Taiko No Tatsujin USA and Arcade News Roundup

July’s arcade news includes clearer plans for Taiko No Tatsujin in the United States, the first details on Golden Tee 2025, distribution information for Naruto Emblem Battle, and difficult news for Haggis Pinball. There are also updates from EVO 2024, immersive attractions, Godzilla VR and several recent releases.

Taiko No Tatsujin USA plans become clearer

Bandai Namco’s confirmed November USA launch of Taiko No Tatsujin has generated substantial interest, although some details circulating about the release have been inaccurate. The initial, limited cabinet allocation is expected to go largely to Round1USA, with a broader US rollout targeted for around Q2 2025.

Bandai Namco has also indicated that the network and music-licensing side of the game will use a per-play fee. The available wording does not establish whether this means a fixed charge per credit, a percentage-based revenue share, or a combination of networking and licensing costs. A revenue-share arrangement without additional network fees would be preferable for operators, particularly those already paying for services connected with Maximum Tune 5, but the final structure remains unclear.

Rumours that Raw Thrills is building the USA cabinets, or that they will be inferior to Japanese units, are not supported by the available information. Previous concerns about DDR X cabinets are understandable, but Raw Thrills supplied parts rather than handling every aspect of that project, and quality-control responsibility was also involved elsewhere. Current information indicates that USA cabinets will be assembled domestically using Japan-manufactured parts, not built by Raw Thrills.

Further details should follow as the November release approaches. For Australian operators and collectors, the key points are that the first run is limited, the wider rollout is planned for 2025, and the operating-cost model is still being finalised.

Golden Tee 2025 prepares for its 35th anniversary

Following Incredible Technologies’ Arcade Collection Live update, more information has begun to emerge about Golden Tee 2025. The new edition will celebrate the series’ 35th anniversary. RePlay have a great recent article on that history.

Incredible Technologies has been revealing returning courses receiving HD upgrades, although a trailer and new cabinet had not yet been shown at the time covered here. The previous major reveal, Golden Tee 2010, even featured a band cook up a Golden Tee song?

The following links identify courses by name and logo only; they do not show gameplay or course layouts:

Naruto Emblem Battle uses a direct operator model

Marvelous has supplied further information about the North American distribution of Naruto Emblem Battle. The title is available only through Marvelous, with cabinets lent to interested operators by its US subsidiary, XSEED.

A stack of cards or "plates" of Shinobi Plates used in the Naruto Emblem Battle by Marvelous

Operators cannot purchase the machine or obtain it through a conventional industry distributor. The only stated out-of-pocket cost is for the game’s “emblems”, which are cards but serve a role beyond ordinary trading cards. XSEED has described their price as a trade secret. A cabinet must be restocked with emblems when its supply is exhausted or it will stop working.

The game also requires an internet connection, although that connection does not provide operator-facing features; XSEED uses it for monitoring. Marvelous has no current plans to exhibit at events such as IAAPA, suggesting that it will continue managing distribution through its own strategy rather than conventional sales agreements.

Haggis Pinball enters liquidation

Haggis Pinball has ceased trading, making its machines increasingly unusual. Shareholder and liquidation proceedings have been reported in this detailed story on Pinballnews.com. The company website is no longer operating, and its social-media accounts have also closed.

Haggis was one of the newer companies attempting to establish itself in the pinball market. Its collapse highlights the financial difficulty of competing in a specialised field dominated by established manufacturers. A broader product portfolio, such as sports games, basketball machines or alley bowlers, could potentially provide steadier income while a pinball business develops.

Taking customer pre-orders before a product is ready also creates wider problems when a manufacturer fails, because it can reduce confidence in future projects. That remains an important lesson for buyers and operators assessing new pinball ventures.

Project Neon approaches launch

Project Neon is an independent vertical shooter from FULLSET for Neo Geo MVS and AES. After its original announcement in late 2019, the game was playtested at real arcades and later entered a pre-order period in January. It is now close to its official launch. A final review shows extras for buyers, including stickers and glimpses of content that did not make the finished game.

exA-Arcadia brings new hardware to EVO 2024

EVO 2024 in Las Vegas has not matched EVO Japan’s level of arcade activity, but it still includes a substantial dedicated arcade area. exA-Arcadia again have got a presence in the dedicated arcade area, its largest at an EVO event so far.

Previewed titles include Arcana Heart 3 Xtend, Axel City 2, Breakers Revenge Chicago and Jitsu Squad Feat. Samurai Pizza Cats, alongside the ARC-32 cabinet. After a delay following its planned Amusement Expo debut in March, ARC-32 instead made official appearances at the two EVO events.

Game Saru and 100 Yen Life provided much of the event’s exA representation. Their setup included a custom four-player Viewlix VS running exA titles that support more than two players, including Nippon Marathon. Riot Games also used officially endorsed custom ARC-32 cabinets for its console and PC fighter 2XKO, pointing to a developing exA and Riot partnership.

EVO also hosted a large Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike tournament. Other events taking place that weekend included Classic Game Fest and Southern Fried Gaming Expo, with CAX scheduled for the following weekend.

Immersive reality rooms expand beyond VR

Immersive reality rooms place players inside a physical play space while using projected or tracked content, without requiring headsets. NeoXperiences was an early developer in this area; its Scale-1 Portal can be viewed as a precursor to the company’s current IRR system. A new soft-axe throwing game gives existing systems a virtual axe-throwing arena.

Inowize’s smaller QBIX system has installations in Europe and the United States. Following its chef and cooking game shown at Amusement Expo, the platform has launched Bubble Smasher. This brings the reported number of QBIX games to six.

Taito has also launched Bootverse in Japan, one of several newer active FEC concepts. It is separate from the company’s formal CUBE IRR initiative at selected Taito Station venues, but includes similar attractions such as Bub’s Putter Battle, a graphic mini-golf experience for a compact space.

Bootverse also draws on Taito history through Ninja Warriors Extreme Stage, Sonic Blast Man Survival and Space Gun Field. The latter adapts the 1990 game into a laser-tag attraction, projecting aliens onto walls as targets.

These systems occupy more space and cost more than conventional arcade machines, placing them closer to small attractions and FEC installations. However, their social, headset-free design could make them an appealing alternative to VR arenas, avoiding wearable equipment while allowing several people to play together.

Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR cabinet comparison

A new comparison looks at the design changes made to Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR between early prototypes and the production cabinet. The software still had no confirmed content beyond its second level at the time covered here. Three further planned stages may now arrive together, but their release timing is unknown.

Raw Thrills has made a big old accolades trailer for the game, while Round1USA has said that the title is available at its locations.

June 2024 arcade releases and headlines

A roundup of major June releases and updates is available below.

For home arcade enthusiasts

These developments also show the range of hardware available to collectors, from dedicated rhythm and fighting cabinets to compact home systems. RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide can help compare formats, while racing arcades, virtual pinball machines and arcade parts cover several popular home-arcade directions. For ongoing industry updates, visit the RETROCADE arcade blog.