Halo: Campaign Evolved has made its debut, accessible to those willing to pay the early access fee. The game showcases stunning visuals on high-end gaming PCs and current-generation consoles; however, it faces significant challenges on lower-end hardware, particularly handheld gaming devices. My experience with the remake on the Xbox Ally revealed that the original Halo campaign appears far superior in the Master Chief Collection.
Performance Discrepancies
It comes as little surprise that Campaign Evolved does not perform optimally on low-end handhelds like the Steam Deck. The game requires a minimum configuration of an Intel Core i7-10700K and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, both of which exceed the capabilities of the base Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck. Interestingly, the Steam page for the game claims it is Steam Deck Verified.
To run the game on the Xbox Ally, I adjusted the resolution to 1280×720 and selected the Very Low preset, with FSR set to Low. Under these conditions, I managed to achieve a playable frame rate of around 30 fps, though it occasionally dipped into the mid-20s. This might explain why the game received the Steam Deck Verified label, as I have encountered other titles that performed worse yet still earned that green checkmark.
Visual Quality Concerns
While the game is technically playable at these settings, the visual experience leaves much to be desired. To maintain frame rates, the visual fidelity suffers significantly: textures appear bland, and the environment lacks vegetation and other essential elements. The upscaling at this resolution results in a blurry, staticky appearance, further detracting from the overall experience.
Despite some aspects of the game retaining a degree of detail—such as walls and certain objects—the Master Chief Collection still outshines Campaign Evolved. Even though the latter may look more modern, it fails to deliver the same level of visual engagement. For instance, in screenshots from the second mission, where players fend off Covenant reinforcements, the Campaign Evolved image displays a flat environment and a blurry Elite, while the Master Chief Collection presents a more vibrant scene with visible vegetation and clearer enemy details.
Frame Rate Comparisons
The performance metrics further illustrate the disparity between the two versions. On the Xbox Ally, the Master Chief Collection consistently achieves 65-70 fps, while Campaign Evolved struggles to maintain 25-30 fps. Notably, the Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck share comparable performance capabilities.
As a long-time fan of the original Halo, I can attest to its nostalgic value. For years, it was the primary reason I kept a console in my home. While I look forward to enjoying this new remake on a high-end PC or a more powerful handheld like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, I would recommend that anyone wishing to experience the original campaign on the Steam Deck opt for the Master Chief Collection instead.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra.
