The Stinger Report #1265 - Vegas Amusement Fun – Part 2

The Amusement Expo International 2026 showcased a vibrant shift towards innovation and branded IPs, with major releases like Disney-themed arcade games, Pokémon pinball, and new VR and interactive attractions highlighting industry growth. The event emphasized social gaming, active entertainment, and clawcade trends, alongside collaborations with prominent brands and exclusive partnerships, such as Dave & Buster’s and Lionsgate. Despite a slight attendance dip due to external factors, the expo underscored resilience in the amusement sector, with increasing investments in FECs and social venues. Industry faces headwinds from geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and global economic uncertainties, signaling potential upheavals ahead.

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Transcript

Vegas Report And What’s Ahead

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This is the Stinger Report, issue number 1265, Vegas Amusement Fun, Part 2, by Kevin Williams. In the second part of our coverage of the Amusement Expo International 2026, and we continue to explore the investment into innovation into the amusement sector, along with the reality of the business going forward, and the other trade events that took place during that important window. Amusement and Attraction Expo Momentum. The Amusement Expo International saw a changing business landscape, one of the big developments being the branding and IP application in the market, as seen from another major exhibitor at the Las Vegas show, with some surprises from Adrenaline Amusement, along with their already released successful redemption Duck Derby, and video racer NFS Heat Takedown and Shooter Drakens. The company revealed their brand new release, Disney Speedstorm Arcade, a four-player networked motion-based karting racer that includes card dispensing and a roster of popular Disney characters. This being another game on the show floor developed by GameLoft. For many that played the game, seen as one to watch new releases of the show. The other selection of amusement operations present at the show included Baytech Entertainment, who presented their extensive amusement range, along with their investment into VR with their SpongeBob SquarePants, dynamic duo platform, and promotion of the VR Hyperdeck system, both developed by Major Mega. AEI-26 also saw representation from corporations such as Amusement Source, with a selection of third-party releases, including those from Ace Amusement with the launch of Wild Hunting. A four-player wild animal shotgun blaster in the vein of Big Buck, the game offering a new take on a popular theme. Also seen was Storm Racer 2 from Warlap, with a three-connected machine layout, while Shaffer Distributing showed a crowded booth of new releases in the redemption and prize side of the business. Other big product releases included Moss Distributing, presenting their range that also included the music game range from Step Revolution with their Step Maniacs. The company revealed they have some new announcements for the music game range later in the year. AVS companies had their range of new releases, with a special space given to Perfect Poor Papst Blue Ribbon Edition, offering a compelling redemption playing style supported by strong IP branding. Andro USA was represented by a large selection of new titles, including another in the karting video game seen across this year's show. Andro showed their new release, Nickelodeon Cart Racers Arcade, offering a cartoon racer based on the popular characters from the animation franchise with a roster of 24 characters, including Spongebob, the game developed by Studio Team Infinity. This IP was also represented with Spongebob SquarePants, VR Bubble Coaster, on the booth. Other conventional videos on the booth include the gallery shooter, Marksman. There was no representation of the Pump It Up series at the show, with sources speaking of a new amusement release for the Asian market later in the year, with no word on a Western release. The last Western-focused release, Pump It Up Infinity, developed by the same team Infinity, constantly growing their presence on the show floor over the years, Allen One came to AEI with a large booth crowded with their momentum in the amusement scene. The retro classic reboot of Atari Properties took on a new look with the launch of the MirrorFX equipped cabinets, recreating the Peppers Ghost effect from classic games. Now with the new system, the company has released a series of enhanced titles, with Caverns of Mars recharged, Breakout recharged, and YARS recharged. Along with these effects, the company was also running a tournament championship, third annual Major League Esports World Championship, on these machines with over eight competitors competing for a prize pot. The Allen One booth saw their new redemption game, Soda Slam. The skill pouring game was shown in a Dr. Pepper and Liquid Death branded version. Also on display their Butts on Things cranes. Returning to Amusement was the physical Pong table and desk version, now again in amusement colors after Eunice ended supplying the system. Sources revealed that Alan One was taking over the sale of the system after Atari and Eunice had addressed outstanding issues. New video amusement was also seen on the XA Arcadia booth. The company had new releases for their upright video game cabinet range, including G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra, a four-player brawler created based on the Hasbro IP developed by XA Arcadia. Along with Avatar Legend, based upon the Avatar, The Last Airbender was also revealed as a fighter based on the popular Nickelodeon series. XA were showing these and other games on their ARC-32 range of cabinets, the Candy Cab style, sources spoke that the Metal Brawler cabinet will now be replacing the older wooden-styled uprights. The company scheduled to reveal a slew of new brawler and fighter releases for their platform in the coming months. Incredible technologies also exhibited at the AEI 26 show, with their successful Golden T Golf 2026 release and the new Silver Strike League Night offering unique play elements. Amusement Expo 2026 proved to be a launch pad for several new releases, far more than in previous years, illustrating the vitality and innovation of the industry. The big news from Blue Motion Games was the official release of John Wick, Continental Pursuit, developed in collaboration with Lionsgate and based on the John Wick film series. The two-player shooting game features motion seats and fast-paced gameplay, delivering an immersive arcade experience. Design and software development were completed in Montreal, Canada by Blue Motion Games, while the cabinet is manufactured in China. Sources close to the company confirmed that the system presented at AEI 2026 is a prototype. The gameplay shown was a preview of the first level with a plan to have three game levels and additional gameplay elements. Despite this, the company is already well advanced in deploying over 180 units to Dave and Busters locations across North America. The rollout is planned for May under a 90-day exclusivity agreement. This arrangement once again grants Dave and Busters an exclusive release window on a movie IP-based amusement title. Speaking of Dave and Busters, and another exclusive relationship was revealed, though sources regarding the mixed reality MR developer Dream Park. Placed on test at the Hollywood Dave and Busters venue, the company has developed a unique version of their digital theme park platform. Now employing vended headsets, allowing players to experience the unique MR experience within the game space of the E-Tertainment venue. Sources spoke that the idea for a vending headset system went from idea to initial demonstration unit in a month, and is a new approach for Dream Park. This deployment will be closely monitored by DB towards further expansion. The other big IP release launched at the show was on the Stern Pinball Booth, which was dominated by the various Pokemon pinball table variants, what some see as the most influential amusement release of the year, as it is expected to resonate with all aspects of the amusement player base, but also is a major IP. Sources confirmed that the machine is sold out across all versions, and amusement trade that have not made their order will have a long wait. The Stern Booth also promoted the other prominent IP with their Star Wars Pintable. The record exhibition attendance was bolstered by gaming and by indie developers turning to amusement. One such developer was behind Trapped In With Me, a compelling one-player shooting game took space. The title personifying the easy-to-play hard-to-master mantra. Also on their booth was the indie title Kung Fu Kickball, a four-player action title. These games an example of the compelling growth in the deployment of new types of amusement into the mix. The Claw Cade Explosion was represented on the AEI 26 show floor with exhibitors like CandyMachines.com, who showed their smart claw app platform, offering full remote operation of machines through a smartphone and web app, with revenue tracking and collecting business analytics. The company also promoted their customizable branded crane and prize machine platforms. AEI Exhibitor also included Pixel Plush, promoting their chain of crane suitable merch. They were one of many companies promoting prize and merch, targeting the explosion in clawcade business, along with the slew of new wave crane and claw machines represented across numerous booths. Social gaming was given a massive showing at the amusement trade event. Several amusement distributors promoted competitive socializing suitable pieces in their lineup. Creative Works shared their booth with Valo Motion, offering their unique XR Valo Arena platform, while Creative Works had an example of their detonate, the amusement escape gaming platform that offers up to six players competition. A strong addition, not just for amusement, by social entertainment spaces wanting to benefit from the compelling escape game aesthetic. Also showing at the exhibition was Battlecart Entertainment, the company's popular projection-mapped karting experience looking to find new franchisees in the US market. Other social gaming was presented by Prime Axe Works, with an example of their axe-throwing enclosure, supported by projected target system and including self-scoring. Active entertainment was another trend on display at the AEI 26 show. This was represented by Pixel Games, who showed the full enclosure version of the interactive floor system. The enclosure offers a dedicated space to players in an interactive attraction. Pixel Games has been growing its library and revealed last year a licensing deal with Atari to create an active entertainment version of their classic video game Pong. It was announced that the official UK supplier for the platform had been appointed as the play company. Active interactive wall and floor technology using the latest LED platform was on presentation at the Attractions Products booth during the Vegas show, representing the Vex Solutions Vex Party Dash system. The eye-catching physical attraction offers a new breed of active entertainment using the latest immersive LED display tech. The AEI 26 represented not just one association gathering, but two others. The 15th year of National Bulk Vending Association, NBVA, co-locating with the AEI exhibition, brought a selection of exhibitors promoting their services. This also marked the fourth year of the Billiards Congress of America, BCA, Expo also co-locating. Interesting aspect of the BCA26 element was the number of corporations that also included an amusement and gaming element to their lineup. Cardinal State distributors presented along with other products their multicade platform in a cocktail, upright and bar top configuration. While Coda also showed their game table, available in arcade upright console and wine barrel cocktail table and classic cocktail table configurations. Social Gaming was also represented in the BCA26 section from Hall of Games, HOG, who showed their table tennis, billiards, and foosball tables systems focused on a wider market. In conclusion, the expo comprised some 763 booths, representing 246 companies. This was stated as the largest ever AEI attendance, 223 supported last year, 71 of these companies being first-time exhibitors. The Trade Association and event organizers revealed the attendance numbers achieving of 4,229 attendees, compared to last year's 4,554. The major downturn was blamed on weather and travel concerns across the country, many impacted by delayed flights that were also not helped by a national TSA strike taking place. Overall, the event was an outstanding success, even with a reduced attendance. The offering of innovation and new opportunities presented across the show floor, new opportunities represented by the growth in FEC, but also social gaming venue business. The new trends shaping the market impacted across the scene and led many attendees to expect major upheavals across industry in the coming months. It was confirmed that Amusement Expo International 2027 will take place again in Vegas during March 15 to 18, 2027. But in an interesting move, we'll be relocating back to the Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall 123. While the headquarters hotel will once again be at the resort's World Hotel and Casino, even though Westgate will be involved in block bookings. In conclusion, we look at the other aspects and trends impacting the show. Why so much gaming? One question that was raised again during the walk round of AEI was the issue of why so many adult gaming machine manufactures. A constant question from previous AEI events, the appearance on the show floor of adult gaming machines, AGM, has always seen out of place. Well, for the first time it was revealed why so much of the amusement floor was populated with AGM's hardware. This was in fact established through the gaming side's affiliation with the AMOA. It was revealed by a well-placed source that the gaming side used the amusement event as an additional opportunity through their association with the AMOA to exhibit, rather than wait for the G2E event later in the year. If this will continue to be the case was not revealed. Where was Konami? This year's AEI-26 had expected to see the reveal of the Japanese amusement and video gaming operations returned to the Western market. Following testing in North America of at least one new video amusement piece and discussions on importing their Bimani music titles into the market, this, however, seems to have been a false dawn as no Konami hardware made an appearance at this year's event, and only a smattering of Konami executives walked the floor. Well-placed sources gave many reasons for the absence at the American Amusement Event and suggested that IAAPA in November may address this omission. Storm clouds for industry. The conflict in the Middle East and the suspension of oil deliveries and shipping have sent domestic prices spiraling. Those standing on the AEI show floor were aware of the prices being quoted for products and services could not be guaranteed, and would be rising as transportation, raw materials, and general costings were impacted by the rise that high oil prices would ensure. Add to this the increased prices in RAM, CPU, and other computer components, due infrastructure investment in AI data centers, and finally, the still lingering tariff situation, and it was obvious that the entertainment sector was about to be weathering a storm of considerable ferocity. The theme park and leisure sector was also faced with a downturn in expected tourism, as redetect in a downturn in park attendance last year. In part, scared off by the conditions in the U.S., including the continuing TSA strikes, the increased prices for airline tickets due to rising fuel duties, and an overall depressed state under the global conditions. This was also seen across the turbulent international sector, with the cancellation of the Middle East F-1 fixtures and suggested avoidance of the U.S. World Soccer Championships, the entertainment and leisure sector closely watching how much more they would have to suffer in these conditions. This concludes our coverage of the AEI 26 event, though this will not conclude the Las Vegas reporting. Following will be coverage from Bar and Restaurant Expo, BRE 26, International Pizza Expo, IPE 2026, as pertaining to the amusement and attractions sector. And our sister news service, the Entertainment Social Arena, will have a special report on the developments from these trade events and the Las Vegas region in general on the social entertainment landscape.