A comprehensive performance test analyzed the “Halo: Campaign Evolved” remake on 30 different graphics card models. The results indicate that, even at Full HD resolution and with graphics settings at maximum, not all common GPUs are able to maintain ideal fluidity.

How Unreal Engine 5 impacts Halo Campaign Evolved performance

The work on recreating the solo campaign of the classic “Halo: Combat Evolved”, originally released in 2001, was developed with Unreal Engine 5. This is a significant change, marking the first time that the franchise abandons the Slipspace Engine, a graphics engine present in previous games. This transition to Epic Games technology is one of the main factors behind the high demand for hardware.

Unreal Engine 5 incorporates advanced lighting and geometry features, such as Lumen and Nanite, which deliver high-quality graphics but require large processing power. However, the title was developed with an earlier version of the engine, which means it does not benefit from the latest optimizations aimed at improving performance on less powerful computers. The numbers obtained in the tests confirm this reality.

Card comparison: performance varies between high-end and mid-range GPUs

The disparity in results between the video cards evaluated is considerable. Among the most powerful, Nvidia’s RTX 5090 reached 151 frames per second (FPS). Next, the RTX 4090 recorded 131 FPS and the RTX 5080 scored 112 FPS. The RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4080 versions were between 107 and 108 FPS. In the AMD segment, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX achieved 99 FPS, the best performance among the brand’s models.

For 60 Hz monitors, upper mid-range cards still deliver satisfactory performance. The RTX 5070 Ti achieved 98 FPS, while the Radeon RX 9070 XT reached 89 FPS and the RX 7900 XT achieved 87 FPS. Models such as the RTX 5070 and RTX 4070 Ti remained at around 80 FPS, along with the Radeon RX 7900 GRE and RX 9070, both with 77 FPS. Players with these devices will likely have a smooth gaming experience.

The situation becomes more challenging for the popular plate segment. The RTX 4070 managed 68 FPS, the Radeon RX 6900 XT recorded 64 FPS and the RTX 5060 Ti reached 63 FPS. At a lower level, the Radeon RX 6800 XT and the RTX 4060 Ti were between 57 and 61 FPS. One of the most worrying results was that of the RTX 3060, one of the most used GPUs globally, which reached just 39 FPS with maximum settings. The Radeon RX 6750 XT also struggled, scoring 45 FPS.

Alternatives to optimize performance on less powerful PCs

Considering these numbers, it’s clear that owners of computers with mid-range hardware will need to pay attention to the game’s settings. The advantage is that the tested 1080p Ultra mode represents the maximum requirement, without the aid of image reconstruction technologies. Therefore, modifying filters and reducing some graphic details becomes a viable strategy to ensure a fluid gaming experience on less powerful GPUs.

Upscaling features such as Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR can provide significant support for improving performance. Furthermore, technical analyzes of the game itself indicate that the engine’s native image reconstruction may not provide the best sharpness, reinforcing the usefulness of these external tools. It is important to note that the performance recorded in the benchmark can be improved with the release of optimized drivers, generally available closer to the release date.

Halo Campaign Evolved release date and news

The remake’s official launch is scheduled for July 28, and the game will be available for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be included directly in the Xbox Game Pass catalog. Players who purchased the Premium or Collector’s editions had the opportunity to experience the title through early access.

The project goes beyond a simple visual remaster, featuring fully recreated cinematics and re-recorded dialogue with the original voice actors. Additionally, new prologue missions have been included, which take place before the events of the original campaign. Although the classic competitive multiplayer mode is not present, the title supports online co-op for up to four participants and split-screen mode for two players on consoles.