Stern Pinball has unveiled its next major 2026 release: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. Following the company’s recent Pokémon launch, this new machine brings the classic 1980s Transformers toys and cartoons to a brand-new pinball layout.
A New Transformers Pinball Machine
This is not the Transformers franchise’s first appearance on a Stern pinball machine. The earlier game was based on the Michael Bay films and was offered in three Limited Edition versions, an unusual approach that Stern has not regularly repeated.
The new machine takes a different direction, drawing on the 1980s animated series and toys rather than the live-action films. Stern has also created a new playfield, so this is more than a graphical update of the previous game.
The first video provides a short introduction, while the longer presentation explores the machine’s features in more detail. Both videos show the Limited Edition model rather than the Pro or Premium versions.
The detailed presentation introduces the game’s designers, Elliot Eismin and Elizabeth Gieske, as well as the machine’s major gameplay systems and Transformers-themed features.
Here is an overview of the announced features:
- 1980s cartoon and movie theme, including a Celebratory mode featuring the song “The Touch”
- SPIKE-3 system with a larger screen and improved sound system
- Custom voice performances by Peter Cullen and Frank Welker
- Stern Insider Connected integration with a Cyber Coin Wallet system that unlocks additional modes
- Two-player simultaneous competition in Megatron Vs. Cybertron, with each player using one flipper
- Large Optimus Prime bash toy
- Three-bank drop targets
- Bumblebee captive ball
- Premium and Limited Edition only: Grimlock static toy
- Premium and Limited Edition only: Animatronic Megatron with a ball-firing cannon
- Premium and Limited Edition only: Soundwave ball lock and launcher toy
Find the full Feature’s Matrix here for the complete differences between the Pro, Premium and Limited Edition models.
A Split-Flipper Battle Mode
The most distinctive gameplay idea is the Megatron Vs. Cybertron mode, which allows two players to compete at the same time while each controls a single flipper. Split-flipper play has occasionally appeared in tournaments, but this is the first time the concept has been built directly into a pinball machine as a competitive battle mode.
The mode appears to be connected to Stern Insider Connected and Cyber Coins, making the digital loyalty system part of the machine’s progression and multiplayer experience.
Transformers Cabinet and Playfield
The three cabinet versions are shown together below. The Limited Edition uses red and purple trim reminiscent of the earlier Transformers LE, while adding updated hardware such as Stern’s Expression Lighting System.
The following comparison shows the Pro playfield on the left and the Premium playfield on the right.
Ordering and First Impressions
Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye is available to order, with units expected to begin shipping soon. For Australian collectors comparing pinball with other home entertainment options, Retrocade’s virtual pinball machines provide another way to explore the format, while the arcade machine buying guide covers broader considerations for choosing a machine.
The theme should appeal particularly to fans who grew up with the 1980s cartoons and toys. Stern has combined familiar characters and voices with new interactive elements, including the two-player split-flipper mode and Insider Connected features. The result is a Transformers machine with its own identity rather than a straightforward remake of the previous Stern release.
For more coverage of new releases and developments across the industry, visit the Retrocade arcade blog or browse the wider range of arcade machines.
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