# Dutch Pinball is NOT Working with Stern to Release Back to the Future

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-02-13  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/dutch-pinball-is-not-working-with-stern-to-release-back-to-the-future

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## Analysis

Knapp Arcade publishes a clarification denying rumors that Dutch Pinball is partnering with Stern for Back to the Future distribution in the US. The article cites statements from distributor Cointaker and notes that DPX is no longer working with Dutch Pinball, while confirming ongoing game development in the Netherlands.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Dutch Pinball is NOT working with Stern to build or distribute Back to the Future in the United States — _Cointaker statement confirming 'Stern and DP have no connection / partnership or deal'_
- [HIGH] DPX is no longer working with Dutch Pinball — _Official Cointaker statement: 'DPX is no longer working with DP'_
- [HIGH] Dutch Pinball continues normal business operations with manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands — _Cointaker statement: 'Business as usual at DP. They are still working on future games in development with manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands'_
- [MEDIUM] The Stern partnership rumor originated from misinterpretation of Cointaker's initial statement — _Author notes: 'it was their initial statement that was misinterpreted to start this whole rumor'_

### Notable Quotes

> "Stern and DP have no connection / partnership or deal. DPX is no longer working with DP. Business as usual at DP. They are still working on future games in development with manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands."
> — **Cointaker (distributor)**, February 13, 2026
> _Official clarification denying Stern partnership and confirming end of DPX collaboration_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Dutch Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer; subject of partnership rumor clarification |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; rumored (but denied) as partner for Back to the Future distribution |
| Cointaker | company | Pinball distributor; issued official statement clarifying lack of Stern-Dutch Pinball partnership |
| DPX | company | Modification/collaboration company; confirmed to have ended working relationship with Dutch Pinball |
| Back to the Future | game | Pinball machine in development by Dutch Pinball; subject of distribution partnership rumors |
| Barry | person | Dutch Pinball representative; contacted for comment but had not responded at time of publication |
| Knapp Arcade | company | Pinball news publication; published clarification article |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Back to the Future pinball development, Dutch Pinball business operations, Distribution partnerships in pinball industry
- **Secondary:** DPX collaboration with Dutch Pinball, Industry rumor correction

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0) — Article is factual and clarificatory in tone; no positive or negative bias, focused on correcting misinformation

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** DPX has ended its working relationship with Dutch Pinball after previous collaboration (confidence: high) — Cointaker official statement: 'DPX is no longer working with DP'
- **[personnel_signal]** Potential organizational change at Dutch Pinball related to DPX separation, though nature unclear (confidence: low) — Only confirmation of ended collaboration; specific reasons not stated
- **[rumor_hype]** False rumor circulated that Dutch Pinball partnering with Stern for Back to the Future US distribution (confidence: high) — Article title and content explicitly address and deny this rumor; Cointaker statement confirms no partnership exists

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## Transcript

News

Dutch Pinball is NOT Working with Stern to Release Back to the Future

k

knapparcade

February 13, 2026

Good morning everyone. Just a quick article to clarify an incorrect "rumor" that came out from another publication last night.

I have spoken with both the distributor Cointaker and Barry from Dutch pinball multiple times this week, so when I saw the story that Dutch Pinball is supposedly working with Stern to build and distribute its next game in the United States I initially said to myself, that's definitely NOT true. I now have a statement from Cointaker on the subject. This is important because it was their initial statement that was misinterpreted to start this whole rumor. According to Cointaker...

" Stern and DP have no connection / partnership or deal.

DPX is no longer working with DP.

Business as usual at DP. They are still working on future games in development with manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands."

I have specifically asked Barry from Dutch about this as well, but I have not heard back from him yet.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 3e08b48d-e5ba-469f-a71c-270a6f08c5ed*