International arcade trade-show activity continued through February 2025, with notable events in India and Italy. The IAAPI Expo in India was joined by two Italian gatherings: the Rimini Amusement Show and Family Entertainment Expo in Bergamo.
IAAPI Expo showcases India’s expanding arcade market
India’s amusement sector continues to grow, with operators such as Masti Zone expanding rapidly and Dave & Buster’s entering the market. That growth is increasing the importance of local industry events, particularly the IAAPI Expo, organised by the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries. Despite the similar acronym, IAAPI is separate from IAAPA, and the 2025 event marked its 21st edition, described by organisers as its successful 21st edition.
A major feature of the expo is its network of regional distributors, which bring products from manufacturers around the world to the Indian market. One of the largest is CSML, representing companies including LAI Games, JET, ICE, Bandai Namco Amusement Europe and Sega Amusements.
CSML also presented an exA-Arcadia ARC-32 cabinet running The Kung Fu Karate Champ. The appearance was notable because exA-Arcadia later withdrew from Amusement Expo and appeared unlikely to return to future AEI shows, although an online reveal was still hoped for at the time.
TouchMagix, an Indian arcade manufacturer, used the CSML presence to show Minions Bullseye Mania. The game had not appeared at Bandai Namco’s EAG booth because of shipping delays, making its IAAPI showing the first public appearance since IAAPA. The version displayed by TouchMagix and CSML appeared more developed than the earlier prototype and was also expected at Amusement Expo the following month.
Several companies represented by CSML also had separate stands, although these were generally modest because much of their product was already available through the distributor. Sega Amusements displayed Big Sea Fishing and Hyper Cross, while Apex Rebels could be found at the CSML booth. Bandai Namco Amusement Europe also attended, with products from some of its distribution partners, including Raw Thrills, appearing through CSML.
FOG Technologies reported two awards from the event: Best Booth and Best Manufacturer. The company also shared a fast-action video of its display. Its flagship ColourGrid product has been installed at some TimeZone venues. For a broader look at smaller exhibitors, GTI has uploaded a big photo album onto their site that you can check out.
Rimini Amusement Show and Family Entertainment Expo
Italy hosted two amusement trade events in relatively quick succession during February. Its amusement industry is more established than India’s, although regulation has contributed to periods of instability. Both events are comparatively young, with Family Entertainment Expo reaching only its third edition.
The Rimini Amusement Show ran alongside Enada Primavera, the larger event incorporating gambling and gaming. Italian arcade distributors were still present at RAS, representing manufacturers such as Ace Amusement. Companies from Asia, including IGS and Yuto Games, also occupied smaller stands.
Family Entertainment Expo then took place in Bergamo with a stronger focus on family entertainment centre attractions. A number of manufacturers appeared through Italian distribution partners, including UNIS. Its stand featured Sailor’s Quest VR 2, alongside GoldStorm Pirates and Namco’s Mission Impossible Arcade DX and Sega’s Mission Impossible Arcade DX representation as shown in the event coverage.
UNIS was also the first manufacturer to announce its Amusement Expo International line-up. Shipping and pricing information for its newer games confirmed that Neon Rush and Dino Storm were scheduled to go to North America in March.
Harding Trading’s booth included the Step Revolution team. StepManiaX marked the appearance with its 59th content update, while the same stand also carried Pump It Up Phoenix 2024, which Harding distributes in Italy. Dance Dance Revolution A20+ is also sold in Europe, but was not visible at the event.
Other FEExpo material showed Fun On Track, a clone of Magical Truck Adventure that had been released in China several years earlier without gaining broad representation elsewhere. Another image captured Running Ostrich, a two-screen racer from Joint-Fun, in the background. The game had previously been an unusual highlight at the GTI Asia China Expo, although its wider release plans remained unclear.
An event video also revealed older 1970s machines from Spanish companies including Segasa. The inclusion of historical machines reflects a wider effort by trade shows to acknowledge arcade history alongside new commercial releases.
Why these shows matter to arcade operators
IAAPI, RAS and FEExpo each offered a different view of the international arcade business: India’s rapidly developing distribution market, Italy’s established amusement network and the family entertainment attractions aimed at modern FECs. For Australian operators and enthusiasts, the events also provide useful signals about upcoming game imports, distributor activity and new cabinet trends. Readers planning a home setup can compare formats in RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide, browse racing arcades or explore the latest arcade news.
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