Newsbytes: Utah Retro GameXpo, Speed Rider 4DX and More

Arcade news is gathering pace as the next amusement trade-show season approaches. This roundup covers Utah Retro GameXpo 2025, new racing and redemption machines, Konami location tests, Golden Tee 2026, pinball production and recent industry headlines.

Utah Retro GameXpo 2025

Utah Retro GameXpo combined classic gaming with a strong arcade presence. The event included machines brought along with help from Alan-1 and Flynn’s Retrocade, while footage from the show provides an early glimpse of what may appear at Alan-1’s planned Hangar location in Tooele. You can watch Utah Retro GameXpo 2025, alongside coverage of the Long Island Retro Show’s cool aircraft base setup,.

The event also offered a look at the latest build of Missile Command: Recharged Arcade.

Speed Rider 4DX trailer reveals a motion-bike rival

Taiwanese manufacturer IGS showcased Speed Rider 4DX at China’s AAA 2025 trade show in May. The motorbike racer was presented by manufacturing and sales partner Baohui, which previously worked with IGS on Hyper Cross.

Its trailer highlights a drift mechanic integrated into the moving bike body and a prominent 100-inch dot-matrix marquee. Italian distributor ELMAC II published the footage, while MENA distribution is listed via ASI. A broader release remains unconfirmed.

The game enters a crowded field that already includes Storm Rider 2 and Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, as well as China-produced titles such as Superwing’s Flash Rider and Ace’s Bikers Madness. Earlier Speed Rider versions have not performed strongly in overseas markets, although a rebrand could potentially improve its prospects, as happened when IGS’s Monster Eye 3 became Kaiju Rampage.

Konami tests a new Gashaaaan! in Japan

Konami is testing a revival of Gashaaaan!, its video ball-toss series from the mid-to-late 2000s. The original games were released mainly in Japan, with one unsuccessful UK appearance at ATEI 2006, and the series ended as an active concern by 2009.

The new location-test machine uses two screens rather than conventional projectors, reflecting the larger presentation now common in redemption arcades. A reported mode includes cameos from Pop’n Music and Beatmania IIDX characters. Konami’s recent return to video redemption with Contra and its videmption take on DanceDanceRevolution makes the test particularly notable.

Whether Gashaaaan! or other Konami redemption projects form part of the company’s renewed United States push is unknown. There have also been reports of Gold Railroad being tested at a non-Round1 US venue.

Golden Tee 2026 adds courses around the world

Incredible Technologies is preparing its next annual Golden Tee update, expected at the end of September. Teased additions include TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, plus Acoma Mesa in Mexico, Machu Picchu in Peru and Tapper Creek in Alaska.

The new arcade release follows Digital Eclipse’s compilation of classic Golden Tee games. A separate Digital Eclipse Mortal Kombat collection is also in development.

Wild Hunting heads to IAAPA 2025

Amusement Source International plans to bring 19 new games to IAAPA 2025 in November. Most are expected to be prize-redemption products, but the line-up also includes video games, including Ace Amusement’s Wild Hunting.

Previously shown at AAA 2025, Wild Hunting is being positioned for the US market during the year of Big Buck Hunter’s 25th anniversary. It is not yet known whether Big Buck Hunter will receive a major update or a new entry at the October Big Buck World Championships, now known as BuckFest. A four-player upright version comparable to Halo: Fireteam Raven has been suggested as one possible direction.

PREDATOR pinball enters production

Pinball Brothers’ PREDATOR is now in production, although distributor listings still show only a deposit rather than a confirmed price. The manufacturer’s website also states that the machine is available now; timing and pricing information may vary between distributors.

The release continues Pinball Brothers’ recent run of new titles and adds another licensed property to its production line-up.

Yuto promotes a digital billiards game

China’s Yuto Games is promoting a new digital billiards arcade game. Its durability, software quality and performance on location still need to be assessed, but the concept stands out in a category that has seen relatively few dedicated video billiards releases.

Earlier examples include Sega’s Shootout Pool and Konami’s Perfect Pool, both released in 2002. More recent arcade billiards concepts have generally enhanced physical tables, including projection-mapping systems.

Arcade releases from May to July 2025

The latest release overview covers the main arcade games launched between May and July 2025. More than 30 new arcade titles had appeared during the first seven months of the year, a stronger output than several complete years during the 2000s.

More arcade and pinball headlines

• The EVO 2025 Arcade temporarily became the second-largest arcade in the United States, supplied by 100 Yen Life, Game Saru, Lemony Vengance and others.
• 100 Yen Life supplied a Sega arcade installation to promote Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds at K1 Speed.
• EVO presented the legacy of Mortal Kombat with Midway co-creator Ed Boon.
• Next Level Pinball Museum in Hillsboro, Oregon, was voted the best arcade in America.
• Pop’n Music received new coverage, including fan artwork inspired by its colourful buttons.
• Bandai Namco Amusement Europe launched the Wani Wani Panic gator kiddie ride, though an Australian release is unconfirmed.
• A rare Cooper’s 9 from Gamewax and Konami was dumped.
• The BBC marked Pac-Man’s 45th birthday and examined the character’s history.
• August 7 was recognised as L.A. Machineguns Day, while Sega released the third major Japanese version of Eiketsu Taisen.
• Amusement Expo 2025 in Japan has been previewed with its venue map and exhibitor information.
• Stern appointed pinball streamer Jack Danger as head of community and plans to launch its SPIKE 3 system with its next major release.
• American Pinball and ICE’s Down the Clown both received new LED lighting upgrades.
• Pop-A-Shot held its first national tournament and also gained a casino slots edition.
• Tekken has appeared in new video-slot products, while adults—not only children—have been filmed getting stuck in arcade games.
• Marble Madness II is now available at Galloping Ghost Arcade, and the UK Royal Armouries Museum bought an On Target from Sega Amusements.
• A Japanese Minecraft Dungeons Arcade cabinet was converted to run Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.
• The Gundam Pod 2 arcade game appears to have inspired construction technology in China.

Home and wider entertainment news

• Guitar Hero veterans formed the RedOctane Games studio.
• Atari and Bandai Namco announced Namco re-releases, including a Pac-Man-themed Atari 2600+, a Pac-Man Double Feature cartridge and Namco Atari 7800 games. Hino Kimura is returning for the artwork.
• Bandai Namco and Sony signed a strategic partnership, with its potential arcade implications still unclear.
• A Space Invaders film is reportedly in development, joining announced projects based on OutRun and House of the Dead.
• The House of the Dead 2 Remake has launched, following a mixed reception to the earlier remake.
• Taito and M2 previewed new Night Striker gear, while CAVE is considering additional console and PC releases.
• Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac and a new Katamari game were announced.

For Australian operators and collectors tracking the wider market, the RETROCADE Arcade Blog is a useful place to follow ongoing arcade news. Those considering a cabinet can also compare options in the arcade machine buying guide, browse racing arcades or explore virtual pinball machines.