Bandai Namco has several new arcade projects moving through testing and production. While more information on titles such as Resident Evil 2 Dead Shot and Wangan Midnight Speed Ignition is still awaited, three previously revealed games have provided fresh news: Pac-Man Baller Jr., One Piece Dawn Strike and GoldStorm Pirates.
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Pac-Man Baller Jr. moves towards release
Pac-Man Baller Jr. expands Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man Street range, following earlier hints that additional products were being prepared for the line. The compact basketball game was first shown at the AAA 2025 trade show in May and has now appeared on Australian distributor Zax Amusements’ website.
Zax lists the machine as “Jnr”, while the cabinet uses “Jr.” The distributor’s shipping information places the release next month, with the game already listed for the Asia and Oceania regions. It has also been seen on test in the United States, which may indicate that a wider Western release is being considered.
The name and cabinet design make its purpose clear: this is a smaller, child-focused version of Pac-Man Baller. Its design has similarities to Sega’s Sonic Sports Kids Basketball and ICE’s Double Dribble. Despite its reduced footprint, the cabinet accommodates two players with a pair of hoops, while the overhead marquee gives it a strong visual presence.
That format should suit family entertainment centres and other kid-focused venues. It also leaves room to wonder whether further Pac-Man Street attractions, or a new conventional Pac-Man arcade video game, are still in Bandai Namco’s plans.
One Piece Dawn Strike begins Japanese location testing
When One Piece Dawn Strike was announced earlier this month, Bandai Namco had not yet started its first Japanese location test. That test has now taken place, giving players a clearer look at the licensed video punching game.
Early reports came from @fWeQMYbzWKQiJsm, whose profile focuses heavily on arcade punching games, along with the location test report from Ariesu.
The core play experience follows the established video-punching template. Reports from the test describe a punching feel similar to Genda GiGO’s recent Breaking Down, while the scoring system is comparable to Sonic Blast Heroes.
One credit cost 300 yen during testing, roughly $3. That is an unusually high price for a single credit, although 300-yen plays have become increasingly common in Japan and have long been used for some larger arcade attractions.
Will One Piece Dawn Strike travel overseas?
An international release remains difficult to predict. Operators outside Japan have historically faced concerns around liability and the ongoing maintenance demands associated with punching machines. The One Piece licence could also increase the machine’s cost, even though the property is now more commercially viable in many markets.
There is nevertheless a strong business case for the genre. Boxing and punching games have gained considerable momentum in recent years and frequently appear among the top five earners in family entertainment centre reports. Strong revenue can make operational challenges easier for venues to accept.
If broad overseas support does not develop, Bandai Namco could still place the machine in venues where it is promoting its One Piece Card Game, creating a possible cross-promotion opportunity. Whether that strategy will be used remains unknown.
GoldStorm Pirates continues its international rollout
GoldStorm Pirates has now moved beyond Japan, with its first overseas cabinets beginning to ship in July. More units followed during August as Bandai Namco’s production line continued to build the game.
Bandai Namco has also announced that the title will appear at both IAAPA shows in the coming months, alongside a renewed focus on its features. The company’s press release covers the overseas shipment and IAAPA plans.
Players in the United States have begun encountering the game at arcades that received their deliveries. One example is the machine at Scandia Family Fun Center in Rohnert Park, California, which was played by Jdevy. GoldStorm Pirates is also installed at Arcade Time’s new Orlando location.
There is still no confirmation of a cheaper stand-up or non-motion version. Rumours suggested that such a cabinet might follow, but those reports currently appear to have been unfounded.
For now, GoldStorm Pirates remains a premium arcade shooter, while also standing among the strongest new shooting games currently available. Venue operators comparing dedicated cabinets can find more guidance in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide and browse the wider arcade machine range.
More Bandai Namco news is still to come
These three updates offer useful movement on games that had already been announced, but the company’s other major projects remain under wraps. Further details on the next wave of Bandai Namco arcade releases will require patience.
For Australian venues and collectors, the key developments are Pac-Man Baller Jr. approaching release in the Asia/Oceania region, One Piece Dawn Strike completing its first Japanese test, and GoldStorm Pirates continuing its overseas rollout.
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