Episode 1227: "Kaneda's Back With Some Hot News!"
Kaneda reveals Sonic June 23rd launch and cascade of licensing/release date rumors for 2026-2027 pinball pipeline.
KNICKS BABY!!!!
Synopsis
Kaneda announces Sonic the Hedgehog release date (June 23rd) and delivers multiple rumors about upcoming pinball releases: Keith Elwin's Fallout pushed to March 2027, John Borg music game (likely Ozzy Osbourne or AC/DC) coming next for Stern around Expo, Pinball Brothers securing The Fifth Element license, Jersey Jack Pinball licensing The Grateful Dead, and Spike 3 remakes of popular Spike 2 titles including James Bond Goldfinger. He also discusses community sentiment shifts around John Wick and Predator gaining popularity while Pokémon and Transformers underperform, and previews Back to the Future from Dutch Pinball with extreme limited production and secondary market speculation.
Highlights
- Sonic the Hedgehog release date is June 23rd, 2026
- Keith Elwin's Fallout will not release in 2026; release date is March 2027
- Next cornerstone Stern game is from John Borg, around Expo, likely Ozzy Osbourne or new AC/DC version
- Pinball Brothers has secured The Fifth Element license
- Jersey Jack Pinball has licensed The Grateful Dead for a pinball machine
- Stern will remake popular Spike 2 games on Spike 3 platform, including James Bond Goldfinger
- Back to the Future limited to 88 units in America and 88 in Europe; production starting September
- John Wick LE production was much lower than 1,000 units (estimated ~400)
Notable quotes
“Sonic the Hedgehog, June 23rd. That's the date. Stop speculating. Stop wondering when it's going to be.”
“The next game from Stern Pinball, the next cornerstone game is going to be from John Borg. It is either going to be Ozzy Osbourne or an all new version of ACDC.”
“Pinball Brothers, if you are listening to Kaneda, give me game number one...I am going to get everybody that is listening to Kaneda's Pinball Podcast to get excited about this theme because it's such a good theme for pinball.”
“Jersey Jack Pinball is going to make a Grateful Dead or the Grateful Dead pinball machine...Still a rumor, but that is what I'm hearing.”
“I think Transformers without the transforming Optimus is the biggest fumble in the last 10 years in pinball.”
“When people see the size of this DeLorean, when they see the flux capacitor...everyone's going to want one. I think that's going to be more like 10 grand scalping value.”
“Post-Godzilla, every single modern Stern is really relying 100% on the code taking you somewhere magical. The actual mechanics aren't magical. The actual gameplay isn't incredible.”
“Name me the last Steve game that was loaded. Steve Ritchie is a flow guy. He never loads his games with toys or mechs.”
Entities
- American Pinball· company
- Dutch Pinball· company
- Jersey Jack Pinball· company
- Pinball Brothers· company
- Spooky Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Back to the Future· game
- Galactic Tank Force Deluxe· game
- Goonies· game
- Gremlins· game
- Houdini's· game
- James Bond Goldfinger· game
- John Wick· game
- Keith Elwin's Fallout· game
- Pokémon· game
- Predator· game
- Sonic the Hedgehog· game
- The Fifth Element· game
- The Grateful Dead· game
- Transformers· game
- David Van Es· person
- George Gomez· person
- John Borg· person
- Kaneda· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Steve Ritchie· person
More from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast
→ All content from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast
Episode 1229: "Something We Can All Agree On"
Kaneda condemns Stern's incomplete game launches and urges community to withhold support until quality improves.
Everyone wants the same thing, but we won't get there if we keep buying right away.
Episode 1228: "The Shills Coming for Kaneda & Everything Happening in Pinball Right Now!"
FRIDAY SHOW SPECTACULAR!
Episode 1226: "Kaneda Claps Back Against The Shills Blaming Him For Transformers Response"
Kaneda defends Transformers criticism; shares Pokemon/Sonic intel; accuses media of manufacturer bias.
Warning. Shill feelings may be hurt.