STACK #261 July 2026

CONTENTS

ISSUE 261 JUL

2026

GAMING 6 Take 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 8 Say Halo to my little friend! Halo: Campaign Evolved interview 10 Sync or swim! Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced interview 12 Splat’s the way I like it! Splatoon Raiders preview 14 Squeak-easy! Mouse: P.I. for Hire Q+A 16 Get into the groove! Rhythm Paradise Groove preview 17 What’s out this month 18-19 More big games heading our way in 2026 20 The Riot stuff! Sketch Riot PowerA Advantage Plus wired controller interview 22 A mouse for all seasons: Razer Orochi V2 Wireless Gaming Mouse TECH 26–27 Your guide to smarter audio shopping 28 Why open-ear headphones are cool right now 30 What are bone conduction headphones? 32 Premium headphones for luxe listening 34 Sennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones 36 Sony’s premium 1000X THE COLLEXION headphones 38 Mix and match: Modular sound systems 40 CD players are making a comeback! 42 Turntable cartridges: What you need to know 44 Check out the hottest audio gear at JB 46 JBL’s new Live headphone range 48-50 Your quick guide to air purifiers 52-54 Find your perfect air purifier 56 Oura Ring 5: Small in size, big on insights 58 Sony’s new BRAVIA RGB TVs 60 The new HONOR 600 smartphone series 62 Unfold the new HONOR Magic V6 64 Why creators will love the Insta360 Luna Ultra 66 The new Google Home Speaker brings 360° sound 68 Logitech’s foldable mouse for those on the move 70 Logitech Spotlight 2 reinvents presenter remotes MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 2 Take 5/My first album/ STACK exchange 3 Still Rolling: The Rolling Stones’ new album, Foreign Tongues 5 New album: Madonna - Confessions II 6 New albums: Ariana Grande - Petal / Charli XCX - Music, Fashion, Film 7 New album: Heated Rivalry soundtrack 9 New album: Amy Shark - Soft Pop 10-11 What’s out this month? 12 Vital vinyl: Lady Gaga - The Fame MOVIES & TV 14 Take 5/Charts/Cinema highlights/Bob J’s Film Buff Bafflers 16 Robyn Malcolm on Pike River /Chris Hemsworth, show stealer in Crime 101 18 The next level: Super Mario Galaxy Movie / Wonder awaits! The Magic Faraway Tree 20 Return of the King - EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert /Akira Kurosawa: The master who changed cinema 21 Bob J: The Hunt for Red October still holds course 22 Reel classics: New from Imprint Films 24 4K all the way 26 What’s out this month? 28 Merch of the month

WELCOME

Few games can claim to have changed the industry. Fewer still remain as influential 25 years later. That’s why the recent announcement of Bungie’s Halo: Combat Evolved ’s return is more than a simple nostalgia play – it’s the revival of a genuine gaming landmark. When Halo landed alongside Microsoft’s original Xbox in 2001, it didn’t just introduce players to the iconic Master Chief. It redefined what a console first-person shooter could be and put the Xbox on the map. Its cinematic storytelling, revolutionary controls, intelligent enemy AI, and expansive sci-fi world helped establish a blueprint that countless games would follow. For many players, it was their first taste of online multiplayer obsession, LAN-party rivalry, and blockbuster gaming on a scale previously reserved for Hollywood. Twenty-five years later, Halo: Combat Evolved remains a touchstone for game design, storytelling and multiplayer innovation. Its DNA can still be found in countless shooters released today. Revisiting the franchise’s origins in Halo: Campaign Evolved highlights what separates a classic from a curiosity. Great games don’t survive on nostalgia alone – they endure because their ideas, innovations, and sense of wonder remain as powerful today as they were on day one. Spartan, your new adventure awaits! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones, James O’Connor Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Trista McConville, Michael Caverzan

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2026 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

4 JULY 2026

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