March 2026 has emerged as a pivotal month for the pinball industry, marked by a flurry of new game announcements, updated classics, and ambitious reimagining projects, all meticulously dissected and presented in the latest edition of the Pinball Industry News PINcast. Hosted by industry veterans Martin and Jonathan, the March installment delves deep into the reveals that have set the pinball community abuzz, offering a comprehensive overview of the landscape and its future trajectory. This episode, rich with information gleaned from the recent Texas Pinball Festival and other key industry touchpoints, provides an essential update for enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals alike.

New Entrants and Surprising Debuts

The month witnessed the highly anticipated arrival of Turner Pinball’s third title, Yukon Yeti, unveiled just prior to the Texas Pinball Festival. This new machine, designed by the celebrated Dennis Nordman, draws inspiration from his earlier iconic creation, Whitewater. While sharing a thematic lineage, Yukon Yeti promises a significantly evolved gameplay experience, boasting an expanded array of shots, intricately layered rulesets, and a novel ball-climbing mechanism that adds a unique dynamic to the playfield. The presence of two playable prototypes at the Texas Pinball Festival allowed attendees to experience firsthand the advancements and design philosophy behind this latest offering from Turner Pinball, generating considerable excitement and positive initial feedback regarding its innovative features and engaging theme.

Simultaneously, Hexa Pinball launched its sophomore effort, The 3 Musketeers, with a sophisticated reveal held at an art gallery in France. Despite facing logistical challenges that delayed the machines’ arrival in the United States for the Texas show, the French debut signaled the game’s official entry into the market. While concrete gameplay footage has yet to be released to the wider public, Hexa Pinball has committed to making the title available for play at select upcoming shows across the US. This strategic approach to unveiling the game suggests a deliberate effort to build anticipation and allow for direct interaction with the machine at curated events, a tactic often employed by manufacturers to gauge player reception and generate buzz.

Reimagining Classics and Commemorative Editions

American Pinball, under its newly revitalized banner, has embarked on a dual strategy that blends commemoration with forward-looking development. The company is currently producing a limited run of 100 Houdini machines, each featuring re-artwork, to honor the centennial anniversary of the master illusionist’s death. This special edition not only pays tribute to a legendary figure but also offers collectors a unique opportunity to own a piece of pinball history. Concurrently, American Pinball is actively developing its inaugural title within a new series dedicated to reimagining beloved classics from the golden era of Williams and Bally. The chosen debut for this ambitious project is the vibrant and energetic Cirqus Voltaire. This initiative signals a commitment to breathing new life into established fan favorites, potentially appealing to both veteran players who hold nostalgia for these games and newer enthusiasts eager to experience them with modern enhancements. The PINcast highlighted the details of this reimagining project, including the design philosophy and the specific elements intended to modernize and elevate the Cirqus Voltaire experience.

Stern Pinball’s Pokémon Phenomenon

Stern Pinball’s highly anticipated Pokémon game made its public debut at the Texas Pinball Festival, showcasing both its Pro and Premium configurations. The event served as the game’s first major public outing, allowing players to engage with the new title and experience its gameplay firsthand. Beyond the playable machines, the Stern design team delivered a presentation detailing the creative process behind Pokémon, offering insights into the development, thematic integration, and technical innovations that define this highly sought-after release. The game’s presence at the festival underscores its significance as a major release for Stern Pinball, tapping into a globally recognized intellectual property with a massive and dedicated fanbase.

Factory Visits and Industry Insights

The March PINcast also provided exclusive behind-the-scenes access, with hosts Martin and Jonathan undertaking factory tours of Barrels of Fun and Multimorphic during their time in Texas. These visits included conversations with key figures David van Es of Barrels of Fun and Gerry Stellenberg of Multimorphic. The discussions offered valuable perspectives on the current manufacturing landscape, the challenges and triumphs of developing new pinball hardware, and the strategic directions of these respective companies.

Furthermore, Gerry Stellenberg was featured as a guest in the latest installment of the "What’s Cooking? With…" segment, where he shared not only his favorite culinary creation but also delved deeper into the intricacies of the pinball business and provided updates on Multimorphic’s ongoing advancements. Such segments offer a more personal and informal glimpse into the industry’s leading figures, humanizing the business and fostering a stronger connection between the creators and their audience.

Texas Pinball Festival Highlights and Broader Industry Updates

The Texas Pinball Festival, as a central hub of pinball activity in March, served as the backdrop for numerous other significant updates discussed on the PINcast. Coverage included progress reports on Monster League Hockey, Jersey Jack Pinball’s highly anticipated Harry Potter title, Winchester Mystery House, and the epic sci-fi adventure Dune. Wonderland Amusements also provided an update on its second announced title, indicating continued growth and diversification within the independent manufacturer space.

The episode also touched upon the conclusion of sales for the Predator pinball machine, marking the end of an era for that particular title. In a more somber but crucial update, the PINcast provided the latest developments in the ongoing Deeproot court case, a legal matter that has significant implications for intellectual property and business practices within the pinball community. These diverse updates reflect the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the pinball industry, encompassing everything from product launches and sales cycles to significant legal proceedings.

A Deep Dive into the March PINcast

The March 2026 edition of the Pinball News and Pinball Magazine PINcast encapsulates a significant period of innovation and activity within the pinball world. The comprehensive discussion covers new machine releases, strategic business decisions, and the ongoing narratives shaping the industry. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the full episode to gain a complete understanding of these developments.

The PINcast is readily available for direct playback via an embedded audio player within the article, allowing for immediate listening. For those seeking to explore the extensive archive of past episodes, a dedicated PINcast library is accessible through the Pinball News website. This resource provides a chronological repository of all previous discussions, offering a valuable historical record of the industry’s evolution.

Furthermore, for enhanced accessibility and convenience, the Pinball Industry News PINcast is also hosted on Spotify. This platform allows users to stream or download all 98 previous episodes, as well as the latest March 2026 installment. Subscribing to the PINcast on Spotify ensures automatic notifications for future editions, keeping listeners consistently informed.

The hosts, Martin and Jonathan, express their commitment to continuing to bring comprehensive news and in-depth interviews from major pinball events and factory visits throughout the year. Their monthly broadcasts are positioned as an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to stay abreast of the latest happenings in the pinball universe. The PINcast’s reputation as "the podcast the pinball industry listens to" underscores its authority and influence within the sector. As the industry continues its upward trajectory, driven by both established manufacturers and emerging innovators, the Pinball Industry News PINcast remains a vital conduit for information, analysis, and community engagement.