# Pokémon Pinball Delayed Until February?; Beetlejuice Pinball is Almost Ready to Ship; Jersey Jack Factory Tour

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-01-23  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/pokmon-pinball-delayed-until-february-beetlejuice-pinball-is-almost-ready-to-ship-jersey-jack-factory-tour

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## Analysis

Knapp Arcade reports speculation that Pokémon Pinball may be delayed until early February based on insider information, confirms Beetlejuice Pinball is nearing completion at Spooky's factory, and highlights a Jersey Jack factory tour video featuring Harry Potter production. Additional commentary on Masters of the Universe licensing history and renewed interest following a new live-action film announcement.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Pokémon Pinball announcement expected in next two weeks (as of late January 2026), with estimated availability in early February — _Author cites unnamed insider source 'usually right' but acknowledges lack of definitive confirmation; framed as educated guess_
- [HIGH] Beetlejuice Pinball from Spooky is complete or near-complete and undergoing factory testing — _Direct observation of video footage showing finished machines at Spooky factory; described as 'seemingly complete'_
- [HIGH] Christopher Franchi created a full art package for a Masters of the Universe game when American Pinball held the license — _Author identifies Franchi as 'renowned industry artist' and states art was completed; describes license as 'supposedly lost by previous AP management'_
- [MEDIUM] American Pinball lost the He-Man/Masters of the Universe pinball license under previous management — _Author states 'supposedly lost' — uses hedging language indicating uncertainty about exact circumstances_
- [HIGH] A Masters of the Universe live-action film is in development and just released its first trailer — _Author directly references first trailer release as of article date (January 22, 2026); provides YouTube link to official Amazon MGM Studios upload_

### Notable Quotes

> "last night I was told 'Pokemon announced in the next two weeks' by someone who is usually right"
> — **knapparcade (author)**, N/A
> _Establishes source of speculation about Pokémon delay; reveals insider information pipeline but acknowledges lack of certainty_

> "my official guess is the first week of February"
> — **knapparcade (author)**, N/A
> _Clarifies author's interpretation of vague timeline as specific prediction; shows confidence in speculation while acknowledging uncertainty_

> "Watch now that I've said this, Stern will drop a teaser for it tomorrow morning lol"
> — **knapparcade (author)**, N/A
> _Humorous acknowledgment of the reverse-jinx effect in close-knit pinball community where public speculation often changes outcomes_

> "Beetlejuice pinball machines undergoing what appears to me to be testing at its factory"
> — **knapparcade (author)**, N/A
> _Qualifies observation with appropriate caution while indicating advanced production state_

> "the license was supposedly lost by previous AP management"
> — **knapparcade (author)**, N/A
> _Uses hedging language on sensitive licensing issue, indicating uncertainty about circumstances of AP's loss of Masters of the Universe rights_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Pokémon | game | Stern Pinball cornerstone title; rumored delay to February 2026; announcement timing speculated |
| Beetlejuice | game | Spooky Pinball game nearing completion; undergoing factory testing; composer Brady Hearn; appears ready to ship imminently |
| Harry Potter | game | Jersey Jack Pinball premium game; featured in factory tour video guided by designer Eric Meunier; on production line at Elk Grove Village facility |
| Masters of the Universe / He-Man | game | Rumored pinball project by American Pinball; license lost by previous AP management; art package created by Christopher Franchi; renewed IP interest following 2026 live-action film announcement |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; Pokémon is next Cornerstone game; announcements pending |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Boutique manufacturer; producing Beetlejuice; operating factory with testing capability |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Premium boutique manufacturer; factory tour documented; producing Harry Potter; located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois |
| American Pinball | company | Previously held Masters of the Universe pinball license under earlier management; license since lost |
| Christopher Franchi | person | Renowned industry artist; created full art package for Masters of the Universe/He-Man pinball game when AP held license |
| Eric Meunier | person | Designer of Harry Potter Pinball; led Jersey Jack factory tour video |
| Brady Hearn | person | Composer of Beetlejuice Pinball music |
| Dutch Pinball Museum | organization | Produced and uploaded Jersey Jack factory tour video to YouTube |
| Knapp Arcade | company | Source of article; appears to be pinball news/commentary outlet |
| Amazon MGM Studios | company | Producer/distributor of Masters of the Universe live-action film; released official teaser trailer January 2026 |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pokémon Pinball announcement timing and potential delay, Beetlejuice Pinball production status and imminent release
- **Secondary:** Jersey Jack Pinball factory operations and production transparency, Masters of the Universe pinball licensing history and future prospects, IP licensing and themed pinball game development
- **Mentioned:** Pinball industry insider information and speculation culture

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.72) — Optimistic tone about upcoming releases and Beetlejuice's readiness; hopeful commentary on Masters of the Universe film and potential for future licensing deal; light-hearted speculation about Pokémon announcement timing.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Pinball content creators and news outlets actively track insider information and make public predictions about announcement timing (confidence: high) — Author cites unnamed insider source 'usually right'; acknowledges reverse-jinx effect of public speculation on timing
- **[market_signal]** He-Man/Masters of the Universe represents recurring rumored pinball IP that could return to market if live-action film succeeds commercially (confidence: medium) — Author notes previous certainty about AP license; describes film as looking 'way better than expected'; expresses openness to future Masters of the Universe pin
- **[personnel_signal]** Christopher Franchi worked on Masters of the Universe art package for American Pinball (timing unclear if past or concurrent with Stern transition) (confidence: high) — 'renowned industry artist Christopher Franchi had done a full art package for the game' while AP held license
- **[announcement]** Pokémon Pinball announcement anticipated within two weeks according to insider source; author predicts early February reveal (confidence: medium) — Insider tip 'Pokemon announced in the next two weeks'; author frames as educated guess, not confirmed intel
- **[product_strategy]** Pokémon Pinball may be experiencing delay past original January/early release window into February based on late-month silence (confidence: medium) — 'rapidly approaching the last week of January and we still have no new Cornerstone game' combined with February speculation
- **[manufacturing_signal]** Beetlejuice Pinball is in final production/testing phase at Spooky factory and ready or near-ready for shipment (confidence: high) — Video footage of 'seemingly complete Beetlejuice pinball machines undergoing what appears to me to be testing at its factory'
- **[licensing_signal]** Masters of the Universe pinball licensing previously held by American Pinball but lost under earlier management; renewed IP interest due to live-action film in development (confidence: medium) — Author states license 'supposedly lost by previous AP management'; notes Christopher Franchi art package completion; connects film announcement to future licensing potential

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## Transcript

News Pokémon Pinball Delayed Until February?; Beetlejuice Pinball is Almost Ready to Ship; Jersey Jack Factory Tour k knapparcade January 22, 2026 Here we are rapidly approaching the last week of January and we still have no new Cornerstone game from Stern Pinball. I do not have any definitive information on when we are going to see Stern's next game, but last night I was told "Pokemon announced in the next two weeks" by someone who is usually right. Now that is a somewhat vague timeline, but my interpretation of it is that we may not see Pokemon from Stern until early February. That is my current educated guess as to when the game will be revealed. Do I know this for certain?...No...but my official guess is the first week of February. Watch now that I've said this, Stern will drop a teaser for it tomorrow morning lol. We're getting closer to the release of Beetlejuice! Earlier this week, Spooky pinball gave us a look at bunch of seemingly complete Beetlejuice pinball machines undergoing what appears to me to be testing at its factory. Make sure to turn the sound up when you watch the clip below so that you can get a listen to some of the game's great music by composer Brady Hearn. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Download the video instead. If you've never seen a tour of Jersey Jack Pinball's Elk Grove Village, Illinois factory, now's your chance! The Dutch Pinball Museum recently uploaded a cool tour of the factory guided by none other than the designer of Harry Potter pinball Eric Meunier to YouTube. I have embedded it below for anyone who wants to check it out: Inside Jersey Jack Pinball: Harry Potter Pinball on the Production Line \| Chicago Pinball Expo 2025 - YouTube Dutch Pinball Museum Dutch Pinball Museum Search Info Shopping / •Live • * This last item isn't exactly pinball-related, but given that it pertains to one of the most heavily rumored pinball themes over the past several years I will allow it lol. At one point, I was absolutely positive that American Pinball had the rights to produce a pinball machine based on He-Man / Masters of the Universe, to the point where renowned industry artist Christopher Franchi had done a full art package for the game. Unfortunately, the license was supposedly lost by previous AP management. This morning the first trailer for the upcoming live-action film based on the He-Man franchise dropped. I have to say, it looks way better than I expected. Maybe if the movie does well we will actually get a Masters of the Universe pin one day. I'd be cool with that. Masters of The Universe – Official Teaser Trailer - YouTube Amazon MGM Studios 1.7M subscribers Amazon MGM Studios Search Info Shopping / •Live •

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 34fae33f-c6de-4dad-8c00-18b8febd6c02*