Arcade basketball has long been a popular choice for venues, and Pop-A-Shot is one of the brands most closely associated with the format. The company is now returning to commercial arcades with a new pay-per-play machine, the Pop-A-Shot Elite, scheduled to debut at Amusement Expo 2025.
The Pop-A-Shot Elite
Pop-A-Shot has appointed industry veteran Ryan Cravens to lead its new arcade division. Its first commercial product is the Pop-A-Shot Elite, positioning the brand against established arcade basketball manufacturers including ICE, Sega and UNIS.
For broader context, the format has a long commercial history, including the development of coin-operated arcade basketball machines.
Commercial design and dimensions
The Elite follows the familiar layout of a commercial basketball game, but uses a wooden ramp rather than the fabric construction found on Pop-A-Shot’s home model. Measuring 96 x 96 x 30 inches, it is slightly smaller than the average basketball machine.
Pop-A-Shot says the Elite will be priced below competing machines, although no manufacturer’s suggested retail price has been announced. Distribution, pricing and availability details are also still to come.
A 49-inch video display is built into the cabinet. Large screens are increasingly common in this category, but the early trailer suggests the Elite may offer a higher level of video presentation than is typical for some basketball games. The product has also been promoted with “custom gameplay and graphics”, though the company has not yet explained how that feature will work. Potential uses could include configurable game modes or venue branding, but those details remain unconfirmed.
QR tracking and tournament features
The most distinctive announced feature is a QR-code system for player progress. Users will be able to scan a code from their phone at the machine, with scores tracked locally, regionally and nationally through Pop-A-Shot-sponsored tournaments.
Every Elite machine will be Wi-Fi enabled. That connected approach could give operators more ways to run competitions and monitor player performance, although the full system has yet to be demonstrated publicly.
Amusement Expo 2025 debut
The Pop-A-Shot Elite is set to make its public debut at Amusement Expo 2025. Visitors will find the company at booth 2149, occupying a 10 x 20-foot space.
Further information about pricing, distribution and availability is expected after the exhibition. For readers comparing the Elite with other arcade machines, its smaller footprint, large screen and connected tournament functions will be the key points to watch.
Businesses planning a new entertainment area can also review RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide and browse upright arcade cabinets for other commercial-style options. More arcade announcements are collected on the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
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