Combat Evolved in VR: Exciting with a Twist

Thanks to a fan-driven mod available on GitHub, the 2001 hit Halo: Combat Evolved now has a new way to experience it: in virtual reality. This exciting development, however, comes with a significant obstacle that may limit its accessibility for many players.

The modding community for Halo has been gaining momentum recently. The release of the Master Chief Collection on PC a few years back laid the foundation, with 343 Industries providing official modding tools to encourage creative minds to craft their own Halo stories. Since then, we’ve seen a slew of remarkable mods. Just recently, a team of talented fans successfully brought the E3 2003 demo of Halo 2 into the Master Chief Collection, much to the delight of players who had waited for two decades to delve into that legendary gameplay snippet.

If you’re eager to try the Halo: Combat Evolved VR mod, it’s downloadable via GitHub. LunchAndVR has shared videos of it on YouTube, and it genuinely looks like a thrilling way to engage with this enduring classic. Key features from the mod’s page include working scopes tailored for specific weapons, a two-handed aiming functionality, a floating UI, and a dynamic crosshair, among other features. Though, a few bugs are reported, such as odd camera behavior when entering or exiting vehicles. As the mod continues to develop, these quirks may eventually be resolved.

The catch here is rather notable: you’ll need a copy of the original 2003 PC version to make it work, which isn’t easily found these days. Most Halo enthusiasts access the games via the Halo: Master Chief Collection, an option that’s currently unavailable for this mod. The GitHub page also advises against using pirated copies, though it notes that product keys are not limited to a single use, meaning buying a second-hand copy could allow you to secure the required game version.

The Halo series is poised for exciting developments in the coming years. The recent rebranding of 343 Industries to Halo Studios heralds a fresh chapter, especially with the shift to utilizing Unreal Engine 5 in upcoming projects. Unconfirmed whispers about a potential remake of Halo: Combat Evolved suggest a potential release as soon as 2026. Yet, these are unverified and should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Back in its freshly remastered glory, the original Halo campaign, now optimized for PC, invites you to revisit its legendary narrative. It tells the tale of Master Chief, newly landed on a mysterious ringworld, standing against formidable Covenant enemies to safeguard the remnants of humankind. Joining forces with Cortana, they uncover Halo’s dark secret, striving to save all life across the universe. This renowned franchise continues to capture the hearts of gamers worldwide.