In recent years, pinball manufacturers have grown keenly aware that their market now splits almost evenly between traditional arcade operators and private collectors. While arcades still place orders for fleets of machines, today it’s the collectors who often drive the most fervent demand. To cater to them, companies routinely offer limited “premium editions” featuring wood‑grain side rails, numbered plaques, and custom art packages. On day one, these numbered runs can sell out entirely—and on the secondary market they’ll fetch 20–30 percent above the original MSRP, a stark contrast to the slim margins of commercial arcade placements.
Faced with the sky‑high costs of developing entirely new mechanical toys and playfield gadgets, a number of smaller builders have turned to crowdfunding as a core part of their R&D strategy. By running modest Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaigns—typically seeking funding for just 500 to 1,000 units—they can gauge community interest, finance advanced prototypes, and lock in orders before committing to expensive tooling. Any extra parts or leftover inventory from these early runs then get folded back into standard production, keeping upfront capital requirements far below the levels that once made pinball development the exclusive domain of the industry giants.
On the software side, firmware updates have leapt forward too. Boutique makers such as Spooky Pinball and platform startups like Multimorphic have pioneered true over‑the‑air updates since 2023, allowing owners to download bug fixes, balance tweaks, and entirely new rule modes directly to their machines via Wi‑Fi. This capability—unthinkable in the purely electromechanical era and only nascent in early solid‑state days—means operators and collectors alike see machines that actually improve and evolve in the months after purchase, extending play value and helping manufacturers iron out quirks without costly service calls.
Finally, an unexpected wave of sustainability consciousness has swept through the industry. Cabinet builders are increasingly specifying FSC‑certified plywood for side rails and recycled‑content plastics for playfield toys, aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of each new machine. A handful of the most progressive companies are already planning “green‑edition” releases in 2026, complete with carbon‑neutral shipping, water‑based finish coatings, and eco‑friendly packaging materials. It’s a sea change in an industry that once prized nothing more than raw mechanical flash—and it speaks to how pinball’s next chapter will blend nostalgia with a decidedly modern ethos.
1. A Surge of Boutique Builders
Spooky Pinball & Barrels of Fun
- Spooky Pinball (Benton, WI) quietly transformed from a podcast‑born passion project into a respected mid‑tier manufacturer. Founded in 2013 by Charlie Emery and Ben Heck, their limited‑run titles—Rick and Morty, Total Nuclear Annihilation and Halloween—sell out almost immediately, thanks to print‑and‑play demo builds at expos and an ethos of rapid prototyping. This “small‑batch” approach means long lead times but fierce collector demand pastimepinball.com.
- Barrels of Fun (Houston, TX) is even younger: founded in 2021 by David van Es and Brian Savage, their debut Labyrinth (2023) was the first machine to integrate two LCD screens into the playfield, letting characters dynamically interact with the ball. They’ve maintained a secretive R&D group—inviting trusted hobbyists to alpha‑test code months before public reveal pastimepinball.com.
Modular Platforms & Experimental Kits
- Multimorphic’s Pinball FX3 platform (started shipping 2017) continues evolving: in 2024–25 they released licensed hits The Princess Bride and Portal on a removable, high‑resolution LCD playfield—blurring lines between video and electro‑mechanical pinball en.wikipedia.org.
- Emerging homebrew communities now crowdfunding custom printed‑circuit‑board kits, allowing hobbyists to swap software and toys in standard cabinets. While not “manufacturers” per se, these collectives form a vital testing ground for gameplay ideas—often adopted by the boutique firms above.
2. Legacy Names Still Releasing New Games
Stern Pinball, Inc.
- As the sole survivor of the 1990s consolidation, Stern still produces 3–4 new titles per year, mixing pop‑culture licenses (Guns N’ Roses, Lord of the Rings) with original concepts. Hundreds of workers hand‑assemble each machine in Illinois—soldering wiring harnesses, fitting plastics, and applying decals—preserving craft skills that date back to the 1970s axios.com.
Jersey Jack Pinball
- Since 2011, Jersey Jack has built a reputation for premium machines. After The Wizard of Oz (2013), they moved operations to Elk Grove Village, IL, and in 2024 debuted an Avatar table. In early 2025 they secured the Harry Potter license for their next game, reportedly paying “several million dollars” for exclusive rights—underscoring how serious the collector market has become en.wikipedia.org.
American Pinball & Chicago Gaming Company
- American Pinball (Houston) launched in 2017 with Houdini, then Galactic Tank Force (2023) and Barry O’s BBQ Challenge (2024)—the latter a tribute to designer Barry Oursler. They’ve carved out a niche by reviving retro themes with modern electronics en.wikipedia.org.
- Chicago Gaming Company, a division of Churchill Cabinet Co., has grown from contract cabinet‑making into full machine releases. In 2021 they tapped software guru Lyman Sheats and IFPA president Josh Sharpe to revamp Cactus Canyon Remake, signaling their intent to compete head‑to‑head with Stern and Jersey Jack ifpapinball.comen.wikipedia.org.
3. Designers & Artists—Still in the Trenches
- Steve Ritchie (“King of Flow”) left Stern in 2021 and joined Jersey Jack, delivering Elton John (2023) and working toward Harry Potter en.wikipedia.org.
- Pat Lawlor, Dennis Nordman, and John Buras continue freelancing new rulesets and toys for boutique and major firms alike.
- Behind the art, veterans like Greg Freres and Kevin O’Connor are quietly doing sketch iterations and hand‑painting prototypes—roles now often hidden behind “art director” credits but essential to preserving that analog charm.
4. Tournaments & Community Events
Pinburgh 2025
- The re‑launched Pinburgh match‑play format returns July 23–27, 2025 at Rezzanine Esports in PA, with 244 players guaranteed five full days of play and over $42 K in prizes. The Women’s International Pinball Tournament (WIPT) and Stern Pinball Gauntlet are embedded within the schedule pinburgh.com.
Pinball Expo & IFPA Events
- Pinball Expo remains the industry’s grand reveal stage; its 41st edition runs Oct 15–18, 2025 in Schaumburg, IL—where most manufacturers still premiere new titles en.wikipedia.org.
- The International Flipper Pinball Association sanctions mega‑matchplay satellites (e.g., Mega Matchplay Cincinnati, June 14 2025) and regional “Titan Pinball Championship” series like Azle, TX (May 30 – June 1, 2025) which funnel winners into Pinburgh eventbrite.comimages.ifpapinball.com.
Local Leagues & Inclusivity
- Grassroots groups—Belles & Chimes in Chicago, UK Pinfest, and dozens of college clubs—host monthly women’s and youth tournaments, offering discounted play and mentorship. These leagues were almost invisible five years ago but now drive manufacturers to include adjustable difficulty modes and digital tutorials in firmware axios.com.
5. Under-the-Radar Insights
- Collector vs. Operator Split
- OEMs now gauge success not just by arcade placements but by pre‑orders from private collectors. Limited “premium editions” (wood‑grain side‑rails, numbered plaques) sell for 20–30% above MSRP on day one.
- OEMs now gauge success not just by arcade placements but by pre‑orders from private collectors. Limited “premium editions” (wood‑grain side‑rails, numbered plaques) sell for 20–30% above MSRP on day one.
- Crowdfunding for R&D
- Several boutique builders use small Kickstarter runs (500–1,000 units) to finance new toy prototypes—then absorb surpluses into later production. This lean model mitigates the huge upfront capital formerly required by big players.
- Several boutique builders use small Kickstarter runs (500–1,000 units) to finance new toy prototypes—then absorb surpluses into later production. This lean model mitigates the huge upfront capital formerly required by big players.
- Firmware Over‑the‑Air
- Spooky Pinball and Multimorphic pioneered OTA updates in 2023, enabling remote bug-fixes, balance tweaks, and new rule modes—features nearly impossible on EM and early solid-state machines.
- Spooky Pinball and Multimorphic pioneered OTA updates in 2023, enabling remote bug-fixes, balance tweaks, and new rule modes—features nearly impossible on EM and early solid-state machines.
- Sustainability Push
- Cabinet manufacturers now source FSC‑certified plywood and recycled plastics, responding to collector concerns about environmental impact. Expect “green‑edition” machines with carbon‑neutral shipping in 2026.
- Cabinet manufacturers now source FSC‑certified plywood and recycled plastics, responding to collector concerns about environmental impact. Expect “green‑edition” machines with carbon‑neutral shipping in 2026.
Conclusion
The last five years have seen pinball evolve into a two‑tier ecosystem: a handful of established firms (Stern, Jersey Jack, American, Chicago Gaming) delivering high‑volume, licensed titles—and a vibrant sub‑ecosystem of boutique builders and homebrew communities pushing the art and tech envelope. Competitive events have likewise broadened—from elite world championships to local, inclusive leagues—ensuring that pinball remains both a collector’s dream and a player’s passion.
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