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What’s happening in UK pinball and the wider world, the latest results at home, plus new machines and releases from the manufacturers. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
IFPA’s Player of the Month/Biggest Movers for September 2026!Here are the September 2026 IFPA winners for Player of the Month and Biggest Movers: Player of the Month: Eric Stone from Fort Myers, FL (1106.94 WPPR’s – MAIN) Stacey Moritz from Pittsburgh, PA (65.84 WPPR’s – WOMEN’S)…
Stern Pro Circuit – Final Call for 2027 Applications – deadline October 31stWe announced last month the opportunity for tournament organizers to add themselves to the eligibility list for inclusion on the Stern Pro Circuit for the 2027 season. Organizers have until October 31, 2026 to apply.…
October 2026 Staffing and Organizational AnnouncementThe IFPA is proud to announce a new member to the team, Bill Mason! Bill Mason Bill began playing pinball around 1979. His first two loves were Strikes and Spares and Kiss. Throughout his teenage years and adult life…
Concert Recap! Pinball Expo 2026!Bon Jovi Pinball Brought the Hitsto Pinball Expo 2026! The Barrels of Fun team is back in Texas and hard at work finishing up production on Winchester Mystery House and cranking up the amps on Bon Jovi production! We…
PINBALL EXPO 2026 – SEMINARSOne of the outstanding features which sets Pinball Expo apart from other shows is the sheer number of seminars hosted in the dedicated Seminars Room which is the left half of the large Schaumburg Ballroom, called…
DFW Pinball League – Last chance to register for the Unnamed Halloween Tournament and Costume Contestsponsored blog post IFPA Certified Event at the Pinball Collective of Pottsboro, recently named “Location of the Month” by Stern Pinball. Three (3) Pinball Tournaments in Four (4) days with the Main Event being IFPA…
Pulp Fiction Pinball Gets Connected with Scorbit in New Code Update!sponsored blog post Click HERE for full announcement.
Back in Black, Back in Action with AC/DC Remastered by Stern PinballStern Pinball Invites Players to Rock Out with AC/DC Remastered, an Electrifying Pinball Experience Where Rock Legends and High Scores Collide CHICAGO, IL – October 15, 2026 – Today, Stern Pinball, […]
Barrels of Fun Pinburgh Tour with PinShades/PinSteps!sponsored blog post PinShades/PinSteps is a sponsor of this event, each tournament organizer on the tour will receive 5 sets of the InterBlok for WMS Stern games and 1 InterBlok for Gottlieb System 3, along with a…
PINBALL EXPO 2026Welcome to our coverage of this 42 annual Pinball Expo, held at the Schaumburg Convention Center in the town of Schaumburg, Illinois. The Schaumburg Convention Center The Convention Center is joined to the Renaissance…
- 2025-26 Stern Pro Circuit Championship – LIVE Results!
Tune in on the official Stern YouTube and Twitch channels to watch the electric Stern Pro Circuit Championship, presented by Mountain Dew and hosted by The Pinball Capital on October 14th! The top 32 qualifiers will be…
PlaceholderFlip It First at Expo! Play Cirqus Voltaire Ringmaster & Classic Editions at Pinball Expo 2026 The circus is officially coming to town! American Pinball is heading to Pinball Expo 2026 in Schaumburg, IL, and we are…
- Cirqus Voltaire™ : Behind the Audio Remaster
Cirqus Voltaire™ : Behind the audio remaster Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the audio remastering for American Pinball’s reimagined release of Cirqus Voltaire. To capture the true spirit of this legendary…
- Flip It First at Expo! Play Cirqus Voltaire™ Ringmaster & Classic Editions at Pinball Expo 2026
Flip It First at Expo! Play Cirqus Voltaire™ Ringmaster & Classic Editions at Pinball Expo 2026 The circus is officially coming to town! American Pinball is heading to Pinball Expo 2026 in Schaumburg, IL, and we are…
- Barrels Reserve Meetup @ Pinball Expo 2026
Calling All Barrels Reserve Members! Join Us at Pinball Expo 2026! The response to the Barrels Reserve fan club has been overwhelmingly awesome and we’re inviting our club members to join us at the upcoming 2026 Chicago…
STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – OCTOBER 2026The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: Fallout by Stern Pinball: Pinball […]
IFPA presents The Memorial – Coming in 2027!The IFPA is excited to announce a brand new IFPA Championship event: The Memorial. This event will be held on September 9-12, 2027 at The Pinball Capital in Chicago, IL. The format will remain the same as PAPA 23 in…
Week 9 of the Flipper Friends™ All-Legends Series Season 4 is here, and the competition keeps moving!sponsored blog post Season 4 continues with another round of featured gameplay, leaderboard action, and fresh chances to climb the ranks for AtGames Gift Card rewards. Compete using your Legends 4K™, HDP™, HD Pinball…
- WMH Code Update 10/1/26
Winchester Mystery House Code Update 10/1/26 All rooms are now available for tours! With the Callroom and the Witch’s Cap now open, every room in the Winchester Mystery House is finally unlocked. But don’t get too…
DINOSAUR LABHere at Pinball News we have been aware of ROKR‘s self-assembly mechanical kits for many years. Founded in 2017, the Robotime sub-brand has been producing impressive build-at-home models which have always featured…
SEPTEMBER 2026 PINCASTAfter the recent flurry of new reveals, September was a much quieter month for game launches. Instead, Martin and Jonathan focus on shows – both recent and upcoming – while bringing you up-to-date with all the rest of…
Viggo Löwgren wins 1st Major Championship!In the history of competitive pinball, very few (37 in fact) have had the chance to call themselves a Major Champion. Like professional golf or tennis, the opportunity to join this elite club only happens a handful of…
- Stern Pro Circuit – selection process for 2027 season
As the 2026 season enters the final 3+ months of the season, so does the process for selecting those IFPA sanctioned events that end up on the Stern Pro Circuit for the 2027 season. The top 15 events currently on the…
IAAPA EXPO EUROPE 2026You may be familiar with the huge IAAPA Expo show which is held in Orlando, Florida each November, but there is also a European version which was launched in Vienna in 2005 as the Euro Attractions Show. IAAPA Expo…
PinShades – UK Open and EPC This Week!sponsored blog post The time has come for the largest and best tournament in the UK! PinShades/PinSteps is a sponsor of this event, come by and see all the new products! There are 7 Tournaments at the UK Open / EPC…
- Stern Pinball Launches Full Line of Dungeon & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye Pinball Machine Accessories
https://youtu.be/obJYyMIkwQ4 CHICAGO, IL – September 22, 2026 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the largest manufacturer of pinball games in the world, in collaboration with Hasbro and its Wizards of the […]
Sonic the Hedgehog Timeline: How the Gameplay, Physics, and Design Has Evolved35 Years. One Hedgehog. Five Totally Different Games. Compare Sonic the Hedgehog circa 1991 to 2022’s open-zone Frontiers, and you’ll notice something curious. You’ve got two games that bear the “Sonic the Hedgehog”…
The Best Retro Games of All Time (And Why They Still Play Great)A Lot of Games Are Old. The Best Ones Are Timeless. Why do so many older games feel better in the hand than games that came out last year? We think we've cracked the code: The most influential games have a foundation of…
STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – SEPTEMBER 2026The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: Fallout by Stern Pinball: Stern […]
AUGUST 2026 PINCASTThe seemingly endless stampede of new game releases continues. After multiple game announcements last month, we have another three to report this month. So, join Martin and Jonathan as they bring you all these details…
UK PINFEST 2026The main national UK pinball show has been held at the same venue since 2010. Back then it was called the Barcelo Daventry Hotel after the Spanish hotel group leased it along with multiple other hotels across the…
FALLOUT REVEALEDStern Pinball today revealed their latest release, Fallout, based on the popular video game series and TV show spin-off. While there have been questions about whether the pinball would be tied to the video game series…
Welcome to the Wasteland with Fallout™ by Stern PinballStern Pinball Invites Players to Experience the Post-Apocalyptic World of Fallout in a Thrilling Pinball Experience, where Survival is Only One Flip Away CHICAGO, IL – September 3, 2026 – […]
CIRQUS VOLTAIRE REIMAGINEDAmerican Pinball have revealed the first game produced under the new ownership with their ‘Reimagined’ version of the 1997 Bally classic, Cirqus Voltaire. Plans to remake Cirqus Voltaire were announced back in March as…
- Introducing Cirqus Voltaire™ Reimagined and Classic Editions
Introducing Cirqus Voltaire™ Reimagined and Classic Editions American Pinball is proud to announce its latest title: Cirqus Voltaire™, available in both Classic and reimagined Ringmaster Editions, honoring the legendary…
- What’s New in the Cirqus Voltaire™ Ringmaster and Classic Edition
What’s New in the Cirqus Voltaire™ Ringmaster and Classic Edition Here is a full breakdown of the 20+ upgrades packed into the new Ringmaster Edition of Cirqus Voltaire™, along with a side-by-side look at what is…
Allocation TicketsCirqus Voltaire ALLOCATION TICKETS: How it Works With Cirqus Voltaire, we’ve rolled out a new way to recognize and certify your pinball machine purchase. American Pinball ONLY sells through official distributors /…
PINBALL: A QUEST FOR MASTERYIf you are looking to improve your pinball playing skills, increase the enjoyment of your games, and reach new high scores, a new book from Tasker Smith could be just what you need. Pinball: A Quest for Mastery was…
- WMH Code Update 8/13/26
Winchester Mystery House Code Update 8/13/26 We’ve opened the doors to two more rooms on our tour: the North and South Conservatories. Sarah surrounded herself with greenery and glass,but not everything flourishing in…
Winchester Mystery House Alternate Backglass Available Now!Join Us In the Grand Ballroom… Enhance your Winchester Mystery House pinball machine today with our gorgeous new alternate backglass. It captures the eerie elegance of the estate’s Grand Ballroom and its ethereal…
STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – AUGUST 2026The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: Stern Pinball at San Diego […]
Play Bon Jovi Pinball @SFGE 2026Bon Jovi Pinball Is Coming to SFGE 2026! We’re happy to announce that you won’t have to wait long to check out Bon Jovi Pinball! Our just-announced game will be making its show debut at the upcoming Southern-Fried…
Bon Jovi Pinball Gameplay Overview w/ Karl DeAngelo
Bon Jovi Pinball Is Ready to Rock! Build the Setlist and Play It Loud!Game Design:David van Es Rules:Phil GrimaldiJess DeNardo Coding:Eric Priepke Sound Design:Jeff Dodson Artwork:Jonathan Bergeron Animations:Joshua ClayTrent Armstrong Mechanical Engineering:Luke UnderwoodPaul Sulisz…
Stern Pinball Announces Promotion of Brian Whitfield to CFOCHICAGO, IL – July 27, 2026 – Stern Pinball, Inc. (SPI) today announced the promotion of Brian Whitfield to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Brian has served as Controller […]
Check Out Our Full Lineup @SFGE 2026Join Us @ SFGE 2026! If you’re going to be at the upcoming Southern-Fried Gaming Expo, next weekend, July 31 – Aug 2, 2026 in Atlanta, GA, we want you to stop by and see us! We’re partnering with our Atlanta-area…
Gifts For Sonic Fans: Epic Sonic Merch & CollectiblesDie-hard Sonic fans (we see you, Barry Evans ) want more than commonplace merch. They want something completely unexpected and undeniably cool. That’s why our top five Sonic the Hedgehog gifts for collectors who “have…
Roll out with the full line of TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye Pinball AccessoriesCHICAGO, IL – July 21, 2026 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of pinball games, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc., a leading games, IP and toy company, […]
- Barrels Reserve Memberships Closing Soon!
Are You In the Club Yet? If you haven’t signed up for our Barrels Reserve membership yet, time is running out! The first window for joining the club will be closinglater this week on Friday, July 24, 2026 Barrels…
Video Game Physics: The Science That Turns Good Games Into LegendarySome Games You Finish. Others You Never Forget. “When you play Sonic Pinball, you’re playing the future of pinball.” — Joe Jersey Jack’s Sonic The Hedgehog Pinball Machine Collectors Edition There are invisible forces…
STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – JULY 2026The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: 40 Years of Stern Pinball: […]
PINBALL PIVOTS TO MILLENNIAL NOSTALGIA AND GIVES SONIC A $10,000 MACHINE OF HIS OWNPikachu isn’t the only ’90s video game mascot to star in a new pinball machine this year. Jersey Jack Pinball and Sega are teaming up on a Sonic the Hedgehog pinball machine, the two companies announced today; it’s…
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG GETS HIS FIRST OFFICAL PINBALL MACHINE AND IT'S DESIGNED BY A LEGENDEven after 35 years of Sonic the Hedgehog games, movies, and TV shows, Sega's blue blur is still capable of doing new things. On Tuesday, Sega and pinball maker Jersey Jack Pinball revealed Sonic's next game, an all-new…
Full Line of Pokémon by Stern Pinball Accessories Now AvailableCHICAGO, IL – June 18, 2026 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the largest manufacturer of pinball games in the world, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International, revealed and released […]
- 10 Playable Art Investments That Will Redefine Your Collection in 2026
Collectors spent years buying pieces that were mostly meant to be admired from a distance. In 2026, that idea feels much less exciting to many buyers. People now want collectibles they can interact with, hear,…
- Jersey Jack Pinball Machines | Uncrate
Pinball is no longer a relic, and Jersey Jack Pinball is leading its return with the Harry Potter Pinball Machine. What was once a barroom staple now reads more like a statement piece, blending analog mechanics with…
5 Creative Office Culture Ideas Employees LoveAnyone who’s seen Office Space remembers the scene: three men drag a printer into a field and beat it to death with a baseball bat. It’s funny because it’s exaggerated, and also because it isn’t. Office culture matters…
Things to Collect in 2026: Exploring the World of Playable ArtThe Global Collectibles Market was valued at USD 462.82 billion in 2024, a number driven not only by coins and cards, but by digital art, interactive creations, and designer pieces. In 2026 (and beyond), the best things…
10 Hobbies for Kids to Cut Down on Screen UseAccording to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Common Sense Media , today's kids are spending an average of 5-7 hours a day looking at screens. While technology has educational potential, many…
When Were Arcades Invented? History & Modern EraArcades were invented in the 1890s. So the question of “when were arcades invented?” is easy enough to answer. But the real story isn’t about a single date. It’s about what these early interactions set in motion: Over a…
Headlines and short excerpts are aggregated from each publisher’s own feed, full stories live at the source. Sources: Stern Pinball · Jersey Jack Pinball · Jersey Jack Pinball · IFPA · American Pinball · Barrels of Fun · Pinball News.