THE CRUNCH
Developer Mitchell Hynes has released a free, unofficial browser port of Halo: Combat Evolved that supports split-screen co-op and up to 128-player multiplayer. The port reportedly runs at an average of 94 frames per second, but Hynes warns it does not perform well on mobile devices and cautions that the 128-player mode is untested. The project builds on the recent decompilation of the original Xbox game.
The browser port is an unofficial project that brings the full campaign and competitive multiplayer from the original Xbox version to a web-based format. Hynes announced the release on X, noting that the campaign is playable and that split-screen co-op is working. He also listed 128-player multiplayer as a feature, though he flagged it as untested. The original Xbox game supported up to 16 players in competitive modes, so the jump to 128 is a significant increase.
Performance appears to be strong on PC, with reports of an average frame rate of 94 FPS. However, Hynes explicitly recommends PC as the platform and warns that the port does not run well on iOS or Android. Early testing indicates the campaign works well, but one tester had less success with the 128-player mode. The port leverages the recent decompilation of the original Xbox game, which has enabled various community projects.
For those seeking an official experience, Halo: Campaign Evolved launched on July 28 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. That title is a campaign-only remake and does not include the original's competitive multiplayer. The browser port offers a way to play the classic game with updated multiplayer capabilities, but users should wait for more testing before relying on the 128-player mode.