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Halo: Combat Evolved

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Template:Infobox game/row/winporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/osxporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/osxporter
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved cover
Developers
Bungie
Publishers
Microsoft Game Studios
Engines
Halo Engine
Release dates
Windows September 30, 2003
macOS (OS X) December 3, 2003
Halo: Combat Evolved guide on StrategyWiki
Halo: Combat Evolved on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png

Warnings

The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).
Halo
Halo: Combat Evolved 2003
Halo 2 2007
Halo: Spartan (series)
Halo Online 2015*
Halo 5: Forge 2016
Halo Wars (series)
Halo Recruit 2017
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (series)
Halo Infinite 2021

Key points

Patch 1.10 fixes issues with modern hardware and replaces the GameSpy master server.
Weapon/player animations are capped at 30 FPS, however all refresh rates are supported.[1]

General information

Bungie.net - The developer's site
Halo Nation - A very detailed wiki for everything Halo related
Halo.Bungie.org - One of the biggest Halo fan sites around
Halo Maps - A fan site for downloading mods and maps for Halo: Custom Edition
Bungie forum thread about enhancing many aspects of Halo CE and Halo PC

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
Windows
macOS (OS X)
The official demo for the game can be found here.
Disc checking was removed in Patch 1.08.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.10 updates the Windows version. Includes all previous patches. Patch notes may be found here.
The Mavericks/Lobby patches for the OS X version switches to the new Patch 1.10 lobby servers and optionally fixes compatibility with OS X Mavericks (10.9).

Halo: Custom Edition

Halo: Custom Edition allows players to play multiplayer Halo games on user-created maps.
Doesn't include the single-player campaign, but a workaround exists (see this section).

Halo Anticheat 2

Halo Anticheat 2 is a mod that fixes multiple issues and adds several features, while supporting all versions of both Combat Evolved and Custom Edition.
Only compatible with Open Sauce after downloading an additional fix.[2]

Open Sauce

Open Sauce is a mod for Custom Edition that fixes multiple issues and adds several features for modders.
Only compatible with HAC 2 after downloading an additional fix for HAC 2.[2]

Skip intro videos

Instructions

Modifications

CMT SPV3

Texture, model, and gameplay enhancement for Halo: Custom Edition.
Includes high resolution textures and models; new weapons, enemies, and gameplay features that are inspired by content from future Halo games and multimedia; and includes remade maps to fit the new content.
Only the first six missions are available to play, with the team planning to release the second half of the campaign at a later date.

Project Lumoria

A brand new campaign story for Halo CE
Stays true to the classic Halo CE feel

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location

Save game data location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location
Custom Edition saves in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Halo CE\

Video settings

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

Patch 1.10 adds support for resolutions up to 4800x3600.
Instructions

Field of view (FOV)

Instructions
Instructions

Borderless fullscreen windowed

Instructions

Input settings

In-game controls settings.
In-game controls settings.
In-game mouse settings.
In-game mouse settings.
In-game gamepad settings.
In-game gamepad settings.

Template:Input settings

Mouse acceleration

Mouse acceleration currently can only be fixed in Halo: Custom Edition.
Instructions
Instructions

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Only in French version of the game
Italian
Spanish

Network

In-game network settings.
In-game network settings.

Multiplayer types

Type Native Notes
Local play
Xbox version only.
LAN play
Versus
Online play
Versus
See Patches.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 80
UDP 2302, 2303
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Stretched HUD in widescreen

Even with the fixes below, some of the HUD elements are still stretched when using the scope zoom.
Instructions
Instructions

Activating Hardware Acceleration or Environmental Sound causes sounds to cut out randomly

ASUS sound cards cut out short-duration audio streams for power management, as a result the assault rifle will become silent when holding the fire button.[3]
Instructions

Broken main menu background flyby

i.e. The flyby for the Halo ring in the main menu background is not following the correct path.
Instructions

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9
OpenGL 1 OS X only.
Shader Model support 1.1, 2
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Cutscenes Bink Video
Multiplayer GameSpy Was shutdown in late 2014. New host uses HostPC.com

Play the campaign with Custom Edition

Instructions

Add post-processing filters

Instructions

Enable the console

Instructions

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98SE ME, 2000, XP
Processor (CPU) 733 MHz
System memory (RAM) 128 MB 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 1.3 GB
Video card (GPU) 32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0b compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.2.8
Processor (CPU) PowerPC G4
System memory (RAM) 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 1.4 GB
Video card (GPU) 32 MB of VRAM

References