This long-lost Halo 2 demo is getting revived, and you can play this weekend


What you need to know

  • The demo for Halo 2 shown during E3 2003 was one of the biggest and most iconic pieces of marketing for Bungie’s beloved Xbox shooter, but since its engine was scrapped, it never got a public release.
  • Over 20 years later, though, developers from Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) have collaborated with community modders to recreate the demo from the ground up using updated versions of its original assets.
  • A playable version of the demo is being released as a free mod for Halo: The Master Chief Collection on the Steam Workshop on November 9 — Halo 2’s 20th anniversary.
  • Additionally, on November 5, Halo Infinite is getting a new Operation: Great Journey update with Halo 2-themed cosmetics, maps, a new playlist, and a weapon called the MA5K Avenger that’s inspired by Halo 2’s SMG.

There’s only a few days left until the 20th anniversary of 2004’s Halo 2 — Bungie’s beloved sequel to the original sci-fi FPS that kickstarted Microsoft’s flagship Xbox franchise, and one of Xbox Live’s biggest early multiplayer titles. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best Xbox games as well as one of the most popular and influential games of all time, and this weekend, you’ll be able to play a demo of it I thought was completely lost to time.

I’m referring to Halo 2’s famous E3 2003 demo that was shown to the trade event’s audience a year before the game’s release, and is widely considered to be one of its most memorable pieces of marketing. The demo build was created using a version of the Halo 2 engine that was scrapped during development, and as a result, it never made its way into player hands officially. However, thanks to extensive collaboration between Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) developers and dedicated community modders, it’s been recreated from the ground up using updated versions of its original assets.



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