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TPF Pre-Show 2026
PodcastAnalysis updated today1 hr 8 min listen
We're talking about all the new games and speculate what else might be coming at Texas Pinball Festival
Highlights
- Stern's Pokemon pinball is starting to ship and get into venues; there has been a minor issue with the orbit playfield element.
- Multimorphic is strategically not revealing a new game at TPF 2026, instead planning to announce when they are ready to ship within a short window.
- American Pinball has been acquired by J.B. Vincent LP and represents a complete reboot of the company.
- American Pinball has announced a partnership with Planetary Pinball Supply to make classic Williams/Bally remakes.
- Rob of Electric Playground and Nick (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater homebrew designer) have signed on to American Pinball as product director and designer respectively.
- Melvin (formerly of DPX/Dutch Pinball) was hired by American Pinball within 24 hours of his departure from Dutch Pinball.
- American Pinball is reportedly bringing a revamped Houdini to TPF 2026, based on assembly line photos and artwork leaks.
- Godzilla is on track to be the best-selling modern pinball game and may challenge Addams Family's all-time sales record.
- Spooky Pinball's Beetlejuice sold out within 48 hours, along with Pokemon LE and Winchester Mystery House.
- Hot Wheels license for American Pinball expired in December 2025 and was not renewed.
Notable quotes
“Stern's handing it off to two people that's let's be frank they don't give a crap about pinball they just want a job”
“pinball is becoming more like it was a collectible item before but it's truly becoming a collectible now right we're seeing that with like Pokemon le we saw that with Winchester we saw that with Beetlejuice like it sold out those three alone sold out within 48 hours”
“if Lamborghini came and said, Hey, because we want you to make a pinball machine. And so just because it's associated with that brand... that is so few and far between”
“I think one of the problems that Multimorphic has had is they show at Texas because they want to go to Texas because that's their backyard, right? And they don't ship for another six months.”
“You're producing pinball in Chicago. Your president lives in St. Louis. Your designer lives in St. Louis... We're starting to see this trend of like... the assembly line will be in Chicago, but we're going to scatter the pieces to the wind. How well can you keep that going?”
“Just because that's their best selling game doesn't mean that it's going to make them more money. People who have Houdini, or want Houdini, already have it.”
“Ametron's the difference... Ametron had a lot of control over American because obviously the people front the bill.”
“With no AIMTRON in the picture, I am cautiously optimistic.”
“pinball has to be up there when you're talking about someone buying a complex operating mechanical machine for mainly entertainment. The only thing you could possibly say is maybe like a motorcycle or a side by side.”
“There are certainly different ways... I would argue King Kong would have been number one for 2025 if they would have put the Star Wars theme on it.”
Entities
- American Pinball· company
- Chicago Gaming Company· company
- Dutch Pinball· company
- Flip N Out Pinball· company
- Hexa Pinball· company
- Jersey Jack Pinball· company
- Multimorphic· company
- Planetary Pinball Supply· company
- Spooky Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Turner Pinball· company
- Texas Pinball Festival· event
- Loser Kid Pinball Podcast· organization
- J.B. Vincent· person
- Jim· person
- Josh Roop· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Melvin Williams· person
- Nick· person
- Nicole Meny· person
- Rick· person
- Rob· person
- Scott Larson· person
- Stephanie· person
- Zach Sharpe· person
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