Welcome to Newsbytes, the sequence of posts right here at Arcade Heroes that runs down “byte-sized” items of reports from world wide of arcades and pinball. There’s nonetheless lots to get by means of with Amusement Expo 2026; later this week we’ll have our full assessment up, however till then, right here’s a take a look at the whole lot that’s been happening exterior of Vegas. This features a ton of pinball bulletins, and a few extra protection of some happenings with Japan-made titles that may absolutely be of curiosity to most:

Resident Evil 2: Arcade On Check On Japan

First up, one of many important tales of the month earlier than Amusement Expo got here alongside was the upcoming location checks for Biohazard RE:2/Resident Evil 2: Arcade over in Japan. As of March nineteenth, these have now begun, curiously sufficient at a Capcom-owned location in Narita reasonably than a Namco one (or one other typical check website). Loads of individuals within the nation have been going alongside to test it out, the place there are some new images of the cupboard and gameplay impressions, however a ‘no video filming’ rule has been enforced from the beginning right here (in contrast to the 2025 US and UK checks), and it appears individuals have revered that.

There has not less than been a 3rd official promotional trailer launched to coincide with the check, which reveals some extra gameplay. You’ll additionally discover from the thumbnail that they’ve already been making some modifications to the cupboard, giving it extra art work. Only for the report, this was not round at Amusement Expo (as anticipated); it can most certainly begin exhibiting up at commerce reveals extra in the direction of the tip of the 12 months, when the sport needs to be nearer to launch – the present projected window on that’s late 2026/presumably early 2027.

Texas Pinball Competition 2026

Although Stern Pinball had been the one firm from the pinball scene with any illustration at Amusement Expo, pinball is successfully an business unto itself by this level, with quite a few outfits selecting to utterly forgo any amusement commerce reveals and as an alternative deal with the sport’s personal devoted occasions throughout the nation. As proof of that, there have been a number of new bulletins made out of this 12 months’s Texas Pinball Competition, which has been going down this weekend. For the primary and largest of these, Turner Pinball threw again the curtain on their third launch, Yukon Yeti, which debuted on the pageant. Turner uploaded their very own gameplay footage of it prematurely right here; 500 models have been produced of this one:

Then France’s HEXA Pinball have got here again to the fore with their second sport, The three Musketeers, based mostly on the outdated Alexandre Dumas story in a present of some pleasure of their heritage. They’d been teasing this throughout current weeks, and it was supposed to seem in particular person at TPF, however the container with it was in the end held up in customs, so the corporate’s personal supplies must do right here in previewing it.

Lastly, American Pinball is flexing their muscle below the brand new possession, as to coincide with TPF they introduced their first releases post-buyout: a a centesimal anniversary version of their 2017 title Houdini: Grasp Of Thriller, and as not too long ago rumored, a remake of Bally Halfway’s Cirqus Voltaire. Of those, solely the previous has been totally unveiled to this point and is confirmed to be restricted to 100 models; a full reveal of the latter will occur at a later date. It might be good to see them at a non-pinball present once more quickly… particularly with their sister firm Orbit Video games doing extra amusement-focused issues like Whirl-O-Ball.

Konami Rhythm Video games Come To America

Simply as Amusement Expo was beginning, we had affirmation come of one thing that was lengthy touted since final 12 months, however we had been starting to marvel when there can be observe by means of. The primary gross sales of rhythm video games to North American areas apart from Round1USA have now panned out, as after a number of delays, Beatmania IIDX, Sound Voltex, and Pop’n Music have formally got here to a couple choose locations, who’re additionally as a consequence of get the brand new DDR Common Mannequin quickly. Three of the areas with these are indie arcades that had lengthy been rumored to be receiving cupboards after Konami reached out to them (Ikigai Arcade, Pink Word Gaming, and Gentle Touchdown), however an extra fourth additionally acquired a Beatmania IIDX – Max Funland in Brooklyn, NYC. That one is a slight shock, since the remainder of their line-up is especially Chinese language imports.

Once more although, it’s a little disappointing to see Konami select to start US gross sales exterior of Round1 areas solely on this ‘if you understand you understand’ capability, by chatting with a really small variety of operators and exhibiting no signal of a wider presence by means of any distributor as of but (they’d no product at AEI, however I used to be advised Konami personnel had been there, together with the CEO, and speaking to a couple individuals). It does appear that they’re nonetheless quietly and slowly working in the direction of that angle with just some easy redemption video games to begin, since their e-Amusement community’s complexities complicate issues for a market that won’t settle for the Japanese income share mannequin en masse. A couple of areas like these talked about above will, however not larger FECs (apart from the assured Round1 gross sales, after all).

Nonetheless, Sega’s Maimai DX has been doing fairly nicely proper out of the gate with way more open North American distribution (the primary cupboard to achieve a Canadian location got here this week), and StepManiaX has frequently offered in recent times to everybody, so it’s Konami’s name on ever altering issues. Maybe with Pump It Up Phoenix II coming this Summer time, Step Revolution creating extra merchandise past simply SMX, and one or two different names within the enterprise pondering their very own funding into rhythm video games, that may gentle the hearth below their rears to determine a mannequin that works…

Monster League Hockey Pinball

Going again to a different piece of pinball information, right here’s one thing that’s been occurring exterior of Texas Pinball Competition (although it was accessible to play there), with a novel indie effort trying to make an even bigger influence on the scene. Homebrew head-to-head pinball piece Monster League Hockey has been effervescent below for a short time, as its creator, Jake Danzig (who runs a customized pinball Fb group and has made varied different items of his personal), bided his time creating it final 12 months – however extra not too long ago, the rising curiosity in it has seen the title begin to seem at varied occasions and arcades in Arizona. It’s now set to enter precise manufacturing because of Ramp’s Pinball, a brand new entrant out of Florida who’re additionally engaged on their very own upcoming sport Highway Journey, with a view to constructing each by This autumn 2026.

Accomplished by Danzig together with his Killdozer Studios crew, that is being made to help each one or two gamers (three or 4 with break up flippers), providing “intense competitors and fierce fight” within the spirit of actual hockey. For these particularly within the sport, LoserKid Pinball interviewed Danzig on it a couple of months again, Marco Pinball did a showcase, and Knapp Pinball have extra particulars and images. It’s fairly cool to see extra uncommon titles like this gaining floor; hopefully we’ll see it on the market quickly.

Amusement Expo 2026 Submit-Present Updates

Lastly, a little bit little bit of a preview of what’s to come back within the the rest of our Amusement Expo protection. One thing that was solely introduced on the eleventh hour proper earlier than the present started was Triotech’s newly-evolved Hurricane Shockwave movement experience simulator, so in consequence we had uncared for to say it on the positioning till now. This takes the frequently worthwhile Hurricane format and updates it for at present’s double screen-obsessed instances, though the hole between the 2 is a little bit distracting. There’s been some feedback from individuals disenchanted that this has no sport ingredient in any respect, however that’s at all times been the cope with these machines, and if something it’s helped them do even higher than many interactive titles. Loads of operators nonetheless see stable earnings out of current Hurricane’s, so these digital curler coasters have a spot.

Our first footage of Cyberpunk 2077: Chrome Rush, Nickelodeon Kart Racers Arcade, and DOF Robotics’ Compact Flying Theater can also be now up, with extra to come back from the cubicles of corporations that had been there however with no new-new video games (Uncooked Thrills, Bandai Namco, Sega Amusements and so on). I additionally recorded a protracted dialogue on the expo for the LBX Collective podcast’s weekly present, which as of writing this may go reside on their channels a while at present. Whereas none of that is as in depth as what we get out of IAAPA, it’s good to have the dearth of reports that we’ve seen recently come to an in depth. Keep tuned for each a submit and livestream chat that wraps all of it up (though the latter we’ll see – I misplaced my voice on the present and it’s nonetheless a little bit weak).

Headlines

AEI Attendance Was Down This Yr, However Spirits Are Up – Primarily as a consequence of a serious storm system that hit the Midwest at simply the improper time, then additionally the shutdown that has been inflicting massive delays at sure airports (I truly acquired by means of safety fairly fast, each out and in).

Eugene Jarvis Receives The AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award – It couldn’t have gone to a extra deserving particular person. He and I had a pleasant lengthy chat on the present; Jarvis actually loves this enterprise and his video games. I’m grateful that he’s nonetheless main the cost right here.

Wangan Midnight Pace Ignition’s Producer Marks One Yr Since Its Location Check – There’s additionally been loads of teasing about this sport not too long ago from them, so watch this house on it…

Timothée Chalamet Performs Taiko And Preliminary D With A Deaf Desk Tennis Champion At A GiGO Location In Shibuya, Japan – Probably essentially the most sudden video of the month?

Maimai DX Circle Plus Releases In Japan – Reminder that they’re forward of the ‘worldwide’ model that North America will get, however this replace will nonetheless are available a couple of months.

Konami Releases Gashaaaan! + Sazae-san Spot The Distinction In Japan

Unboxing A Pokémon Pinball Machine

John Wick Pinball Reaches V1.0 Code

Replace #75 For StepManiaX Obtainable

The Arcade Video games On Show At IAAPI 2026 By Distributor CSML

Dalla Pria Group Reveals Off Superwin Titles At ENADA 2026 In Italy

Joyful Birthday To Mark Turmell, Creator Of NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, & Extra

March seventh Was Road Fighter II’s thirty fifth Launch Anniversary

Rating All Of Sega’s OutRun Video games As The Collection Turns 40

Konami’s Gradius Rendered Completely With ASCII Graphics

Might We Get A Donkey Kong Arcade Machine Lego Set?

American Laser Video games FMV Arcade Titles Get A New Lease Of Life

30 Years Of Gentle-Gun Shooters

[Home Headlines] 

Mojang Had A Plethora Of Minecraft Bulletins This Weekend – Minecraft Dungeons II Trailer – I wouldn’t count on this to have an effect on Minecraft Dungeons Arcade in any respect, since that growth already is totally distinctive and separate from the console model, and Collection 5 launched for it only recently anyway.

The Recreation Boy Advance Turns 25

Alan-1 Releases Avian Knights To The Swap/PS5/XBX|S

Basic Sega Racing Tunes From Daytona, OutRun And Extra Added To Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

Swap 2 Sees Improved Swap Compatibility – Checklist Of Video games With The Greatest Efficiency Boosts

US Nationwide Videogame Museum Acquires The Fabled Nintendo PlayStation Prototype

Typically, You Don’t Want To Spend A Million To Make A Million – A Nineteen Nineties sport growth story

Have You Ever Performed The Secret Pac-Man Stage In Wolfenstein 3D?

A New And Unique Horror Recreation Is Coming To The Sega Dreamcast

That’s it for this Newsbytes; which of the above tales (e.g. Resident Evil 2: Arcade‘s Japanese location check) pursuits you most?

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