AAA 2025 brought the arcade and amusement industry to Guangzhou, China, for the 21st Asia Amusement & Attractions Expo. The event began on 10 May and formed part of the wider Grandeur World Culture & Tourism Industry Expo.
Held across several halls at the China Import & Export Fair Complex, AAA covers arcade games, redemption, attractions and other amusement equipment. It is one of China’s two major amusement trade shows, alongside the GTI Asia China Expo, and continues to attract more international exhibitors and visitors.
This first instalment focuses on Wahlap and Bandai Namco. The 2025 coverage is being divided across three days, with UNIS and Ace scheduled for day two and other exhibitors following on day three. For Australian operators and collectors, the event offers a useful look at games that may influence the wider arcade market.
For more industry reporting, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
AAA 2025 in Guangzhou
AAA has grown into a significant gathering for Chinese amusement manufacturers and their overseas partners. The show includes everything from video arcade cabinets to large-scale attractions, making it broadly comparable with other major international amusement exhibitions.
The 21st edition’s larger international profile was evident throughout the venue, with familiar companies from outside China also appearing among the exhibitors.
Wahlap marks 35 years
Wahlap once again occupied a prominent position, with a large booth, character costumes, merchandise and a substantial selection of licensed and original products. The company was also celebrating its 35th anniversary, making this one of its biggest AAA presentations to date.
The company’s current focus includes products from major Japanese and international partners, including officially licensed Sega and Bandai Namco rhythm games. Wahlap also published a highlights video covering more of its stand.
Alpha Ops VR Strike
Alpha Ops VR Strike was one of the most notable upcoming releases on the booth. Developed by 3MindWave and Sega Amusements, the VR shooter follows the successful VR Agent. Wahlap will represent the game exclusively in China, while the title is also expected to launch in Western markets soon.
The Chinese cabinet differs from the Western version shown so far. It uses one horizontal 16:9 display for the headset output rather than two vertical screens, and its marquee is smaller. The guns are also more compact, although it remains unclear whether that change will apply to every version. It is likewise uncertain whether this single-screen configuration will remain exclusive to China.
Pokémon Mezastar
Marvelous’ Pokémon Mezastar made a high-profile Chinese debut after not appearing in Wahlap’s initial preview. The game launched in Japan in 2020 and now follows the earlier regional rollout of Pokémon Ga-Olé. Japan has since received the newer Pokémon Frienda, leaving Mezastar as the version being introduced to other Asian markets.
Wahlap gave Mezastar a dedicated sub-booth beside its main display, supported by merchandise and Pokémon mascot appearances, including Pikachu. The cost of the Pokémon licence could make a Western release difficult, despite the brand’s strong audience appeal.
Monster Eye 3 Unite
Monster Eye 3 Unite is a new cabinet for the game first shown by Wahlap at AAA 2024. Instead of the original sit-down format with mounted weapons, Unite uses an upright cabinet with tethered lightguns. It also increases the player count from two to four.
Wahlap was also showing the motion-theatre version under the name Kaiju Rampage. The new Unite format could potentially interest international distributors, although no such release has been confirmed.
Marvel Contest of Champions
Raw Thrills’ Marvel Contest of Champions returned to the Wahlap stand in a cabinet designed specifically for China. The game had previously appeared in China in a form similar to the Western release, but this version uses a smaller footprint inspired by the compact children’s card-game machines common across Asia.
The underlying game appears to remain largely unchanged, while the reduced cabinet size is better suited to the local arcade and family-entertainment market.
CyberHoop Basketball
CyberHoop Basketball was unveiled as a new video redemption and sports game. It updates Wahlap’s earlier basketball title, Alley Oop Blitz, and enters a category that also includes products such as Pop-A-Shot. The presentation did not confirm whether CyberHoop supports linked player accounts.
Taiko No Tatsujin
Bandai Namco’s Taiko No Tatsujin has appeared on Wahlap’s Chinese trade-show displays for almost two years, following its local launch in late 2023. At AAA 2025, the first Real Rank Dojo qualifiers for Chinese players were held during the opening two days of the expo.
More games on the Wahlap stand
Other Wahlap products included maimai DX, Chunithm, Initial D The Arcade, Kingdoms Fantasy and several electromechanical Ultraman attractions. The wider line-up also included Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, NFS Heat Takedown in its Wahlap version and Getter Spin D.
Bandai Namco at AAA 2025
Bandai Namco returned with a direct presence through its Namco Enterprises Asia subsidiary. This followed the company’s reappearance at the previous year’s GTI Asia China Expo after a period away from Chinese amusement events.
The display included the established Taiko No Tatsujin range, a children’s ride and a mini air-hockey machine. The newest attraction was a children’s Pac-Man basketball game for the Pac-Man Street range. Its LED score displays show “765”, a reference that will be familiar to long-time Namco fans.
Dead Heat Unleashed DX
Bandai Namco also showed the DX version of Dead Heat Unleashed, first revealed at the earlier GTI Asia China Expo before disappearing from view. Its return suggests the project remains active, although its appearances so far have been limited to China.
The cabinet was designed with assistance from 3MindWave, the company involved with the motion cabinet for Apex Rebels. That connection helps explain the similar design elements between the two products. 3MindWave and Bandai Namco may be developing a broader working relationship in Asia, following the company’s work with Sega Amusements on Alpha Ops VR Strike.
Early looks at other exhibitors
Several other companies had already begun sharing material from their stands as the exhibition concluded. Yuto Games showed a booth featuring the increasingly common stacked two-screen cabinet layout, while High Fun displayed products including a zombie-stomping game.
There was also discussion of a possible Spider Stompin’ revival or clone at the event, suggesting that compact stomping games may be gaining attention within the amusement sector.
AAA 2025’s opening day showed a market balancing licensed Japanese games, compact family machines, VR experiences, sports redemption and larger multiplayer cabinets. The next instalment will turn to UNIS and Ace.
Operators considering equipment for a venue can compare formats in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, browse racing arcades or explore the broader arcade machine collection.
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