Newsbytes: SuzoHapp Concerns, UNIS Picture Fantasy and New Arcade Games

This edition rounds up developing news from the arcade and pinball industries, including uncertainty around a major parts supplier, new UNIS releases, a Gradius redemption test and several pinball projects.

SuzoHapp’s future remains uncertain

This is a developing story, and the situation may change. Over the past week, some customers of arcade-parts supplier SuzoHapp have reportedly been told that the company has gone out of business, while other orders have apparently gone unfulfilled. Similar claims have circulated among amusement operators and equipment buyers.

There has been no official announcement confirming a closure. Attempts to obtain comment from SuzoHapp, including from its chief executive, have not received a response at the time of writing. The company has also been inconsistent with public relations and news updates in recent years. SuzoHapp’s UK division was expected to confirm its existence with the government in June, but and they haven’t done so.

One possibility is that the business has closed while negotiations take place for a purchase. SuzoHapp’s international offices could make a complete acquisition possible, or different parts of the operation could be sold to separate buyers in regions such as North America and Europe. With decades of industry history and a large customer base, a statement acknowledging the company’s position would help prevent further speculation.

SuzoHapp has long supplied a broad range of arcade hardware, including joysticks, light guns, power supplies and monitors. Its distinctive blue and red guns appeared in games such as Area 51 and Time Crisis II. The company also produced coin doors, although it stopped making them; operators had to find alternatives after manufacturers such as Raw Thrills changed their door hardware. Recent delivery delays and temporary minimum-order policies had already caused frustration for some customers.

Whether another company will acquire SuzoHapp’s stock, manufacturing equipment or other assets is unknown. A complete shutdown without any recovery of those resources would be a significant loss for operators and arcade repairers. For anyone maintaining a machine, it is worth keeping an eye on arcade parts and repair components while the situation develops.

UNIS brings Picture Fantasy to Western markets

UNIS has begun selling its trading-card arcade game Picture Fantasy in Western markets after previously presenting it as an Asia-only product. The company said in a LinkedIn post earlier this year, stating that it had surpassed 3,000 unit sales. The Western rollout follows quiet testing in Canada, which reportedly produced encouraging results.

The release arrives while operators are still waiting for UNIS’s major summer title, Cyberpunk 2077: Chrome Rush. The last reported update placed cabinets in the company’s warehouse on the 30th, with further news expected soon. UNIS has been actively promoting card-based games in Asia, and Picture Fantasy gives it another entry in a category where Minecraft Dungeons Arcade is an established competitor.

UNIS has also released single-player cabinet versions of Pickleball Rivals and Spin City.

Gradius becomes a bumper-shooting redemption game

Konami continues to develop redemption games based on classic properties for Round1USA. The latest test is Gradius Bumper Shooting, which adapts the existing Smash Stadium card-pusher format into a new arcade title based on the long-running shooter series.

The cabinet uses the card-pusher structure and includes cards featuring artwork from several Gradius games, along with a reference to the Konami Code. The choice of a bumper-shooting redemption format is unexpected, since the licence could also suit a more conventional action game. Thanks to EspadaDelDios on Reddit for finding this one.

Multimorphic confirms Dungeon Crawler Carl pinball

Multimorphic has confirmed that the science-fantasy book series Dungeon Crawler Carl is being adapted into a pinball machine. The company plans to show the game in full tomorrow from 12pm EST, when pre-orders are also scheduled to open.

The project had been circulating as a rumour before the confirmation. Attendees at San Diego Comic-Con reportedly saw the first teaser, with the Pinside discussion covering those early details.

American Pinball teases Cirqus Voltaire

American Pinball is teasing its next reimagined title: Williams’ 1997 pinball classic Cirqus Voltaire. The company has recently advertised several positions and says this project will be more than a straightforward remake. For now, the main reveal is a glimpse of a topper.

The direction marks a shift from American Pinball’s earlier original designs, although the company may be responding to what performs best on location. With Chicago Gaming appearing to have slowed its remake programme after a prolonged period of quiet, American could be moving into a more active space for licensed and reimagined pinball.

JET Games reveals On The Level

JET Games has announced On The Level, a new videmption title that is not yet listed on the company’s website. Its promotional description calls it a small-footprint, high-earning game made in the USA, with five power-ups and three lives. It is not yet confirmed whether this is JET’s first title manufactured in the United States rather than China.

The game appears to use a construction-level theme. Players balance a ball along a purple track with a tool resembling a spirit level, recalling the physical interaction of Taito’s Ice Cold Beer. It may draw on a mobile-game idea or resemble Leon Amusement’s Speedy Ball, while the physical controller could give it a point of difference.

There is also an update on GIGA SHOT, JET’s four-player shooter. A second 20-amp circuit was installed to support its air compressor, and the game has performed exceptionally well since the electrical work was completed on Tuesday. It is quickly approaching the performance of Jurassic Park Arcade, the operator’s leading gun game. The large metal guns, compressor-powered feedback and audible action attract both players and passers-by, even though the volume has prompted a security guard to request a reduction.

Arcade and pinball headlines

• Wahlap has released new trailers for Demon Hunter 1892, while Asphalt Legends 9 and Moto Blitz DX Plus have added cross-game play. Western distribution details for both titles are expected soon.
• John Wick: Continental Pursuit has an official trailer and is scheduled to begin shipping to North America next month.
• Sega Japan held a special event at GiGO Akihabara 3rd with Yu Suzuki and NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang.
• Sega Amusements’ Justin Burke revisited the SegaWorld London Sonic statue, 30 years apart.
• Bandai Namco Amusement Europe is offering “Summer Sizzler” deals on Godzilla and other games.
• XLR8, a lost motorcycle racer conceived as a Wipeout-style game, has received a retrospective.
• Amusement Expo 2026 in Japan is expected to have its largest booth area since JAEPO 2013. IAAPA Expo Asia 2027 will be held in Osaka.
• UNIS brought Ski Hero and other new games to Bowl Expo 2026, while Betson and Raw Thrills showed Stranger Things at their booth.
• The exA version of AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game appeared at SDCC, its first appearance at that event. Stern Pinball also made a successful SDCC appearance.
• Pop-A-Shot’s Pop-A-Palooza event received ESPN+ coverage. Ace Amusement revealed the redemption game Tomb Tumbler.
• Maimai DX Circle Plus is now available on international cabinets, while StepManiaX Update #79 adds three new songs and Round1USA continues promoting DDR Stomp.
• Two key Taito ZUNTATA members have been interviewed, and a short tribute looks back at the late Howell Ivy.

Home and retro-gaming headlines

• Armadillo Racing is receiving its first home port, while Syvalion is coming to Arcade Archives.
• Arcade1Up is preparing a new OutRun cabinet with five games for US$629.99.
• Sega has opened its second official Chinese store in Beijing.
• Microsoft has laid off 4,800 staff, including 1,600 Xbox employees. Halo fans have also criticised changes to the Halo: Combat Evolved remake.
• Atari and Universal have agreed to turn 10 Atari properties into “action” films.
• A new survival-horror game inspired by Resident Evil and D2 is coming to Dreamcast; it is not the first Dreamcast release in 24 years.
• New coverage examines the censored SNES version of Wolfenstein 3D, a possible snowboarding-in-space concept and Sega Rally running on Nintendo 64 hardware.
• Archival footage from CES 1994 has surfaced. Taito’s QIX and Phoenix have been ported to the Atari 7800.
• Previously unreleased music from the Atari Jaguar cartridge of Tempest 2000 has been documented; alternate versions appeared on the Tempest 2000 music CD. Choppy Wood is also coming to Atari XL/XE computers.

For more arcade-industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog. Operators and home collectors can also compare options in the arcade machine buying guide or browse arcade repair services.