Arcade News: Stranger Things, StepManiaX & Metal Slug

Arcade news has been relatively quiet between major trade shows, but several developments deserve attention. Raw Thrills’ Stranger Things Arcade is appearing at Dave & Buster’s, StepManiaX has reached a Japanese location test, a rare Nintendo classic has been restored, and SNK is celebrating 30 years of Metal Slug.

Stranger Things Arcade arrives at Dave & Buster’s

There has not yet been a formal announcement for Raw Thrills’ Stranger Things Arcade, but photos and sometimes video are showing the machine at many, and possibly all, Dave & Buster’s venues. Raw Thrills previously teased the game, making a timed Dave & Buster’s exclusive a reasonable assumption, although further details remain unconfirmed.

The cabinet is a ball-toss video redemption game rather than a large-scale light-gun shooter. Its play style is broadly comparable to NERF Arcade, but uses thrown balls instead of mounted blasters. That may differ from expectations set by games such as Godzilla and Jurassic Park, while giving the licensed property a different arcade format. Licensed ball-toss games remain unusual.

Information is still being sought from Dave & Buster’s and Raw Thrills, with no additional official comment available at present.

StepManiaX receives a Japanese location test

Dance Dance Revolution and other Konami dance titles have long dominated Japan’s rhythm-game market, alongside occasional Pump It Up and In The Groove machines. That landscape could broaden if this new location test for StepManiaX gains any traction.

The test marks the first appearance of a StepManiaX DX cabinet in Japan. Apparently there was a single standard cabinet over there at one point, but it was removed some time ago. The current test is located at Amusement Space Komimaru Alibaba Ogaki, a rural arcade.

Step Revolution has also released update #76 alongside the test, adding three songs; Step Revolution have also pushed update #76 in conjunction with this. The company previously tested ReRave in Japan, though that trial did not lead to a wider rollout. The operator who reported on the earlier test later acquired the cabinet and ran it for about a decade before selling it.

Rare Nintendo Wild Gunman restored

A collector has restored Nintendo’s extremely rare Wild Gunman, a pre-digital arcade game and Nintendo’s first coin-operated release. Because Nintendo did not yet have an in-house North American sales network, Sega distributed the 1976 release there. The game itself was originally produced in 1974, which helps explain why surviving examples are so scarce.

74XX Arcade Repair documented the restoration and brought the machine back into working condition.

UNIS confirms a single-player Pickleball Rivals cabinet

UNIS has confirmed a single-player version of Pickleball Rivals. The game was initially shown at Amusement Expo 2026 as a twin cabinet, while discussion at the event suggested that a more compact model was being considered.

The company has since promoted the single-player cabinet, and over on LinkedIn they have been recently posting about one now being available. Interest at the expo centred partly on its Cyberpunk theme, for which further information is still being sought. A smaller format could suit operators who wanted the game without installing the twin configuration.

Cotton Rock With You launches in Japan

Success’s latest Cotton shooter, a spiritual successor to Cotton Rock n Roll, has moved from last month’s location test into Japanese arcades. It is available exclusively through Sega’s APM3 (ALL.Net P-ras Multi 3) service.

An exA-Arcadia release had originally been planned but did not proceed, so the APM3 version does not include the enhancements that an exA edition would have offered. The arcade launch is nevertheless scheduled several months before the home versions, which are due in August.

Arcade April Fools round-up

Several arcade and pinball companies joined the 2026 April Fools tradition. FK Digital, the developer of Chaos Code, presented the exA one in the form of a not-for-sale mini “ARC-65536 MAC” made out of little toy bricks. Taito imagined a new underwater turtle-friendly submarine version of Music Diver, while Sega gave a penguin a strange special update to Chunithm.

Stern also played on the reputation of Tommy Wiseau’s cult film with a fake The Room pinball announcement.

Jersey Jack hints at its next pinball title

With Harry Potter established as Jersey Jack Pinball’s current game, attention has turned to what comes next. At Pintastic New England, company executives discussed future plans without naming the next licence outright. However, they all but confirmed a long-standing rumour that their next game will be based on a certain famous blue hedgehog.

The project is said to contain more than 6,000 voice call-outs and is being developed by Steve Ritchie, who describes it as “the fastest game I’ve ever made”. A reveal is expected soon, but no formal announcement has been provided.

Metal Slug reaches 30 years

19 April 2026 marks 30 years since SNK’s Metal Slug arrived in arcades. The run-and-gun series has since appeared on numerous consoles and produced several sequels. SNK is marking the anniversary with a retrospective and launching a new social media account to promote it.

The anniversary trailer appears to tease another entry and briefly shows an arcade cabinet, although the machine may simply be a prop for a console release. Existing Metal Slug cabinets continue to earn in arcades, and Metal Slug 6 appeared in RePlay Magazine earnings charts during the 2010s. Fans frequently regard Metal Slug 3 as the series highlight.

SNK and Plaion announce NEOGEO AES+

SNK & Plaion have announced a new NEOGEO AES+ console that can play original AES cartridges. Unlike emulation-based retro systems and FPGA hardware, the project claims to recreate the original hardware.

That approach contributes to the system’s relatively high price, while new cartridge releases at $90 each may look economical beside the cost of original AES software. The announcement also raises questions about whether a similar MVS recreation or an adapter could follow, though nothing of that kind has been announced.

Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat return to cinemas

Two upcoming films are based on major arcade fighting franchises: Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Although both properties have expanded substantially into console gaming, their arcade origins remain central to their identities. The trailers have generated more interest in Street Fighter for some viewers, while the reception to the earlier Mortal Kombat reboot has varied.

More arcade and gaming headlines

For Australian operators and collectors, the wider picture is just as important: new licensed redemption concepts, rhythm-game testing, careful restorations and renewed interest in classic arcade hardware all show how varied the sector remains. For practical guidance on choosing or maintaining a machine, explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, browse arcade machines, or review available arcade news and gaming features.