The busiest stretch of the arcade trade-show calendar traditionally runs from autumn into late winter or early spring, with a quieter period during summer. Although the industry is smaller in some respects than it was during the classic arcade era, the early part of the season has become increasingly concentrated. Between September and November 2024, four major events are scheduled, supported by several smaller gatherings.
This guide brings the key dates together for Australian arcade fans, operators and collectors, while also surveying games that may appear at the shows or are currently being tested. Some previews remain tentative: cabinets can change substantially before launch, and a title may not appear at all. The information has been compiled with help from industry contacts and people who photographed or identified the games.
September: Thailand, China and Europe
September began with the Thailand Amusement & Attraction Parks Expo, or TAAPE, which concluded in Bangkok on 5 September. Public information from the event was limited, although Firestone Amusement displayed Master Sniper, one of the shooting-gallery products associated with the rebranded family of games that includes Big Shot and Mega Shot.
The next major event is the GTI Asia China Expo on 11 September. It is the second major Chinese amusement exhibition of the year, following the stronger coverage generated by the May event. Wahlap has indicated that Monster Eye 3 will receive a more prominent presentation, while other announcements or surprises may emerge during the show.
For readers considering the difference between commercial machines and domestic setups, RETROCADE’s arcade-machine buying guide provides useful background on cabinets, space and intended use.
IAAPA Expo Europe follows in Amsterdam from 23 September. It is smaller than the main Orlando exhibition, and its strongest arcade presence is often found in redemption rather than video games. One notable trend is the multi-claw crane. Leon Amusement is expected to show Big Six, while Sega Amusements has secured Western distribution for Playmore’s High Five, which has already been tested in the UK.
High Five is confirmed for Sega’s booth, alongside existing SAI and LAI Games products represented by Sega in Europe. The Allstars range is also due to gain Ultimate Disc.
Italian distributor ELMAC will also be present. A recent trade advertisement indicated early access to several Chinese releases, including Monster Eye 3, Skull Of Shadow and Ace Amusement’s Air Combat. Both of the latter titles were shown at the May AAA event, although photography was restricted. Skull Of Shadow draws inspiration from Deadstorm Pirates, while Air Combat has been compared with Sega’s Sky Target. At least one of these games could reach IAAPA Expo Europe, and Ace has begun publishing videos through a new YouTube channel.
Inowize has confirmed a new game for its QBIX system at IAAPA Expo Europe. The announcement has so far appeared only through the company’s LinkedIn profile, leaving the details of the new addition open until the exhibition.
The smaller AAMA Gala in the United States also takes place during September. It is generally a quiet business and networking event, although products intended for the larger IAAPA exhibition can sometimes receive an early preview there.
October: Pinball, coin-op and extended reality
October is comparatively calm, but several events remain relevant to arcade operators and collectors.
The month’s largest specialist gathering is the 40th annual Pinball Expo, scheduled for 15–19 October in Schaumburg, Illinois. Stern’s The Uncanny X-MEN and Jersey Jack Pinball’s AVATAR: The Way of Water are set to be displayed, alongside boutique machines created by collectors and enthusiasts. Smaller manufacturers such as American Pinball or Spooky Pinball may also announce a new table.
Although pinball dominates the event, the arcade section should include AVS Companies and Alan-1 with Asteroids: Recharged. The exhibition follows Raw Thrills’ Big Buck Hunter World Championships by only a few days, and the region is also home to Raw Thrills and Bandai Namco Amusement America. That creates the possibility of finding location tests at nearby arcades.
In the United Kingdom, the Autumn Coin-Op Show, or ACOS, is expected towards the end of October. It is primarily a networking and business event rather than a major unveiling, but UK distributors such as Electrocoin and UDC could bring one or two new titles. Sega Amusements and Bandai Namco Amusement Europe commonly attend, though their announcements have generally been limited.
The European edition of the XR-focused AWE also returns. 3MindWave appeared in 2023 with VR Agent, demonstrated using a monitor, gun controller and headset rather than a complete arcade cabinet. The unusual arrangement may have reflected the difficulty of shipping a full machine, rather than plans for a home release. The company also offered a quiet preview of Apex Rebels, but is not expected to attend this year. Other location-based entertainment developers may still show new VR concepts.
Much of October’s remaining activity will involve announcements leading into the two major November exhibitions.
November: Amusement Expo and IAAPA
November places two major arcade events close together on opposite sides of the world. Japan’s principal arcade-industry gathering was traditionally held as JAEPO in February, but its reworked format, now called Amusement Expo, is scheduled near IAAPA. After a one-day 2023 edition, the event returns across two days, with several exhibitors—including exA-Arcadia—expected to return.
Japanese visitors may see Bandai Namco’s trading-card games Idolm@ster Tours and Dragon Ball Super Divers. Konami may present a three-screen update to the Gitadora series, covering Guitar Freaks and Drummania. A Korean-character “spot the difference” game has also appeared in previews. Further unannounced products are possible.
One week later, IAAPA in Orlando should provide the clearest view of games intended for Western markets. Confirmed details remain limited, so this section should be treated as an early look rather than a final exhibitor list.
Bandai Namco Amusement is a key company to watch. With Taiko No Tatsujin scheduled to launch in the United States that month, it is likely to receive strong attention. Goldstorm Pirates was strongly suggested for a US industry debut at IAAPA 2023, while Bike Dash Delivery and Jump Racer are additional possibilities. Bandai Namco often keeps its IAAPA plans private, making the final booth reveal particularly significant.
Raw Thrills may bring new videmption projects. Angry Birds Boom, its collaboration with Play Mechanix, was tested earlier in the year and could debut at IAAPA after missing Bowl Expo. The company has also begun testing a new Wizard Of Oz game. Its concept combines the basic play style of Monopoly Roll N Go with the card-vending feature and licence that helped make Elaut’s Wizard Of Oz pusher successful. The title remained in testing at the time of writing and could still be withdrawn.
Other Raw Thrills possibilities include the concluding chapters of Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR and perhaps another VR product, although the latter remains speculation. Arcades and family entertainment centres around Illinois and the wider Chicagoland area are likely places to watch for location tests, including the new Dave & Busters venue planned for Lombard.
Sega Amusements could reveal a sit-down version of Mission: Impossible Arcade, following recent sightings of a new cabinet format in the UK. Its redemption line-up may include Balloon Circus, a videmption pusher that Sega released in Japan as a medal game under a different name. SAI could potentially showcase Maimai DX for Sega Japan, although the recent Dave & Busters test generated less attention than the R1USA test.
IAAPA may also clarify which US distributor will handle Wahlap’s Monster Eye 3. Possible partners include Amusement Source International and LAI. Ace Amusement’s Wave Riders X-Treme is expected to use Ace’s regular US sales partner, Coastal Amusements. It has been tested in the United States and was released in Europe through UDC earlier in the year. If testing goes well, it could appear at the show. exA-Arcadia and Alan-1 are also expected to attend, although their new-game plans remain unknown.
VR has gradually occupied less space at major amusement exhibitions, despite Raw Thrills continuing to support the category. Night Heron Entertainment’s Kung Fu Panda: The Warrior’s Gauntlet remains a possible exception, though the company did not appear on the published IAAPA exhibitor map and could instead attend through another booth. In pinball, Stern’s X-Men and Jersey Jack’s Avatar are already likely to appear because they are scheduled for Pinball Expo, with further announcements still possible.
What to watch next
The September-to-November trade-show run should produce a steady stream of new arcade, redemption, pinball and VR information. Test locations may reveal additional games before the exhibitions, while some of the titles listed here may change or disappear before release. For Australian enthusiasts building or maintaining a machine, RETROCADE’s arcade parts collection and arcade repair service offer practical resources alongside the latest industry news.
Among the most closely watched prospects are Monster Eye 3, Goldstorm Pirates, the new Raw Thrills videmption projects, Sega’s possible Mission: Impossible Arcade update and the next generation of Japanese rhythm and card-driven machines.
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