Episode Details

Sponsored by Intercard!
Sponsored by Alan-1!

On this week's show we debrief Amusement Expo International 2026 from the show floor and zoom out on what it signals for arcades, FECs, and location-based entertainment. We dig into the surge of licensed IP, the hardware innovations that matter for operators, and the Vegas venues that reveal where competitive socializing is headed. 

• attendance and energy at AEI 2026, plus travel and timing constraints 
• education programming, networking formats, and what the organizers are testing 
• transmedia and licensed IP as the dominant show-floor theme 
• Stern Pokémon pinball as a blueprint for bringing new players in 
• John Wick shooter cabinet impressions, motion and control trade-offs 
• Disney's Speedstorm as a potential Mario Kart successor, vertical screen impact, card system debate 
• Cyberpunk 2077 motorcycle racer, cabinet size, pricing, graphics, and ergonomics 
• Triotech Typhoon Shockwave changes and the Jumanji XD dark ride license 
• Alan-1 Atari Recharged cabinets, Pepper’s Ghost depth effect, and tournament-driven retention 
• DOF Robotics compact flying theater, LED dome implications, pricing, and maintenance math 
• Area 15 updates, immersive experiences, and what constant iteration looks like 
• F1 Arcade in Vegas, premium fit and finish, plus the accessibility problem for groups 
• market pressures on manufacturers and distributors, plus the Player One rebrand moment

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