Welcome to Newsbytes, the collection of posts right here on Arcade Heroes that collects numerous current items of stories from across the arcade and pinball worlds into one digestible article. It’s been a short while for the reason that final of those, so there’s a fair proportion of content material and tales that has constructed up since then. Because of anybody (e.g. Ryan, Venture and Ted) who has shared them with us and helped deliver this submit collectively.

Golden Tee 2026 Is Accessible Now

As soon as upon a time, each September marked the annual launch of the world’s most profitable golf sport, Golden Tee. Then 2020 occurred and disrupted the circulation for every thing, GT included. After updating the engine and getting the PGA Tour license, final 12 months marked a return to that September launch sample, and as of September twenty ninth, the 2026 model of Golden Tee PGA Tour is now obtainable for arcades & bars (extra the latter) to seize. This was so low key although, I nearly missed it; they used to do music movies for stuff like this, however now it’s only a quiet social submit. This trailer exhibits what comes with this launch, however a fast phrase beneath that concerning the sport:

One factor that has modified with the collection, as you’ll be able to see from this content material launch schedule, is that they’ve determined to extend the frequency to which they launch new content material & programs – as an alternative of ready for the annual replace to take action. I think about that this helps the sport earnings sensible, however I don’t function a GT sport to know:

Sadly, one factor that gained’t please residence gamers of the sport is that this replace being the final for the Legacy/LIVE Dwelling Version cupboards; after this one, no additional variations will probably be launched for them. That may be a little bit of a big gamble from Unbelievable Applied sciences’ standpoint, as it should certainly gradual gross sales of them (residence gross sales have been a giant a part of the collection’ success), although may properly assist deliver extra individuals into truly enjoying the sport in arcades.

GENDA Pronounces GENDA Americas

Subsequent, one thing that has flew underneath the radar of the trade press considerably, however is quietly important. It’s been laborious to not discover Genda’s rise outdoors of Japan this 12 months, the place they’ve now constructed up a robust base of places, and at the moment are very a lot aiming to repeat that success elsewhere (notably America). This started in earnest final 12 months with their acquisition of NEN, and has stored on rolling with the likes of Participant One Amusement Group and Barberio. Now the corporate is consolidating all of those acquisitions underneath one correct umbrella for the primary time, with their new “Genda Americas” subsidiary, set to open in 2026.

The beneath slide from certainly one of Genda’s current IRs particulars a lot of the specifics which were revealed right here, with their present construction and the way it will then take care of this consolidation has taken place. A variety of it should contain making their acquired companies nearer to one another, with the one main cut up being between the US and Canadian sides. The “Americas” naming is fascinating too, because it appears to recommend issues gained’t simply be restricted to North America both… although whether or not Genda will make any strikes within the South on prime of this stays to be seen (the trade isn’t as large down there for numerous causes, however there’s a number of purchases they might make).

So what does this imply general? Extra goes to be revealed as to their public plans on this on Monday, however I feel that we’re going to begin seeing much more modifications that can ripple out into the trade. Maybe that can imply extra acquisitions and consolidations – probably past simply operators and distributors. I cannot be too shocked if Genda will subsequent make one or two main purchases of producers (which they have already got slightly little bit of through P1AG) and even builders on each side of the world, although if/when that will probably be and who they’re will clearly come down to numerous elements.

As we’ve been discussing for the previous couple of years, the trade has been on shaky floor – sustained inflation over the course of years has damage shoppers’ pocketbooks, and their attitudes in direction of going out into retail haven’t improved a lot both, so some have been seeing much less foot visitors. I’ve talked about many occasions that I used to see an earnings sample that steadily held type, however 5 years after lockdowns, issues nonetheless haven’t stabilized – each final 12 months and this 12 months have been fairly awful for me (2023 wasn’t nice both, however it was barely higher). I’ve been listening to the identical factor from others throughout the trade, to the purpose that the temper was reportedly destructive at IAAPA Expo Europe, and there’s pessimism shifting into IAAPA correct.

Can Genda’s plans change all that? We’ll have to attend and see, though for smaller ‘mother n pop’ places like mine, we nonetheless want reasonably priced video games throughout all genres (not simply bogstandard cranes and redemption) that may deliver individuals in, no more FEC and cranecade chains muscling us out of viable areas.

Rhythm Recreation Updates

Bandai Namco asserting their model new Penlalive isn’t all that’s been taking place on this planet of rhythm video games, as loads of the established titles have been getting their common yearly updates. We’ve had some give attention to Maimai of late because of its US launch starting its rollout, and in Japan it has already acquired one other model. Out since Sept. 18th, Maimai Deluxe Circle provides the same old yearly music updates, in addition to the titular new “circle” perform, permitting these with registered on-line accounts to affix teams and groups. For the reason that US launch makes use of the ‘Worldwide’ version, which is barely behind the bottom Japan sport on instalments, gamers of it should wait slightly longer, however it will be coming sooner or later subsequent 12 months.

In the meantime over at Konami, they’ve simply launched the thirty third model of their Bemani warhorse Beatmania IIDX, entitled Sparkle Bathe. We talked slightly bit about this one already when it went on take a look at again in June, however now the complete launch version is out. Not like Maimai’s new model, that is already obtainable to play on the US cupboards on the market at Round1USA, and would be the model that comes with any machines ordered by impartial arcades over right here (that are speculated to be transport out someday early subsequent 12 months).

Talking of ‘Particular Okay’, their arcade division’s renaming to Konami Arcade Video games is now totally in impact, the fifth season of their Bemani Professional League championships is ready to go underway subsequent March, they usually have introduced what they are going to be exhibiting at Japan’s Amusement Expo in November, together with the brand new Pop’n Music cupboard, Gashaaaan!, and Tremendous Punch Mania, the latter of which we coated lately while it was on take a look at. Now to see if any of their product will seem at IAAPA that month…

Blazing Strike AC Now On Take a look at

exA-Arcadia positive have been busy as of late, and when you’re into combating video games, then you might have lots to be enthusiastic about. In current weeks they’ve examined and/or launched Vanguard Princess R, Axel Metropolis 2: The Ultimate Storm, Chaos Code: NEXT, and now they’ve begun testing Blazing Strike AC. That is on take a look at on the Taito HEY in Akihabara, Tokyo and Recreation Heart Kohatsu in Osaka till the seventh.

For many who missed it, this sport was introduced at EVO Japan earlier this 12 months, and is predicated on a title that obtained some combined opinions on Steam. Nonetheless, exA has been placing numerous enhancements into it to make this the definitive and correct model. They went so far as “rewriting big components of the sport” to offer it re-balanced gameplay, low enter lag as an alternative of excessive, a coaching mode, fixing the entire rendering issues, and extra. It’s going to probably be launching by the tip of the 12 months. Right here’s 12 hours of a livestream from the take a look at, in case you actually need to get a strong thought of the way it performs.

BTW, there may be set to be an enormous new sport announcement coming from exA quickly. This one can also be a combating sport, however it’s acquired a license that a few of you is likely to be acquainted with. Keep tuned…

Sega Amusements Names New CEO, Promotions

Upcoming Exhibits

Lastly, the month of October has a number of occasions/exhibits which have one thing to do with arcades or pinball, though all of them pale compared to IAAPA, which is slightly over a month from now. Three occasions that contain our trade are taking place at or about the identical time this month:

  • TAAPE (Thailand)
  • Pinball Expo 2025 (Chicago)
  • Portland Retro Recreation Expo (Portland)

TAAPE is basically an Amusement Expo for Thailand, whereas Pinball Expo serves as sort of the identical factor however only for pinball. I’d additionally level out that the Texas Pinball Pageant used to happen across the identical time this 12 months, the place lots of announcement would occur there, however it’s now taking place round Amusement Expo Worldwide time in March. The PRGE present maybe has the least quantity of give attention to our trade out of these three, though subsequent week, Alan-1 & GenXGrownUp will probably be unveiling the subsequent entry within the Atari Recharged video games which might be coming to arcades. That sport will probably be at each PE2025 and PRGE (trace: it’s primarily based on one of many remakes of a vector sport ).

Of those three occasions, I anticipate PE2025 to render essentially the most new issues for us to speak about. After I spoke with American Pinball a short while in the past, they had been anticipating to unveil their subsequent sport at this present, though that also hasn’t been given a closing affirmation (it wasn’t Cuphead like many had been assuming, however one other license). Whereas I’d anticipate Stern and Jersey Jack to have their newest video games readily available (Star Wars #3 and Harry Potter, respectively), there may also be lots of homebrew and boutique video games there, together with Large Hassle In Little China, though from this submit at Knapp, it doesn’t sound like Spooky Pinball may have a new-new sport there, nor will Pedretti’s be bringing their Large Bang Bar to the present.

I’ve heard from a fellow operator that Portal by P3 Multimorphic is a wonderful sport, and it’s in manufacturing now, so it will likely be at that present, however I’m unsure about others. Notice that I cannot be at PE this 12 months, as I already dedicated to PRGE, they usually’re taking place concurrently.

As for different exhibits, we’ll have the Autumn Coin-Op Present over within the UK, then I heard a few Philippines amusement present taking place on the Twenty third-Twenty fifth, however the web site for it’s at present down.

Headlines

Bandai Namco Celebrates 20 Years Since The Bandai + Namco Merger

Alan-1 Launches New (And Their First) Prize Merchandiser, Cosmic Spin

Finest Of IAAPA Expo Europe 2025 From Sega Amusements [Video]

A Big Cache Of Arcade Machines Are Going To Public sale Tomorrow In Melbourne, Australia

Insert Coin Shares Studio Tour Footage Of Halfway In The Nineteen Nineties [Video]

Marvelous Releases Vol. 3 Of Their Naruto Emblem Battle Card Recreation

Jersey Jack Pinball Promotes “The Artwork Behind The Magic” On Harry Potter [Video]

Konami Brings Gashaaaan! Again For Extra Testing In Japan – That’s 4 A’s

Legend Roger Sharpe Opens A Pinball Attire Firm, Defiant Pinball

Betson Held Their 14th Annual Northwest Showcase In Portland Lately

Tokyo Recreation Present Had A New Mini Viewlix + Jaleco’s Obscure Captain Flag

One Of The Longest Working Arcades In The World Celebrates 71 Years In Enterprise

StepManiaX Provides Extra Music With Replace #68

Konami Checks New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pusher Recreation At Round1USA

AUTOMATON Interviews Xeen, The Little-Recognized Japanese Contract Developer Powerhouse In Each Arcades And Consoles – They’ve got here up a few times on right here already, however Xeen actually have been quietly chargeable for tons of video games (together with GoldStorm Pirates)

Trailer For Rooster 2 Bro DX Through JNC Gross sales – Video; That is offered by Amusement Supply Worldwide in North America

UNIS’ New Spin Metropolis Has Large, Spinning Balls [Video]

Ace Amusement’s Wild Looking Will get A Trailer [Video]

Yuto Posts Transient Trailer For Flamestone’s Shooter Recreation, Dragon Knight

 [Home Headlines]

Microsoft Will increase Recreation Cross Costs – I’ve not used this service, however I’m not shocked that this transfer is a troublesome one for them to defend.

YouTuber NaySay Charts The Rise And Fall Of Beat Saber – As soon as once more, Meta banning the arcade model from working simply added additional insult to harm after they purchased it up

Kevin Williams Notes Varied Stories Of VR Makers Pivoting To AR – For additional proof of how VR is just about in freefall now

Forza Horizon 6 Has Been Introduced, Will Function Japan Closely

SNK Pronounces “Neo Geo Premium Choice”, Coming Quickly To Steam And PCs

Sega Arcade Heads Koha-D And Kenji Arai Discuss Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, Out Now

Beep21 Begins “The Secret Historical past Of Sega {Hardware}” Article Collection (Paywalled)

Sega Saturn Shiro Compares Panzer Dragoon 2 With Its Upcoming Remaster

Rock Band 4 Getting Delisted From the PS Retailer

Tremendous Fascinating Movies & Historical past On The Making Of The Prince Of Persia

Misplaced & Discovered: Blues Brothers – Jukebox Journey For The Commodore Amiga

Early Response From Critics On TRON: Ares Is Airing This Monday – The film comes out subsequent week and I plan on seeing it. I actually hope that it doesn’t suck. Fingers crossed.

That’s it for this Newsbytes; which of right now’s tales (e.g. Golden Tee 2026, Blazing Strike AC) pursuits you most?