The LBX Show #69 – BW, Kevin, & Adam Debrief Amusement Expo 2026

Transcript

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

About the author

Brandon Willey

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