The primary main amusement-focused commerce present of this yr is now simply across the nook, as EAG Expo 2025 is about to begin up at London’s ExCel venue for 3 days from tomorrow.

In case there are any new readers viewing this, the EAG Expo serves the Leisure, Points of interest and Gaming industries of the UK and Europe. Manner again when this web site first began, it was often known as ATEI. The closest comparability for it over right here is Amusement Expo, though it’s value noting this yr sees some modifications to it – co-located alongside EAG will now be two new sub-events, the Social Immersive Leisure Expo (SIEX) and London On line casino & Gaming Present. The previous will see some amusement crossover, although the latter not a lot, being for the playing/gaming machine aspect of issues.

I do want I may make it to the present, however alas, it isn’t within the playing cards for me once more. Fortuitously, AH co-contributors Kevin Williams and Ted (who helped compile this put up) shall be there to report on the motion, offering photographs for a full recap to come back. For individuals who maintain any curiosity in what you’ll be able to anticipate finding there, here’s a transient preview of what the main attendees shall be bringing. With it being so near IAAPA there’s at all times plenty of overlap between what they’ve, however some distributors normally present not less than a couple of merchandise that we don’t see out within the States. And one or two surprises not talked about right here can’t be dominated out…

What Will Be At EAG 2025?

Like final yr’s, this fast preview will cowl Bandai Namco, Electrocoin, Sega Amusements and UDC, the 4 greatest UK-based arcade firms who attend the present. Two of these names may not be so acquainted to all of our American readers, however they’ve dealt with plenty of recognizable video games – simply in Europe.

Bandai Namco Amusement Europe

After their spectacular exhibiting at IAAPA in November, Bandai Namco are returning to the commerce present stage right here. With it being their European distribution subsidiary, they are going to have varied new releases from Uncooked Thrills and Adrenaline Amusements making their UK debuts, comparable to Offended Birds Increase! and Duck Derby, in addition to Andamiro’s Star Wars pusher and a extra full model of TouchMagix’s Minions Bullseye Mania darts recreation. For their very own video video games although, the centerpiece shall be, ultimately, Europe’s first playable glimpse of GoldStorm Pirates, which has solely appeared within the US and Japan till now.

Sadly we will verify Taiko No Tatsujin won’t be accompanying GoldStorm on this event, however that doesn’t imply it gained’t be coming to Europe sooner or later – from what was mentioned at IAAPA, it will be showing someplace within the UK later this yr… and its kiddie journey is ready to be round at EAG already. That one being so outstanding at commerce reveals out West regardless of not even being bought within the States but is odd, however maybe they actually wish to drive up demand upfront. Some Japanese prize merchandising will even have illustration with Bandai Gashapon (which hasn’t turned up on their cubicles at IAAPA but).

Electrocoin

One of many UK’s longest-standing distributors, Electrocoin have an extended and storied historical past of relationships with firms like Konami, Taito, Capcom and SNK in Europe. You’ll be able to examine that previous within the unbelievable Arcade Britannia by Alan Meades, however by way of the long run they’re presently forging, solely Dance Dance Revolution A20+ has been bought by them for some time now, with a lot of the remainder of their recreation portfolio being very redemption-heavy. They’ve been teasing a model new taking pictures recreation for EAG 2025 although – whether or not that’s Konami’s Contra Burst noticed on take a look at lately within the US stays to be seen.

Both approach, it is going to be fascinating to see whether or not or not Konami’s obvious renewed curiosity in Western arcade markets (one thing I heard a little bit of speak about at IAAPA) will pan out, both by their hyperlinks with Electrocoin or on the US scene once more. It’s been a very long time since they bought exterior chains right here…

This one has simply been first at CES 2025, however owing to them being Stern’s European distributor, Electrocoin will even have an early have a look at their new Dungeons & Dragons, amongst different current Stern pinball releases. Titles from Jersey Jack and Chicago Gaming might also be round at Pinball Heaven’s sales space.

Sega Amusements

Sega Amusements are one of many few firms taking part in each EAG and the Social Immersive Leisure Expo, with their cubicles being co-located between the 2 for comfort. Like Bandai Namco they function the principle European distributor for a couple of companies, most prominently ICE and LAI Video games, so anticipate to see the most recent video games (e.g. Neon Bowling and Asphalt Moto Blitz) from them. In the meantime, their very own product line right here is spearheaded by one other pre-release look of Alpha Ops VR Strike, the newest work they’ve been completely overseeing with 3MindWave.

Away from that, apart from returning current items like Zombies! Prepared, Deady Go! and Apex Rebels, SAI’s sales space appears pretty prize redemption-heavy, with outstanding showcases for Excessive 5, Win Fall Revolution, and their plush ranges for the likes of Sonic. There will even be UK debuts for On Goal from Leon Amusement and Massive Sea Fishing from SEA, as beforehand seen at IAAPA. For his or her official preview that includes the latter, they did a enjoyable JAWS-inspired graphic which you can take a look at right here…

UDC

UDC have been the UK’s predominant supply for video games from all kinds of firms, however lately they most importantly promote a lot of Ace Amusement’s works, with sure Ace titles ending up of their palms earlier than they seem within the US. Final yr these have been Wave Riders X-Treme and Tremendous Drill (touchdown stateside quickly through Amusement Supply Worldwide), while this time the three predominant examples are Air Fight, Bikers Insanity, and Wild West Shootout 2, beforehand seen on the Chinese language commerce reveals in 2024. Two of these are giant motion-based items so it’s doable these didn’t make it over but on account of their dimension.

Alongside these shall be StepManiaX as soon as once more, scorching off its huge IAAPA 2024 the place the sport made an look on 4 distributor cubicles, and a complete host of redemption, together with Twister by Playmore in its unique non-LAI Video games retooled taste. We may additionally see a little bit of merchandising rivalry as UDC have now picked up a gacha capsule machine, Collectopia, to compete with Bandai Namco’s.

As at all times, different smaller firms comparable to Cosmic Leisure, JNC Gross sales and Harry Levy (who shall be promoting Cranium Of Shadow into Europe) are on account of make appearances, however don’t announce as a lot of their line-up upfront, so you’ll want to take a look at our protection for any surprises in retailer.

Additionally it is value noting that one exhibitor pulled out of the present final week, that means attendees shall be lacking out on any of the brand new UNIS merchandise (Monster Kart, Neon Rush and so on) which might be supposed to ship there. After all, that firm remains to be promoting tools; it simply gained’t be at this present.

Till the total recap later this week, which firms’ previews for EAG Expo 2025 curiosity you most?