Bandai Namco Amusement’s GoldStorm Pirates has returned to location testing in the United States. The game is a follow-up to the 2009 swashbuckling skeleton shooter and has been in development for some time.
The latest test took place at Dave & Buster’s Schaumburg venue in Illinois, the former GameWorks site at Streets of Woodfield. Federico R. documented the cabinet and software, providing a useful look at how the game has progressed since its previous American appearance.
Prototype notice: GoldStorm Pirates remains a location-test build. This later version may be reasonably close to the eventual release, but the production cabinet and software could still change. There is also no absolute guarantee that the game will be released.
Third known US test for GoldStorm Pirates
This is understood to be the third known American test for GoldStorm Pirates, following multiple tests in Japan. The first US appearance, held in June 2023, used an enclosed motion theatre similar to the Japanese setup, with only minor differences.
A subsequent test replaced that enclosed format with a larger, open cabinet. It retained the motion seat but added a larger display, creating the layout that now forms the foundation of the Schaumburg test machine.
That location has taken over from the Dave & Buster’s Addison site, which had hosted many tests from different arcade manufacturers before closing. The Addison venue was previously the main American location associated with GoldStorm Pirates.
A more elaborate pirate-themed cabinet
The most obvious changes are concentrated around the motion-seat section. The updated design adds more lighting and themed decoration, including a raised structure intended to evoke a pirate ship. Its faux-wood appearance is accompanied by two candle-lantern-style lights.
The cabinet also appears to have additional speakers, LED-lit panels around the monitor section and a revised marquee. These additions help visually tie the screen housing to the motion platform, rather than leaving the two parts feeling like separate units.
For readers comparing different cabinet formats, the open design is distinct from a conventional upright arcade cabinet. Its motion seat and large footprint place it closer to the specialised attractions commonly found in entertainment venues.
More stages are available in the test build
The software has also moved forward. Earlier appearances seemed to offer only a small number of completed stages, reflecting the game’s work-in-progress status. The new test includes more selectable stages, suggesting that development has advanced substantially since the previous US visits.
The preview material also shows scenes that appear to come from one of the game’s endings. These images may contain story spoilers for anyone who wants to experience the completed game without prior knowledge.
A blurred photograph of the opening staff credits nevertheless revealed two of the key Bandai Namco developers attached to the project: executive producer Atsuhito Osawa and producer Shugo Ito. Ito’s known credits include Time Crisis 5, although the available information does not establish whether the two games share other creative staff or design influences.
Test price drops at Dave & Buster’s
The game’s charge in Dave & Buster’s currency has changed since the Addison test. That earlier appearance required 15 chips per credit; the Schaumburg test reduced the cost to eight chips, almost half the previous amount.
The reason for the adjustment is not known. It may relate to the venue’s cabinet pricing or to an internal Dave & Buster’s decision, but no explanation has been confirmed.
IAAPA 2024 appearance and release window
GoldStorm Pirates was expected to appear at IAAPA 2024, continuing the plan previously indicated in 2023. Bandai Namco had not announced a specific launch date, but the available information remained consistent with the company’s earlier Q1 2025 release window.
The extended development period is partly a consequence of the game being reported very early, following what was believed to be its first Japanese test in May 2023. Early test sightings can make a project’s development seem longer than it would otherwise appear, particularly when later builds continue to add content and refine the cabinet.
As with any location test, the latest information should be treated as a snapshot rather than a final product announcement. Australian arcade fans can follow further industry developments through the RETROCADE arcade blog, while anyone researching cabinet formats can consult the arcade machine buying guide.
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