Pinball Expo 2025 took place from October 15-18, in the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Pinball Magazine was represented by Editor Jonathan Joosten. For the most part, Joosten assisted Pinball News Editor Martin Ayub in the recording of the various seminars. Due to circumstances, Pinball Magazine was unable to publish its usual diary during Pinball Expo 2025. For full coverage of Pinball Expo 2025, please visit Pinball News.
Saturday, June 21st, 2025, Pedretti Gaming surprised the pinball community with the reveal of the Ligabue Pinball Game at the Campovolo Music Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Eight Ligabue pinball machines were setup in a side area of the venue to be played by attendees. The artist visited the side area, played the game, and signed some instruction cards as well.
As can be seen in the image above, the game has the same layout as Pinball Brothers’ Queen, with new artwork and toys.
Ligabue is an Italian rockband, singing in Italian, headed by Luciano Ligabue. The group exists for over 35 years and has a huge following in Italy. On facebook, the band has 2.9 million followers.
Tuesday, June 25, Pedretti released the following press release:
—————————————-
BERGAMO, Italy – June 10, 2025 – Pedretti Gaming, Europe’s leading pinball manufacturer, is proud to announce its partnership with Luciano Ligabue for the creation of an officially licensed pinball machine. This collaboration merges Pedretti’s engineering expertise with the imagery and music of one of Italy’s most beloved artists, delivering a truly unique playing experience for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Project Highlights:
Andrea Di Molfetta, Project Manager, Pedretti Gaming, stated:
“Thanks to Paolo De Francesco’s creative vision and the close collaboration with Ligabue’s team, we’ve transformed the energy of his music into a tangible, immersive pinball experience. We’re honored to present a machine signed by the artist himself—destined to become a true collector’s item for fans and enthusiasts.”
Market Context & Outlook
The pinball and arcade entertainment sector continues to expand as collectors and operators seek standout titles. Pedretti Gaming’s focus on officially licensed, artist-themed machines produced locally leverages nostalgia and musical passion to distinguish itself in an increasingly crowded market. We anticipate the Ligabue pinball to spark renewed excitement within Italy’s amusement community and help rejuvenate the nation’s storied pinball culture.
Some informations about LIGABUE:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Ligabue
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ligabue_official
Website: https://www.ligabue.com/
—————————–
As Pedretti Gaming is a partner of Pinball Brothers, both part owners of Euro Pinball Corp, the use of the Queen layout is easily explained.
The Ligabue game came as a surprise as a new Pedretti title wasn’t expected for multiple reasons. Pinball Brothers just revealed their Predator game last week, which is build by Euro Pinball Corp. If any new Pedretti game announcement was expected, many would have expected it to be a new remake of a classic Bally / Williams title, with Tales of the Arabian Nights being rumored as the next title.
Marketing-wise, Pedretti has to be appauded for tying the game with the massively attended Ligabue concerts, instantly reaching Ligabue fans.
See the Pedretti Gaming Facebookpage for more videos of the Ligabue pinball machines at Campovolo: https://www.facebook.com/PedrettiGamingArcadeFlipperJukebox.
UPDATE June 26, 2025: In the meantime, Pedretti gaming have provided some more photos of the Ligabue game.
Following weeks of teases, Swedish pinball manufacturer Pinball Brothers just revealed its newest game: Predator. Pictured below is a top view of the playfield.
The game is a widebody game, just like sister-game Alien. At the time of this writing, there was no official press release, but Pinball Magazine did receive the following images of the game.
Most information about the game can be found on the flyer images of the game, see below:
Pinball Magazine editor Jonathan Joosten and Pinball News editor Martin Ayub were able to interview Pinball Brothers CEO Daniel Janson about the game. This bonus PINcast interview is available Spotify and other channels.
Some notes from the interview:
As more material is expected to become available, this article will be updated accordingly.
The official mailing reads as follows:
Following several days of teasing videos, Jersey Jack Pinball just revealed its long-awaited 11th pinball game: Harry Potter. Months ago, JJP founder Jack Guarnieri said that people should hold on to their money until they have seen this game. From the looks of it, it looks like Jack was right.
The game is available in three models: Arcade Edition, which is the most economical one, Wizard Edition and Collector’s Edition. Below are the first images of the various models.
Jersey Jack Pinball provided a comparing flyer listing the features of the game and each model.
Aside from the different backglasses and cabinet artwork, the difference in toppers is very clear in the image above. The Arcade Edition doesn’t have a topper.
The flyer above only lists three persons in the design team, but the team is of coarse a lot bigger:
Game Design: Eric Meunier
Software: Joe Katz, Duncan Brown, Bill Grupp, Jason Allen, Taylor Snyder
Mech.Engineers: Dan Lachcik, Nick Jensen
Electrical Engineering: Joe Ernest, Will Mercado, Eric Miller, Luna Silverfang
3D Sculpts: Lars Scholten
Art Direction: JP de Win
Art on CE: MinaLima, Jesper Abels
Art on WE & AE: Jesper Abels, JP de Win
Animations: Olaf Gremie, Johnny Wiegel, JP de Win
Music and Sound: David Thiel, Pierce Colbert
Licensing: Jack Guarnieri
The teaser videos, focusing mostly on the cabinet art, can be found here, here, here, and here, but the video featurette below is far more interesting.
More videos are expected to become available now that the game has launched. Several distributors already have a game in stock, allowing nearby customers to get acquinted with the game instantly.
The press release for the game reads as follows:
Jersey Jack Pinball and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products Announce Harry Potter™ Pinball
Jun 05, 2025, 12:03 ET
CHICAGO, June 5, 2025 / — Jersey Jack Pinball in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), is proud to unveil its most eagerly awaited release to date: Harry Potter™ Pinball — a rare and mystical collector’s item that brings the beloved world of Harry Potter to life like never before.
Crafted with extraordinary detail and care, this isn’t just a pinball machine — it’s an enchanted artifact designed for collectors, fans, and pinball wizards alike. This limited-edition release celebrates the magic and adventure of the beloved film series, inviting players to journey through Hogwarts™, battle dark forces, and relive the entire saga — from the arrival of the first letter to the final duel
Developed by renowned designer Eric Meunier, featuring sound design by industry legend David Thiel and voice work by award-winning actor Marc Silk, Harry Potter™ Pinball spans all eight Harry Potter films in one breathtaking and immersive gameplay experience.
“Every once in a great while, a game comes along that feels truly special,” said Jack Guarnieri, founder of Jersey Jack Pinball. “The Harry Potter franchise has lived in the hearts of fans for over two decades. Bringing it to life through pinball has been a dream long in the making — and a landmark moment for the industry.”
Eric Meunier added, “This has been the most personal and passionate project of my career. As a lifelong fan, I wanted to build something worthy of the wizarding world. From gameplay to audio, every detail is designed to transport players into the story. It’s the most ambitious game I’ve ever made.”
Players will celebrate the world with spellbinding light, sound, and motion — from the moving staircases and Diagon Alley™ to the Sorting Hat and Explore Hogwarts Multiball. Every element is infused with the soul of the world of Harry Potter — packed with hidden secrets, handcrafted mechanisms, and mystical surprises.
Harry Potter™ Pinball is available in three editions, each delivering the same spellbinding gameplay and engineered to the highest standards:
Collector’s Edition – $15,000|
An ultra-limited, made-to-order version featuring an exclusive art package by MinaLima, the graphic design team behind the Harry Potter films. This edition includes:
Wizard’s Edition – $12,000
Featuring The Battle of Hogwarts™ RadCal™ Art Package and Auror’s Spectrum Color-Shifting Armor, this edition includes:
All editions include identical gameplay across a rich landscape of mechanical and visual innovation. Key features include:
Harry Potter™ Pinball is proudly built in the USA. Collector’s and Wizard’s Editions include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for future updates, scoring features, and online integration. The game also includes officially licensed film clips and music, including John Williams’ iconic “Hedwig’s Theme.”
About The Harry Potter Franchise
From the moment eleven-year-old Harry Potter met Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his adventures have left an indelible mark on popular culture. Today, over 25 years later, the Harry Potter phenomenon thrives as one of the most successful and best-loved entertainment properties in history. J.K. Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter novels have been brought to life in an ever-evolving, interconnected universe which is loved by millions of fans worldwide. Eight blockbuster Harry Potter films and three epic Fantastic Beasts films bring the spellbinding action to life on screen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child mesmerizes on stage, and state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games allow players to experience the wizarding world like never before. Fans can proudly showcase their passion through innovative consumer products, and thrill at spectacular location-based experiences – including five theme park lands at Universal Studios locations around the world. This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts offerings includes ground-breaking touring experiences and events, each developed to celebrate special moments and locations that fans cherish, as well as the Platform 9 3⁄4 retail shops and iconic flagship store – Harry Potter New York. Wizards, Witches and Muggles alike can also discover something new as they explore behind-the-scenes secrets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter. With a new HBO Original TV series based on the Harry Potter books on the way, this extended world continues to provide the community with fresh and exciting ways to interact. For its global fans, and for generations to come, it invites everyone in to find the magic for themselves. For the latest Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts news and features, visit www.harrypotter.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Revenue & Strategy division, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBDGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Jersey Jack Pinball
Since its founding in 2011, Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) has redefined what a modern pinball machine can be. JJP has established itself as the premier innovator in the industry, offering the desirable games in the modern pinball era. Headquartered in the heart of the industry in Chicago, Illinois, and proudly designed and manufactured in the USA, JJP combines old-school craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology to create machines that are as visually stunning as they are thrilling to play.
Led by an award-winning team of veteran designers, engineers, and artists, Jersey Jack Pinball is known for producing highly collectible, feature-rich machines that captivate players of all skill levels. Easy to play, difficult to master, JJP games blend immersive storytelling, dynamic gameplay, and striking visual presentation—honoring the heritage of classic pinball while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a playfield.
Innovation That Sets the Standard
JJP has pioneered numerous industry-first features that have become benchmarks for the next generation of pinball. The company was the first to introduce LCD screens as a standard in the backbox, RGB LED lighting for an ultra-vivid experience, integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, gameplay-enhancing camera integration, and intricate interactive playfield toys that bring themes to life in ways never seen before.
Every JJP release is a celebration of its theme, crafted with attention to detail that resonates with fans and collectors alike. Its critically acclaimed lineup includes The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, Dialed In!, Pirates of the Caribbean, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Guns N’ Roses: Not In This Lifetime, Toy Story 4, The Godfather 50th Anniversary, Elton John, Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, and now, Harry Potter.
A Legacy in the Making
With a growing global community of collectors, operators, and pinball enthusiasts, Jersey Jack Pinball continues to expand its impact across both commercial and home entertainment spaces. Whether lighting up a bustling arcade, enhancing a luxury game room, or anchoring a pop culture collection, JJP machines deliver a uniquely premium experience that turns players into fans, and fans into lifelong collectors.
The game is now available at jerseyjackpinball.com and through authorized distributors.
This is more than a pinball machine — it’s an invitation to step into a world of wonder, and to never stop believing in magic.
Following last year’s security upgrade, which saw the Pinball Magazine website and webshop become secured by SSL technology, a postal rate bug fix was applied to the Pinball Magazine webshop.
In the past, orders of five kilograms and up would not be able to be processed. This has been adjusted. The 2022 postal rates have also been apllied, which in many cases turn out to be cheaper than last year, dependig on the service level of your choice.
If you run into any problems placing your order, please contact Pinball Magazine by email: editor @ pinball-magazine . com (no spaces).
Good news and more good news! First, the good news: Pinball Magazine No. 2 is back in stock! The other good news: the Pinball Magazine webshop now has a new shipping option available. Please read all about it below.
Pinball Magazine No. 2 back in stock
Pinball Magazine No. 2 sold out over two years ago. Since then, there has been a growing demand for a reprint. Thanks to several new advertisers, this reprint is now available in the Pinball Magazine webshop.
The cover story in Pinball Magazine No. 2 focuses on the career of pinball designer Dennis Nordman (White Water, Demolition Man, Blackwater 100, Pirates of the Caribbean, Wheel of Fortune, and more). Pinball artist Greg Freres joins Dennis on the games they worked on together (Elvira and the Party Monsters, Dr. Dude, The Party Zone, Scared Stiff, Whoa Nellie).
Did you know that Dennis Nordman designed several videogames in the ‘80s? That’s just one of the many topics discussed in this cover story. But there is a lot more. The cover story also has contributions from Steve Ritchie, Chris Granner, John Youssi, Doug Watson, Roger Sharpe, and others, all discussing working with Dennis at some point during his career in pinball.
Aside from the cover story, Pinball magazine No. 2 also has side articles on Pinball News, The Pinball Arcade, ColorDMD, Pinball Expo, Silverball Museum, and more.
In terms of content, most articles in Pinball Magazine No. 2 remained the same, although some typos were corrected. New advertisements were added to fund the printing of this reprint partly. As you may have noticed, the cover of the reissue has a different background color as well. Check out the feedback that came in on Pinball Magazine No. 2.
Bonus set of postcards
New with the reprint of issue two is a set of eight postcards with photos of games designed by Dennis Nordman. When Pinball Magazine No. 2 originally came out, no postcards came with the magazine as I started doing that later on with the publication of Santiago Ciuffo’s PINBALL book. Since then, a limited edition set of postcards also came out when Pinball Magazine No. 4 and 5 came out. In line with previous postcard sets, the photos on the new postcard set have also been taken by Argentinean photographer Santiago Ciuffo.
For those who ordered Pinball Magazine No. 2 the first time around and that are interested in the new set of postcards: extra sets of postcards can be ordered separately as well in the Pinball Magazine webshop. However, I would advise ordering such a set of cards together with another magazine or book. When ordering another magazine, the added postal costs for the postcards are almost non-existent. When ordering only a set of postcards, that’s not the case. For most territories, the postal charges are the sum of a fixed price per package plus a rate for the weight of the package. While the weight of a set of postcards will be less than 100 grams, for some territories, the fixed price per package is rather steep. Hence the suggestion to combine ordering the set with another book or magazine, or maybe even wait for Pinball Magazine No. 6. Issue 6 is supposed to come out later this year, although I can’t say when exactly.
Note: when ordering the reprint of Pinball Magazine No. 2, there is no need to add the postcards, as these will be included with the reprint anyway.
New shipping option in the Pinball Magazine webshop
When you’re placing your order in the Pinball Magazine webshop, and get to the part of estimating your postal costs, you’ll notice an extra shipping option has been added. For years I’ve been working with Deutsche Post, which is still an option to choose from. New is the option to choose for shipping with PostNL. PostNL offers different postal rates, which may be cheaper you’re your order is close to 2 or 5 kilograms (4 or 10 lbs).
PostNL may, in some cases, be more expensive than Deutsche Post, but it does have some advantages. Packages of over 2 kilograms are most likely to include track and trace. Packages shipped with PostNL are expected to ship out sooner as well, as these can be dropped off at the post office on any business day. With Deutsche Post, there is a minimum number of packages to ship. For that reason, shipments to Deutsche Post occur monthly. It’s now up to you to decide which postal service you prefer.
Note regarding future North American postal rates
While postal rates are adjusted at the beginning of each year, my account manager at Deutsche Post informed me last week that postal rates to the U.S. are expected to go up significantly around July 2020. It was explained to me as a political response to cheap postal rates from China being addressed. Postal rates from other countries are likely to be affected, as well. The exact details are yet unknown, but chances are it will be cheaper to order your Pinball Magazine products before the postal rates will be increased.
Pinball Magazine No. 5 was voted Favorite Pinball Publication of 2018 by visitors of This Week In Pinball. Editor Jonathan Joosten received a TWIPy Award for the publication at the Texas Pinball Festival 2019. Below, check out the videostream of the TWIPy Awards.
Bekijk The 2nd Annual TWIPY Pinball Awards van SDTMpinball op www.twitch.tv
Here’s a FREE downloadable PDF supplement for Pinball Magazine No. 5. As you may know, the magazine focuses largely on Wayne Neyens’ career in pinball, during which he designed 180 pinball machines. John Osborne was hired by Wayne in the early ’70s which resulted in John designing several electromechanical and solid-state pinball machines for Gottlieb. In this interview John talks about how he got into pinball, getting hired, the games he designed, the prototype assemblies he designed and of course working with Wayne. Pinball Magazine No. 5 is packed with more interviews like this. Order your copy in the Pinball Magazine webshop. 
Download
Today, the printed copies of Pinball Magazine No. 5 came in 
I’m really happy how this issue turned out in print. The magazine can now be ordered in the Pinball Magazine webshop.
Content listing:
With 360 glossy full-color pages our biggest issue ever (it’s definitely more like a book…)
Order your copy in the Pinball Magazine webshop. In case you’ll be attending the Vancouver Flipout show, please note a limited supply of Pinball magazine No. 5 will be available at the show in the Nitro Pinball stand.
Upcoming USA resellers:
Reviews:
New in the Pinball Magazine webshop: 3 posters with concept art by Kevin O’Connor. The three available posters are:
Concept backglass art for Playboy (Data East) This magic marker sketch was made when the Playboy 35th Anniversary game was set to be themed around a Playboy photoshoot. Eventually the theme was changed to a pool party.Like all posters in the Pinball Magazine webshop they are priced at Euro 6.50, or any three posters for Euro 15.00. The posters are sized 50 x 70 cm. Note that all three posters have a white border all around the center image.
As there are some developments going on, please find the latest news regarding Pinball Magazine below:
Due to a minimum required quantity of packages Pinball Magazine ships its incoming orders (books, posters and magazines) in monthly batches. This also qualifies us for a more economical postal rate, which helps since it’s such a heavy magazine and it’s being shipped from The Netherlands (Europe). The next shipment is scheduled for the first week of June 2018. In case the minimum required number of orders is met prior to that, they will ship earlier. To order Pinball Magazine No. 1, Pinball Magazine No. 3, Pinball Magazine No. 4, Santiago Ciuffo’s PINBALL book a package deal of the magazines and book and/or PINBALL Posters (discounted when ordered 3, 6, 9 etc.) please visit the Pinball Magazine webshop.
Below is a selection of feedback that came in once Pinball Magazine No. 4 started arriving at the homes of those that ordered a copy:
Thanks for being a force for good in pinball. Hope to see you in Texas sir! Take some time off over the holidays and play some pinball.” – Charlie Emery (Spooky Pinball)Effective January 1st, 2017 Pinball Magazine will invoice orders for advertisements and bulk orders for magazines and book only in Euro. This means the invoices should be paid in Euro as well. When paid via PayPal the costs for such transaction (currency exchange and costs Paypal applies for transferring money) should be at the expense of the paying party. The easiest way to handle this is to indicate the transfer is a gift. Alternative payment options are a bank transfer, or transferring money via Transferwise.com.
Pinball Magazine No. 4 is here! With 244 pages Pinball Magazine No.4 is another book and has a great variety of articles to enjoy. Here’s what you can expect:
Special: pinball designer Mark Ritchie discusses his entire career at Williams Pinball, Capcom and beyond, in a 100+ page cover story including game designs such as Thunderball, Firepower II, Sorcerer, Big Guns, Taxi, Fish Tales, Indiana Jones, Kingpin and more. Contribution by others about Mark Ritchie include Eugene Jarvis, George Petro, Steve Ritchie, Chris Granner and others, all revealing great insights in working with Mark Ritchie.
To order your copy of Pinball Magazine No.4 visit the Pinball Magazine webshop.
Below is a selection of reviews and feedback received on Pinball Magazine No. 3.
Reviews:
Michael: “If you’re a KISS colloctor, a KISS magazine collector, if you own a KISS pinball machine – the original or the new one – you want this.”
Tommy: “It’s amazing!”
Michael: “About one third of this magazine is devoted to KISS pinball stuff. There’s a ton of photos of behind the scenes stuff. This is just so freaking cool and well done.”
Tommy: “When I started going through this I was like, here’s another article, here’s another photo, it’s just boom-boom-boom-boom thoughout the whole thing.”
Michael: “By all means: get it! …. This is qlearly in-depth. … I would guess the people behind this are KISS fans.”
Tommy: “It’s too cool not to be.”
Michael: “The quality and the depth they put into this is not done by someone who is assigned a project to write a story about KISS. … I feel like this was written by somebody who understands KISS.”
Pinball Magazine No. 3 is here! With 260 pages even bigger than Pinball Magazine No. 2!
Pinball Magazine No. 3 contents:
Pinball Magazine No. 3 can be ordered in the Pinball Magazine web shop
REVIEWS:
FEEDBACK:
“We received a book today. Younger son Nate (4) could not hide his excitement. He recognized couple of pinball machines from our small collection and happily took a picture with a new book. Thanks Pinball Magazine and Santiago for bringing pins back to life and promoting them to the young generations.” – Teo
Click READ MORE below for more feedback >>>
As mentioned earlier Pinball Magazine got the rights to publish the international edition of PINBALL, a beautiful photo book by Argentinean photographer Santiago Ciuffo. The book (hard cover, 208 pages, 11.3 inch x 8.7 inch) is now available and can be ordered in the Pinball Magazine webshop.
To get an idea of the photos in the book, see the pictures below:
Click READ MORE below for more photos and info of PINBALL by Santiago Ciuffo >>>
March is usually Texas Pinball Festival month, and in 2025 that’s no exception. Where with previous editions up to seven new pinball titles were launched or revealed at the show, this year the announcements and reveals are more spread over March and (if the rumors are true) April.
Wonderland Amusements have been teasing its upcoming Alice goes to Wonderland game for some time now, so no surprises here. The game is 80% of the size of traditional Arcade pinball machines, and is promoted to have a pricing of less than US $ 1,000. The company did launch a Kickstarter campaign with several tiers and models to fund the production of the game, which reached its goal in two minutes. Now it remains to be seen whether they actually can set up a factory and manufacture all games ordered at the Kickstarter’s pricing points. Excuse the doubt, but over the past decade, several other pinball companies failed to figure out how to manufacture pinball machines and didn’t survive. Let’s hope for a better ending for Wonderland Amusements. For more details, see this Pinball News article.
When it comes to previously unannounced games, Multimorphic was the first to announce its newest P3-based game: Portal.
Portal is expected to be playable at the Texas Pinball Festival. As Pinball News had the exclusive on revealing the game, see the Pinball News website for all details.
Earlier in the month, Multimorphic announced its own line of PinGlass and PinGlass+, being two types of standard-sized playfield glass for pinball machines. The PinGlass+ version is similar to other companies’ Invinsiglass.
To the surprise of many, Turner Pinball announced its second pinball title: Merlin’s Arcade. The game is designed by pinball industry veteran Jon Norris, who publicly pitched ideas for the game years ago.
