About
Halo: Combat Evolved is the first entry in the Halo series and the launch title that defined the original Xbox, built by Bungie on the Halo engine and widely credited with popularizing console FPS design. Gearbox Software produced the standalone Windows port in 2003, which added LAN/online multiplayer and higher-resolution graphics. It is critically acclaimed as one of the most influential shooters ever made. The standalone PC version was effectively superseded by the Master Chief Collection rerelease, and its original GameSpy-based multiplayer servers are long defunct.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- halo.exe
- Needs files
- none beyond the binary
Proton
- Version
- GE-Proton
- Winetricks
- —
⚙ Setup notes
Release: 2003 standalone retail PC release (never on Steam itself; only the Master Chief Collection is sold there).
Proton: Runs well under Proton — GE-Proton recommended by the Linux/Deck community; Proton's bundled DXVK gives the best framerate, no manual d3d9 winetrick needed.
Patch: Apply the official v1.10 patch first — it's required for modern hardware and replaces the dead GameSpy master server, and it's the build Chimera targets.
Chimera: Add Chimera (SnowyMouse, https://github.com/SnowyMouse/chimera) — it's "the update to Halo PC that never was": 60+ port fixes, FOV/descope fixes, object interpolation past 30 FPS, widescreen, and full gamepad support with aim assist. Copy strings.dll, chimera.ini, and the fonts folder into the main game directory (the folder containing halo.exe, NOT a subfolder); back up the original strings.dll first.
Install: deckport only configures the prefix.
The one thing to know
Compatibility: Community confirms the retail PC build runs on Linux/Deck under Proton (GE-Proton + DXVK).
Patch order: Install v1.10 BEFORE Chimera or you'll hit a version/patch-mismatch error on launch (Chimera targets Retail v1.10).
Controller: Vanilla retail has no gamepad support — get controller input EITHER from the Chimera mod (copy its files into the main game folder next to halo.exe, not a subfolder; it is not a winetrick) OR from a Steam Input keyboard/mouse layout.
ProtonDB: No tier exists because this is the standalone release, not a Steam app (appid 976730 is the unrelated Master Chief Collection).
Scope: Recipe describes setup only.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options, Proton version)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.