American Pinball is continuing operations under a new corporate structure rather than closing, as recent industry rumours suggested. Its parent company is maintaining the brand within Orbit Games, with American Pinball operating as an Orbit subsidiary.
Orbit Games is now preparing to make its public debut at Pinball Expo 2025 with Whirl-O-Ball, a new ball-rolling attraction inspired by an unusual amusement format from the 1930s and 1940s.
American Pinball’s next project
Ron Lindeman, who oversees both American Pinball and Orbit Games, has confirmed that American Pinball still has a seventh game in development. That title is planned for reveal in 2026, although it will use a different intellectual property from the one discussed in earlier rumours.
American Pinball will not present that project at Pinball Expo. Instead, the company is using the event to introduce Whirl-O-Ball through its new Orbit Games identity.
Orbit Games and Whirl-O-Ball
Orbit Games has maintained a small social-media presence and is now ready to show its first game at Pinball Expo 2025. Whirl-O-Ball revives a short-lived variation of Skee-Ball using contemporary technology.
Rather than sending balls towards the familiar circular targets on a conventional Skee-Ball ramp, players roll them up a raised lane towards targets positioned above the “hump”. The basic action remains recognisable, but the elevated target layout gives the attraction a different physical profile. Two units will be available for attendees to play at Pinball Expo.
Although Whirl-O-Ball can operate in family entertainment centres, Orbit is especially targeting breweries and the arcade-bar market. Its design includes features intended to encourage repeat games in those venues.
The marquee uses a 32-inch HD screen for animations, scores and other player information. LED lighting runs along the sides, while three beacon lights—two red and one blue—add visual cues. The lanes are wider than those on a typical Skee-Ball or alley bowler, and built-in mini-games provide more variety than simply aiming for the targets.
Three mini-games are currently included:
- A blue-light chase awards 50 bonus points when the player hits the illuminated target. The score boxes beneath the monitor can change colour, and the light travels across the seven targets in three patterns.
- A three-minute high-score run continuously supplies balls until the timer ends.
- A five-minute high-score run uses the same timed format for a longer session.
The timed modes and chase feature are designed to support repeat play, particularly in arcade-bar settings. Sign toppers will also be supplied so venues can promote the modes currently running on the machine.
Operator settings and game options
Operators will be able to disable or configure several functions, including:
- A points multiplier for repeatedly hitting the same targets numbered one through seven.
- A bonus round that awards nine additional balls and 100 extra points when all seven targets are cleared.
- The blue-light chase, including its three movement patterns and 50-point bonus.
- A three-minute or five-minute high-score run in which balls continue to be released until time expires.
- Pricing per player for rounds using three to nine balls.
The stated retail price is the current price of a Skee-Ball machine, with an MSRP of $8,999. Orbit will begin accepting orders at Pinball Expo. The unit measures 10.5 feet by 4 feet and weighs 575 pounds.
For venues assessing floor space, pricing and installation requirements, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide offers useful context.
Other projects under Orbit Games
Whirl-O-Ball is only one part of Orbit’s planned range. The company is also taking responsibility for Polycade, which was previously sold through American Pinball. A new version called the Polycade Tower is expected to debut soon, although details have not yet been released.
Orbit is also developing Flippit, a digital pinball table described as “a new kind of pinball”. Its exact approach has not been explained yet. The machine will not appear at Pinball Expo; Lindeman has said it will instead be demonstrated at Orbit’s factory to dealers, alongside two other prototypes planned for next year. Flippit is targeting an early 2026 market arrival.
Another announced project will draw on the characters of the Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band. Orbit says it intends to create games featuring the characters, rather than manufacture new animatronic shows. The company specifically noted that the cost and maintenance demands of animatronics are major reasons comparable systems are no longer common.
Orbit’s initial line-up spans ball-rolling attractions, digital pinball, multigame arcade hardware and character-based projects. Its emphasis on physical, electromechanical-style play could give the company a distinct position alongside the digital experiences already available in homes and commercial venues.
Readers comparing this new attraction with other commercial equipment can browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines and explore virtual pinball machines for a different style of venue or home setup. Further developments will show how Orbit’s wider portfolio takes shape.
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