Where Halo stands
Halo: Campaign Evolved came out in July. VGC describes it as a remake of the first Halo game's story mode, and the first game released under 343 Industries' new name, Halo Studios.
VGC also reports that Halo Studios was heavily affected by recent layoffs across Xbox. As part of that, Xbox transferred Halo to Activision. A smaller Halo Studios is left in charge of Halo games that are already out, including Campaign Evolved. VGC says a new Halo game is in development at Activision, but there is no word on whether it will continue from Halo Infinite or reboot the series.
Push Square says Campaign Evolved has struggled commercially, "by almost all accounts", and notes this Firefight update could be the last Halo Studios-led project. Push Square's headline also frames the update as a reason for PlayStation 5 players to return to the game. The sources reviewed do not list the platforms for the update, so check Halo Fest for confirmation.
What it means for you
If you already own Halo: Campaign Evolved, you won't need to buy anything to get Firefight. You'll need to wait for the winter release, and for a date that hasn't been announced. The best time to look for specifics is Halo Fest on December 12–13, when more details are due.
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Quick answers
Is the Halo: Campaign Evolved Firefight update free?
Yes. VGC and Push Square both report that the update will be free.
When does Firefight come out in Halo: Campaign Evolved?
There is no exact date yet. It is slated for "this winter", and Halo Fest on December 12–13 should bring more information.
How many players does Firefight support?
VGC reports it will be a 4-player PvE mode.
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