Halo Campaign Evolved Operation Meteorite adds three brand new story missions. Here’s what happens, who’s involved, and why it matters for the Halo timeline.

Halo Campaign Evolved Operation Meteorite: The New Story Missions Explained

Halo Campaign Evolved Operation Meteorite is the biggest reason to play the remake even if you’ve already finished the original Halo a dozen times.

Three brand new missions. New locations. New enemies. A prequel story that adds context to one of gaming’s most iconic character relationships — Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. And it’s included in every edition of the game, not locked behind premium DLC.

Here’s everything you need to know about what Operation Meteorite actually is, what happens in it, and why it matters.

What Is Operation Meteorite?

Operation METEORITE is a new three-mission story arc that takes place a year before the events of the first Halo game. Featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson, this new adventure sends players behind enemy lines in a clandestine UNSC operation aboard a Covenant research vessel. What starts as a simple smash and grab turns more complicated as they encounter more than they bargained for.

The setup is classic Halo. Simple mission brief. Things go wrong. Master Chief and Johnson have to improvise.

The difference from the main campaign is context. In the original Halo: Combat Evolved, Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson are already established allies when the game begins — you’re dropped into their dynamic without explanation. Operation Meteorite fills in some of that gap, giving you a story that takes place before the Pillar of Autumn even arrives at the Halo ring.

Why Operation Meteorite Is Included with Every Edition

This is a meaningful decision by Halo Studios that’s worth highlighting.

Operation Meteorite comes with every edition of the game rather than serving as Premium Edition DLC.

A lot of remakes and remasters use new story content as premium upsell material. New missions behind a deluxe edition paywall. Halo Studios didn’t do that here. Whether you pay $49.99 for the Standard Edition or $199.99 for the Collector’s Edition, Operation Meteorite is included.

That’s the right call — and it matters because these missions aren’t optional flavor content. They’re designed to expand the relationship between two of the most important characters in Halo’s history.

What’s New in Operation Meteorite

New Locations

The three missions take place aboard and around a Covenant research vessel — environments that don’t exist anywhere in the original Halo campaign. The Covenant ship setting gives Halo Studios space to show what Covenant technology and architecture look like beyond what the original game could render on Xbox 2001 hardware.

New Enemy Variants

Operation Meteorite comes with new locations, new enemy variants, more weapons from across the Halo series, and new gameplay scenarios.

New enemy variants means new behaviors, new tactics required, and potentially enemy types that never appeared in the original campaign. The Covenant research vessel setting implies scientific personnel and specialized units rather than the standard combat troops you fight through most of Combat Evolved.

Expanded Weapons From Across the Halo Series

One of the more interesting design choices — Operation Meteorite includes weapons from across the broader Halo franchise, not just the original game’s arsenal. This creates some deliberate anachronism — weapons that didn’t exist in the original 2001 game appearing in a prequel set before it — but Halo Studios clearly prioritized gameplay variety over strict continuity.

The Master Chief and Johnson Dynamic

This is the narrative core of Operation Meteorite. The relationship between Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson is one of the most beloved in gaming — built on mutual respect, shared combat experience, and Johnson’s unmatched one-liner delivery.

Halo Studios describes the story as additional context for the relationship between the two characters before their reunion during the events of Combat Evolved.

Seeing how these two operate together before the events of the main game — in a high-stakes covert mission with no backup — is exactly the kind of content Halo fans have been asking about for years.

How Long Is Operation Meteorite?

Specific completion time estimates vary by player but three missions on a Halo scale generally suggests two to four hours of content depending on difficulty and whether you’re hunting collectibles.

Given that Halo Studios confirmed new skulls and terminals are scattered throughout the remake including Operation Meteorite, players who want full completion can expect to spend longer.

Should You Play Operation Meteorite Before or After the Main Campaign?

The chronological answer is before — the events of Operation Meteorite take place a year before the original Halo campaign begins.

The practical answer depends on what you want from the experience. Playing Operation Meteorite first gives you additional context for the Master Chief and Johnson relationship when you start the main campaign. Playing the main campaign first and then returning to Meteorite gives the prequel missions a nostalgic lens — you’re seeing where these characters came from after already knowing where they end up.

First-time players to Halo should probably play the main campaign first. The original story is the anchor — Meteorite will hit differently once you know those characters.

Halo Campaign Evolved Operation Meteorite is the standout new addition to one of gaming’s most celebrated remakes — three prequel missions packed with new environments, enemy variants, weapons, and the character storytelling that Halo fans have wanted for decades. The fact that it comes with every edition rather than sitting behind a premium tier makes it even better.

If the main campaign is the reason to play Halo Campaign Evolved, Operation Meteorite is the reason to stay after you finish it.

For the full launch breakdown visit our Halo Campaign Evolved complete guide and our Halo on PS5 analysis for why this launch matters beyond the game itself.