Halo: Combat Evolved (2003 PC)
Halo's first campaign with two-handed aiming, shoulder holsters and a real scope.
The catch: Needs the old 2003 retail PC edition, and does not work with the Master Chief Collection.
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Launch Kit
Get Halo: Combat Evolved (2003 PC) running
Steps are general until you ; then the runtime step matches your headset.
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Set your VR runtime
Pick your OpenXR runtime: the Meta Horizon Link app for Link or Air Link, Virtual Desktop's VDXR for Virtual Desktop, or SteamVR for Index, Beyond and Pico. The creator supports SteamVR too; if a later step says "start SteamVR or your VR runtime", this runtime is enough and you can skip SteamVR.
General step from us -
Install Halo: Combat Evolved (2003 PC)
Install it and launch it once in flat mode to finish first-time setup, then quit. The creator says it needs Halo PC with the 1.0.10 patch.
General step from us -
Have these ready
Original retail Halo: Combat Evolved for PC with the 1.0.10 patch · Installed outside Program Files · SteamVR runtime (OpenXR is not supported)
From the creator's guide -
Creator step 1
Install Halo PC to a folder outside Program Files and apply the 1.0.10 patch
From the creator's guide -
Creator step 2
Optionally install chimera
From the creator's guide -
Creator step 3
Extract HaloCEVR.zip next to halo.exe
From the creator's guide -
Creator step 4
Launch once to generate config.txt in the VR folder
From the creator's guide -
Creator step 5
Left-handed players: choose the left-handed SteamVR bindings
From the creator's guide -
First launch in VR
Put the headset on, then start Halo: Combat Evolved (2003 PC) the way the creator's guide says. Calibrate your height in the first area.
General step from us
Stuck?
Melee and interact aim with the head, not the controller
Reported on the creator's page or the linked sources. Known issue
Crosshair only reddens when looking at an enemy
Reported on the creator's page or the linked sources. Known issue
On-screen prompts show keyboard bindings
Reported on the creator's page or the linked sources. Known issue
Stutters can trigger motion smoothing, which is rough in vehicles
Reported on the creator's page or the linked sources. Known issue
Config does not generate if installed under Program Files
Reported on the creator's page or the linked sources. Known issue
Black screen in the headset
This mod uses OpenXR. Check the active OpenXR runtime matches how you connect (the Set your VR runtime step), then start Link or Virtual Desktop before the game. General tip from us
Controllers don't show up
Start Link, Virtual Desktop or SteamVR before the game, and make sure the controllers are awake before launch. General tip from us
Stutter or low frame rate
Lower the in-game resolution or render scale first, then shadows and volumetrics. Close overlays you don't need. General tip from us
The mod didn't load at all
Recheck the game version against the creator's page; a game update is the most common cause. Then reinstall the mod files. General tip from us
Prefer a guide that talks back?
Copy a prompt for Claude Code on your PC. It asks before every download or change, and only uses the official page.