Arcade venues continued to open, relocate and expand during August 2025. This month’s roundup spans North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, with news gathered from venue announcements, industry publications and community reports.
Earlier 2025 editions covered Japan, February, March, May and July. For more arcade news and Australian buying guidance, explore the RETROCADE Arcade Blog and arcade machine buying guide.
North America
Barcade opens its tenth venue in Manhattan
Barcade’s new Financial District location in Manhattan is the chain’s tenth venue. Early coverage highlights its game selection, including Midway’s The Grid, a particularly uncommon sight in public arcades. More venue information is available in this Facebook post.
Arcade Time adds an Orlando location
Arcade Time’s fifth venue in Orlando combines a large family entertainment centre-style floor with a substantial second-floor collection of individually customised retro cabinets. That area also includes newer rhythm attractions such as StepManiaX DX, the latest Pump It Up installation and other modern titles. The first floor has a notable three-player Fast & Furious Arcade arrangement rather than the more common two- or four-player setup. See the venue in a Facebook video and Instagram reel.
IronBlast’s Game Zone, Washington, Pennsylvania
IronBlast’s retro game shop has added a dedicated arcade experience, giving customers something beyond the home-retail environment. The venue features video games from the 1980s and 1990s, plus pinball spanning several eras. Reported examples include the original Star Trek pinball machine and The Mandalorian. Updates are available through the operator’s Facebook page.
Back To The Nineties, Corvallis, Oregon
This arcade-bar leans into 1990s culture through both its name and its game line-up. The collection appears focused on video games rather than pinball, with titles from across the decade. Projectors showing 1990s television programmes and cartoons add to the venue’s theme. Details are available on the venue website.
Gatcha’s fifth location opens in King of Prussia
Gatcha’s new Pennsylvania venue may initially look like a crane-focused arcade, but its games include a strong rhythm selection. Visitors can find DanceRush Stardom, jubeat and Pump It Up Phoenix 2024, alongside other newer video games. Prize machines remain a major part of the floor.
Shy Guys Coffee-R-Cade, Royersford
Shy Guys Coffee-R-Cade takes a different approach to the barcade model by pairing arcade games with coffee. Its line-up has a clear classic focus, although Time Crisis II appears to be among the newer machines identified in venue photographs. The operator shares updates on its Facebook page.
Chuck’s Arcade reaches location number 10
The latest publicised Chuck’s Arcade opening is in Brea, California. This adult-oriented concept connected to Chuck E. Cheese appears to be smaller than some observers expected, making the venue an interesting test of the brand’s expansion strategy. It is the tenth Chuck’s Arcade location, although some openings have involved renovations of existing Chuck E. Cheese venues.
A separate community report said that all Chuck E. Cheese locations in Peru closed at the same time. No reason was provided in the closure message, so the circumstances remain unconfirmed.
Other North American FEC developments
- A discussion of the challenges facing the FEC market
- Dave & Buster’s opens in Spokane Valley, Washington
- Main Event opens in Taylor, Michigan
- Kiddleton outlines further expansion plans
- Lucky Strike reports fourth-quarter revenue growth
- America’s Incredible Pizza closes its St. Louis venue
- Claw Factory opens in Salem, Oregon
Europe
Totton Arcade opens in Southampton
Family-run Totton Arcade has entered Southampton’s competitive amusement market. The venue joins an area that already includes High Score Arcades, while another previously reported operator, Nu Game, is no longer the comparison point. Totton Arcade’s website outlines its offering and pricing approach.
ML7 brings a bar-focused concept to Newcastle
Lane7 has introduced ML7, a new concept in Newcastle that places more emphasis on the barcade experience while retaining a smaller bowling area. A venue tour is available in this Instagram video.
High Score expands to Newport, Wales
High Score’s free-play arcade chain has reached Newport, extending its UK presence into Wales. The line-up covers games from the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s, including Outnumbered, Dancing Stage Fusion, Hummer, Jet Blaster and Luigi’s Mansion Arcade. The operator’s pricing remains relatively high, reflecting the costs of running a new free-play venue.
Other European updates
- Genda acquires Inspired Gaming’s UK arcade operation, covering about 100 amusement arcades and 150 mini locations.
- King Pins opens in Leeds with a Sega Amusements-stocked arcade, alongside a bowling promotion for guests named Colin.
- Gutterball opens in Lincoln with a selection of newer Sega games.
- Clearhill opens FunHub in Worcester.
- A Spanish non-profit arcade relocates to Madrid.
- Zero Latency plans a German VR venue.
Asia, the Middle East and Oceania
Australia and New Zealand produced several notable venue developments during August, alongside openings and closures elsewhere in the region.
1UP Arcade returns in Woolloongabba
Brisbane’s 1UP Arcade reopened in Woolloongabba at the beginning of August after closing in May. The well-known Australian retro venue has returned in a new form, with early indications that local players have responded positively.
Bay Arcade 2536 opens in Batemans Bay
Bay Arcade 2536 is a new Australian venue with a broader entertainment focus and a strong retro influence. Its presentation includes neon styling reminiscent of Space Invaders, while classic games such as Pac-Man are also part of the offering. A local news report explains how the arcade came together.
Timezone opens another Auckland venue
Timezone’s continued New Zealand expansion includes a new Auckland location designed to appeal to dedicated rhythm and driving-game players. The venue features Taiko no Tatsujin, Dance Dance Revolution and Maximum Tune. The photographed Maximum Tune arrangement is unusual, with two unlinked Asphalt 9 DX cabinets separating two four-player setups.
Regional FEC developments
- GiGO opens on Okinawa’s Naha island.
- Taito opens its fifth and sixth Hong Kong venues.
- A tour reviews South Korean arcades.
- Game Palacio adds another New Delhi arcade.
- Round1 closes its Shanghai venue.
Coming soon
- Round1USA is planned for a New Jersey shopping mall.
- Timeline Arcade is preparing its third location for September.
- Malibu Jack’s is planned for Owensboro, Kentucky, in 2026.
- FastTrax is planning a large Florida FEC.
- Indie Darlings is targeting San Francisco for next year.
- Superbowl UK is preparing a Sega Prize Zone in Basingstoke.
- A six-game VR arcade is planned for Brittany.
- Pop Culture Arcade in the Netherlands is due to open on 1 September.
- Chuck E. Cheese is targeting Joondalup in Australia for 6 September.
Whether you visit a new venue or build an arcade at home, the continuing mix of retro cabinets, rhythm games, pinball, prize machines and VR shows how varied the modern arcade remains. For home projects, browse upright arcades, bartop machines and arcade parts.
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