# STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – APRIL 2026

**Source:** Stern Pinball Website Newsfeed  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-04-07  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://sternpinball.com/2026/04/07/stern-of-the-union-address-april-2026/

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball's April 2026 monthly newsletter highlights ongoing releases including Pokémon, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire, and The Walking Dead Remastered, alongside community initiatives like Stern Army expansion, factory tour access for All-Access members, and the Stern Pro Circuit featuring Keith Elwin's Pin-Masters victory. The company emphasizes continuous code updates, merchandise availability, and engagement through the Insider Connected app.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to ship globally to homes and locations — _Official Stern Pinball newsletter statement about current distribution status_
- [HIGH] The Walking Dead Remastered's SPIKE 3 Technology is nominated for a Webby Award — _Stern newsletter explicitly states SPIKE 3 Technology in The Walking Dead Remastered is up for Webby Award_
- [HIGH] Keith Elwin won Pin-Masters at IFPA Pin-Masters tournament — _Stern Pro Circuit tournament results announced in newsletter_
- [HIGH] The Walking Dead Remastered Premium has been added to the Stern Rewards Program — _Official announcement in newsletter stating IFPA excited to announce addition to rewards program_
- [HIGH] Factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for Insider Connected All-Access members — _New perk announcement with booking details provided_
- [HIGH] Star Wars: Fall of the Empire has received a latest code update — _Newsletter references 'latest code update and stream with the team on Star Wars: Fall of the Empire'_
- [HIGH] Jack Revnew and Sterling Mitoska earned their first Stern Pro Circuit victories — _Tournament results listed in Stern Pro Circuit section_

### Notable Quotes

> "Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and locations globally."
> — **Stern Pinball Official Newsletter**, April 2026
> _Confirms Pokémon's global rollout status and market reception_

> "Keith Elwin showed why he's the greatest of all time with his Pin-Masters victory"
> — **Stern Pinball Official Newsletter**, April 2026
> _Recognizes Keith Elwin's dominance in competitive pinball_

> "Spots are limited and will fill up fast — secure your visit to the Stern factory and see how the game is made!"
> — **Stern Pinball Official Newsletter**, April 2026
> _Indicates high demand for factory tours as exclusive perk_

> "Stern has added The Walking Dead Remastered Premium to the rewards program!"
> — **IFPA via Stern Pinball Newsletter**, April 2026
> _Confirms remaster's integration into official loyalty/rewards program_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball Inc. | company | Manufacturer and primary subject of newsletter |
| Pokémon | game | Stern pinball machine currently shipping globally |
| Star Wars: Fall of the Empire | game | Stern game receiving code updates |
| The Walking Dead Remastered | game | Stern remaster title with SPIKE 3 Technology nominated for Webby Award |
| John Wick | game | Stern title mentioned in newsletter highlights |
| King Kong: Myth of Terror Island | game | Stern title mentioned in newsletter highlights |
| DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant's Eye | game | Stern title mentioned in newsletter highlights |
| Keith Elwin | person | Professional pinball player, Pin-Masters winner, referred to as GOAT |
| Jack Revnew | person | Professional pinball player, earned first Stern Pro Circuit victory at Texas Pinball Festival |
| Sterling Mitoska | person | Professional pinball player, earned first Stern Pro Circuit victory at Steel Valley Mega Match Play |
| Gary Stern | person | Stern Pinball leadership, appeared at GaryCon |
| Christian Calvelo | person | Won Gameroom of the Month award |
| Caterpillar Cafe | venue | Location in Richland, Washington, won Location of the Month award |
| Stern Army | organization | Stern Pinball's community and competitive organization |
| Insider Connected | product | Stern's digital app for community quests, leaderboards, and event information |
| Stern Pro Circuit | organization | Professional pinball tournament circuit sponsored by Stern and Mountain Dew |
| IFPA | organization | International Flipper Pinball Association, partner in Stern Rewards Program |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Major pinball tournament where Jack Revnew won Stern Pro Circuit event |
| Steel Valley Mega Match Play | event | Stern Pro Circuit tournament where Sterling Mitoska earned first victory |
| GaryCon | event | Event attended by Gary Stern and Stern Pinball team |
| Webby Awards | event | Awards competition where The Walking Dead Remastered SPIKE 3 Technology is nominated |
| Stern Rewards Program | product | Partnership with IFPA offering qualified players special pricing and merchandise discounts |
| SPIKE 3 Technology | product | Advanced pinball software platform featured in The Walking Dead Remastered |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pokémon release and global rollout, Stern Pro Circuit competitive play and tournament results, The Walking Dead Remastered and SPIKE 3 Technology, Stern Army community organization and expansion
- **Secondary:** Insider Connected app features and engagement, Factory tour access and All-Access membership perks, Code updates and software development
- **Mentioned:** Stern Rewards Program and IFPA partnership

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0)

### Signals

- **[product_launch]** Pokémon by Stern Pinball confirmed shipping to homes and locations globally with active Stern Army launch parties (confidence: high) — Newsletter states Pokémon 'continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and locations globally' with launch parties available
- **[code_update]** Star Wars: Fall of the Empire received latest code update with team streaming (confidence: high) — Newsletter mentions 'Check out the latest code update and stream with the team on Star Wars: Fall of the Empire'
- **[community_signal]** Stern Army organization continuing to expand globally with priority shipment access and tournament support (confidence: high) — Newsletter states 'The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe' with first priority shipments for launch parties
- **[competitive_signal]** Keith Elwin won IFPA Pin-Masters; Jack Revnew and Sterling Mitoska earned first Stern Pro Circuit victories (confidence: high) — Tournament results explicitly listed in Stern Pro Circuit section
- **[product_strategy]** The Walking Dead Remastered Premium added to Stern Rewards Program, expanding available incentive options (confidence: high) — Newsletter: 'The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added The Walking Dead Remastered Premium to the rewards program!'
- **[product_strategy]** Factory tours launched as exclusive All-Access member perk with 1 free tour per year plus guest capacity (confidence: high) — Newsletter announces 'factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for All-Access members with a paid subscription' with pricing and booking details
- **[content_signal]** Stern producing ongoing tutorials, interviews, and factory content via multiple channels including rare factory tours (confidence: high) — Newsletter references 'fun content, tutorials, and more including a rare factory tour of Stern Pinball'
- **[market_signal]** The Walking Dead Remastered's SPIKE 3 Technology nominated for Webby Award, signaling tech innovation recognition (confidence: high) — Newsletter: 'Our SPIKE 3 Technology in The Walking Dead Remastered is up for a Webby Award!'
- **[collector_signal]** Stern actively promoting merchandise and accessories through official shop and authorized dealers (confidence: medium) — Newsletter section on 'Merch and Accessories' directing to Stern Shop and dealer network
- **[operational_signal]** Stern recognizing top gamerooms and locations monthly, incentivizing community participation (confidence: high) — Newsletter features Gameroom of the Month and Location of the Month awards with submission process

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## Transcript

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – APRIL 2026 The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads: Pokémon by Stern Pinball: Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and locations globally. Check out this great article feature from Post Games and make sure you check out an official Stern Army launch party near you in the Insider Connected app for more details and locations! Best of luck Trainers! Star Wars: Fall of the Empire: Check out the latest code update and stream with the team on Star Wars: Fall of the Empire! The Walking Dead Remastered: The Walking Dead Remastered! John Wick: John Wick! King Kong: Myth of Terror Island: King Kong: Myth of Terror Island! DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye! And take a peek at our latest visit to this year’s GaryCon with none other than Gary Stern! Insider Connected: Community Quests and Global Leaderboards are picking right up from where they left off, but make sure you close out the “Beat That Score! Party Quest” strong as it wraps up soon! Log in to see all of the latest and greatest quests, official Stern Army Launch Parties and more in the Insider Connected™ app. New All-Access Perk Unlocked: Book Your Free Stern Factory Tour! Ready to see where the magic happens? We’re excited to announce that factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for All-Access members with a paid subscription! As a member, you get: • 1 FREE factory tour per year (Admission for you + 1 guest) • Additional guests or tours: just $25 per person During this one-hour, guided factory tour, you’ll: • Step behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball factory • Watch pinball machines come to life—from initial wiring to cabinet decaling • Learn about the craftsmanship, technology, and passion that power every Stern game • Experience an up-close look at the world’s leading pinball manufacturer How to Book 1. Click the link below to open the booking page 2. Log into your All-Access Insider Connected account using the link on the booking page 3. Choose your preferred date and time 4. Add any additional guests (optional) 5. Complete the checkout process in order to book your tour. Spots are limited and will fill up fast — secure your visit to the Stern factory and see how the game is made! Contact us at tours@sternpinball.com if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Christian Calvelo for winning Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Submit your incredible gameroom directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Army Updates: The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe. Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties in addition to supporting events with prizes, giveaways, promotional materials, and tools for hosting recurring tournaments and leagues. To engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to SternArmy@sternpinball.com Location of the Month: Congrats to Caterpillar Cafe of Richland, Washington for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world? Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Webby Awards: It’s award season 🏆 Our SPIKE 3 Technology in The Walking Dead Remastered is up for a Webby Award! Help us update our trophy case: https://wbby.co/58870N Texas Pinball Festival: We had a BLAST with our friends at the Texas Pinball Festival. Check out a fun highlight from the show! Stern Pro Circuit: Congrats to all competitors at this year’s IFPA Pin-Masters, Texas Pinball Festival Wizards, and Steel Valley Mega Match Play Stern Pro Circuit tournaments! In the end, Keith Elwin showed why he’s the greatest of all time with his Pin-Masters victory, while Jack Revnew and Sterling Mitoska earned their very first Stern Pro Circuit victories at Texas Pinball Festival and Steel Valley Mega Match Play events! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit https://sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/ Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events: Stern Pro Circuit 2026 Schedule: Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2026 season of the Stern Pro Circuit sponsored by Mountain Dew! Stern Rewards Program: In partnership with the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), the Stern Rewards Program annually provides IFPA players who qualify the chance to purchase a new Stern Pinball machine at a special IFPA price plus the opportunity for additional Stern merchandise discounts. Detailed rules for the Stern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers and updated list of rewards available can be found HERE. The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added The Walking Dead Remastered Premium to the rewards program! Status of Code: We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines. There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion. If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to Code.Updates@sternpinball.com. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://sternpinball.com/support/game-code/ Merch and Accessories: Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more! Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/ Ask Jack Anything: You’ve got questions? Jack has answers! Ask Jack Anything* is a place to communicate more personably with us at Stern Pinball. Think of it as a digital suggestion box. Don’t be afraid to reach out about anything. It’s as anonymous as you want it to be! ⚡ Check out some of the latest episodes here! Random Tutorials, Interviews and more: Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and more including a rare factory tour of Stern Pinball and a Room Pinball machine?

_(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v4)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 14fa5f38-fc22-4bc7-b599-7775ed8f5b08*