Arcade News June 2025: Bowl Expo and More

June delivered a busy mix of trade-show previews, location-based entertainment updates, new arcade releases and pinball debate. Here is a concise round-up for Australian arcade fans and operators, beginning with Bowl Expo 2025.

Bowl Expo 2025 preview

Bowl Expo runs in Washington from 29 June to 3 July 2025, with the main exhibition scheduled for 1 and 2 July. It fills a quieter part of the international arcade-show calendar, although its proximity to 4 July has reduced some industry support. A fuller report is expected after the event, alongside coverage of IAAPA Expo Asia in Shanghai.

The show is expected to feature established releases rather than a large number of brand-new games. TouchMagix is promoting Pop It, Pudgy Penguins and Crazy Prize, with Minions Bullseye Mania also a possibility if booth space permits. Raw Thrills is expected to appear through Betson with Godzilla, The Wizard of Oz and Top Gun Maverick. A surprise is possible, but the scale of the event makes a major reveal unlikely.

Andamiro USA has confirmed a more unusual addition. Its preview points to Marksman, a shooting-gallery game from Chinese developer Superwing, known for Ice Man and Smash DX. The title has previously been tested at Round1USA and shown at IAAPA Europe, but Bowl Expo represents its first United States trade-show appearance.

The game appears to follow the shooting-range format associated with Quick Shot. Andamiro has distributed games from outside developers before, although that practice has been less visible recently.

Sega Amusements have also posted a preview of their lineup, while an unconfirmed possibility is a Standard cabinet version of Apex Rebels. The model was mentioned in shipping data during March and was later seen on test in the United Kingdom, although a clear photograph had not surfaced.

AVS Companies is representing several manufacturers that are not exhibiting directly. Its expected line-up includes Soda Slam from Alan-1, with GoldStorm Pirates also likely, as well as titles from Bandai Namco. LAI Games is bringing NASCAR Pitstop after the game missed Amusement Expo, while Smart Industries is concentrating largely on redemption products. JET Games USA is due to present Unlock Mania and return Talking Tom GoldRush to its display.

The official exhibitor list also includes Adrenaline Amusements, although there is no indication that it will show a new title such as Hot Wheels.

Dave & Buster’s launches a nationwide leaderboard

Dave & Buster’s has introduced a cross-venue leaderboard intended to encourage repeat play across its United States locations. Installed during the previous month, the system uses connected card readers on selected new and existing games to feed scores into a national ranking.

Scores are displayed on the official D&B website, and participating players can compete for substantial prizes, including a Lamborghini. The promotion connects neatly with the venue group’s use of Hot Wheels and Fast & Furious Arcade.

The platform is built on Play Mechanix’s Arcade Link technology. The company trademarked the name no later than 2021, but it had received little public attention before this deployment. It remains unclear whether the system will eventually be offered to other operators.

Maimai DX heads to Anime Expo

Anime Expo in Los Angeles is becoming a more interesting stop for arcade games. Bandai Namco previously brought Taiko no Tatsujin to the event in 2023, and Sega is now taking Maimai DX to its Japanese company booth ahead of the rhythm game’s planned North American release.

Sega will also display UFO Catchers, separately from the Western consumer area featuring properties such as Yakuza. Attendees can collect exclusive gloves and cards supplied by Round1USA.

This follows Sega’s active approach at Amusement Expo, where players were recruited for promotional activity. Sega Amusements have put up a new trailer for it on their channel in advance of their North American release. The expected timing remains around the beginning of autumn, with most of the first cabinet shipment reportedly destined for Round1.

Konami prepares a broader United States return

Konami is preparing to supply selected independent United States arcades beyond its established Round1 presence. Ikigai Arcade was among the first venues to confirm involvement, with games expected to reach it and several other independent operators around late 2025 or early 2026.

The rollout is still being handled quietly. Konami has arranged direct agreements with some independent arcades, is discussing distribution with selected partners and is continuing to determine how a wider market entry should work. One distributor reportedly began preparing a DDR page before being asked not to publish it yet.

The releases are expected to use revenue share alongside e-Amusement. An offline version of Dance Dance Revolution is also apparently planned, but at a higher initial cost, following the model used in Europe through Electrocoin. Separately, Konami announced a deliberately vague location test for a new Pop’n Music project. A new cabinet design has been suggested, but the test is needed before that can be confirmed.

Harry Potter pinball and the AI-art debate

Jersey Jack Pinball’s new Harry Potter machine has become the focus of a discussion about artificial intelligence in pinball artwork. A forum user alleged that parts of the game’s art were AI-generated. Jesper, a JJP employee involved with the artwork, responded in a discussion that has since been locked, although the individual examples raised in the allegation were not addressed one by one.

“To be transparent, we did use AI tools sparingly and intentionally, as a way to support the visual blending of certain elements and create harmony between complex assets. Every instance of AI use was guided by my own artistic vision and layered onto hand-crafted designs. It was never about replacing the human element it was about enhancing it.”

The response has not ended the argument. The meaning of “sparingly” remains contested, particularly because pinball has a strong tradition of hand-produced cabinet and playfield art and the machine had been promoted in that context. Greater disclosure of the production process could help distinguish limited assistance, such as upscaling or compositing, from images generated more extensively.

The wider question applies to video arcades as well: would players avoid a machine using AI-generated cabinet, playfield or video artwork? Some smaller Chinese manufacturers have already used AI imagery on cabinets. Retro Ralph did stream playing the game, offering a look at the finished machine.

Lessons from 17 years of arcade operation

Arcade operation involves more than choosing attractive games. Long-term planning, budgeting and understanding how a venue will earn from its floor are equally important. A separate, more detailed business-planning video has been made available for paying members, with further member-focused videos planned.

More arcade and pinball headlines

Sega Amusements Have A New Official Facebook Page after its previous page disappeared.
Sega Amusements Celebrate Sonic’s 34th Birthday; Tokyo Joypolis also held a major birthday event.
Sega Marks 65 Years With Daytonaaa….
40 Years Of The UFO Catcher, with Japanese media describing the crane game as a defining arcade attraction.
June 27th Was Atari Day, with commemorations also shared by Alan-1.
Artwork commemorated 70 years of Namco, although Bandai Namco did not prominently promote the anniversary.
NBA Superstars was tested at Round1 in Japan.
exA-Arcadia advertised a North American regional sales manager role.
Alan-1 offered a chance to win a Missile Command Recharged cabinet at CAX 2025.
Bandai Namco ended its Wincha Online crane service after two years, while its European division crowned an arcade champion.
Brad Pitt played Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR+ in Japan, and Taito held a Densha de Go tournament despite the game going offline.
Arcade projects using Unreal Engine 5 were reported to incur no royalty payments, and 3MindWave presented Alpha Ops VR Strike at CICAF 2025.
Stern Pinball released code updates for John Wick and Metallica Remastered, alongside paid Expression Lighting toppers. Pinball Brothers also shared more footage of PREDATOR.
New content covered the origins of Sega Pinball, Japanese coin-op history and the passing of Reggie Moultrie, formerly associated with Dave & Buster’s and Skee-Ball.

Home and wider games headlines

Sony was reportedly interested in Warner Bros. Games assets, including former Midway properties.
The Commodore brand gained new ownership and is pursuing “retro future” hardware.
A Double Dragon review trailer was released.
The Sega Venus concept was described as a portable Saturn-style system that would have followed the Nomad.
Another report cast further doubt on Half-Life 3, while a Nintendo Direct covered Donkey Kong Bananza.

For Australian operators and home players, these developments underline how varied the modern arcade sector has become, from revenue-sharing rhythm games and connected score systems to redemption, pinball, crane machines and compact home setups. Explore the RETROCADE arcade blog, browse arcade machines, or compare options in our arcade machine buying guide.