# 18 Pinball Themes Stern Won't Be Making Anytime Soon* by [Colin Alsheimer](/author/colin) · July 23, 2023 · [Pinball](/news/category/pinball) > Reading some tea leaves on social media posts. This past weekend, Stern attended the [San Diego Comic-Con](https://www.comic-con.org/) as part of the release of their newest pinball machine, [Venom](/pinball-machines/venom-2023). That part isn't terribly interesting by itself, but what was worth noting was a couple of Facebook updates from [DeadFlip](https://www.facebook.com/DeadFlip) AKA [Jack Danger](/pinball-people/jack-danger) AKA Stern's newest hot game designer. Captioned simply, "[Comic-Con Research. PT1](https://www.facebook.com/DeadFlip/posts/pfbid0325DfoN8mb1kghg3vrCcqxop6Z2WVgdHHk3hAfC81jjFaQxzoH2uiauNmUSVxabh5l)" and "[Comic-Con Research Pt2](https://www.facebook.com/DeadFlip/posts/pfbid0seHbtUj2YowNkqSpPcPbTRJd7XW9UFnzJ3Cposdvx6ghAd15DHwwsZx5FRZj35pQl)", the two updates contain albums of roughly 18 photos from the Comic-Con floor of various franchise IP. ‍ The goal of the post, clearly, is to rouse social media reactions from pinball fans who may see one of their dream themes in the album, eventually leading to discussion and speculation that Stern may be considering producing one of the named themes. It's fun content that plays on discussions pinball fans are already having. ‍ As a contrarian at heart, I tend to think it's way more likely that of all the franchise IP listed below, Stern has zero of them in the queue for at least the immediate future. If any of these were actually in consideration at Stern HQ, it would be incredibly curious for one of their lead designers (with a hefty social media following of his own) to be sharing coy photo references to them on Facebook. ‍ So with that in mind, what's more likely to be true - that DeadFlip is sharing clues to an upcoming game? Or that none of these are upcoming games (at least to his knowledge) and are therefore safe to post about in this way? We'd go for the latter. ‍ Of note in the list below is He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, a theme that's often been tied to Stern in the rumor mill, only [maybe that's truly not the case](https://www.knapparcade.org/post/he-man-the-masters-of-the-universe-pinball-is-coming-but-not-from-stern). ‍ ## Franchise IP Referenced by DeadFlip ‍ ### Transformers [#43 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/transformers-pinball) ![Transformers EarthSpark toy display with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b84e_64bdb59cb6b02693f012b01a_transformers.webp) ### The X-Men Not listed in the Hype Index top 200 ![Marvel Legends action figures display with X-Men characters on stands](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b823_64bdb5a6be4c26113982a314_x-men.webp) ### Thundercats [#91 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/thundercats-pinball) ![Thundercats action figures on display with detailed characters and logo](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b820_64bdb5b579e0f267cc242c2e_thundercats.webp) ### The Misfits [#178 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/the-misfits-pinball) ![Collectible action figures of muscular characters with gothic and horror styles](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b829_64bdb5c41b90be3b5fc913be_the_20misfits.webp) ### Sonic the Hedgehog [#35 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/sonic-the-hedgehog-pinball) ![LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone with large loop and checkered landscape](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b826_64bdb5d1be4c26113982cce8_sonic.webp) ### Various Snack Food Mascots Not listed in the Hype Index ![Cartoon mascots of monster-themed cereals displayed with their boxes](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b82f_64bdb5dce4373e7e73db2aa8_saturday_20morning_20cereal_20characters.webp) ### The Power Rangers [#188 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/power-rangers-pinball) ![Power Rangers action figures from Lightning Collection display colorful ranger lineup](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b848_64bdb5e7c9190e8c57a829cd_power_20rangers.webp) ### Monster High Not listed in the Hype Index ![Monster High Skullector dolls display with diverse characters and styles](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b82c_64bdb5f14f4a45e832ad7e4d_monster_20high_20skullector.webp) ### **Mobile Suit Gundam** Not listed in the Hype Index ![Gundam model figures displayed in glass case with preorder information](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b835_64bdb5faec69631e31eec32f_mobile_20suit_20gundam.webp) ### Mega Man Not listed in the Hype Index ![Mega Man action figures with various characters on display shelf](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b810_64bdb6027fe70c7963c1fc30_mega_20man.webp) ### He-Man and the Masters of the Universe [#6 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/he-man-and-the-masters-of-the-universe-pinball) ![Masters of the Universe action figures displayed in collectible showcase](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b845_64bdb60ab6b02693f0131344_he-man.webp) ### G.I. Joe [#40 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/gi-joe-pinball) ![G.I. Joe action figures displayed in glass cases with various characters](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b851_64bdb6134fb0e612b2b886fa_gi_20joe.webp) ### Final Fantasy Not listed in the Hype Index ![Final Fantasy X action figures of Tidus and Yuna behind glass display](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b813_64bdb620f1a71b415d6299d9_final_20fantasy.webp) ### Dungeons & Dragons [#117 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/dungeons-and-dragons-pinball) ![Vintage Dungeons and Dragons collectibles and action figures displayed](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b856_64bdb62ca9b63125246bd3e3_dungeons_20and_20dragons.webp) ### Dragon Ball [Dragon Ball Z is #172 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/dragonball-z-pinball) ![Dragon Ball action figures on display with energy effects at convention](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b832_64bdb633ec69631e31eef916_dragon_20ball_20.webp) ### Run DMC [#157 in the Hype Index](/pinball-themes/run-dmc-pinball) ![Two men posing at San Diego Comic-Con International entertainment booth](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b842_64bdb6464fb0e612b2b8a7e2_DMC_20makes_20comics.webp) ### Diablo Not listed in the Hype Index ![Diablo 4 poster with demonic character in red and purple lighting](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b81d_64bdb64fc9190e8c57a87854_diablo.webp) ### Biker Mice from Mars Not listed in the Hype Index ![Biker Mice from Mars action figures and motorcycles in display case](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon/inline/6839babfd2ea95c4a904b84b_64bdb65aba579d6cce44eb15_biker_20mice_20from_20mars.webp) --- _Canonical URL: https://www.kineticist.com/news/18-pinball-themes-stern-wont-be-making-anytime-soon_