# Antoine Depelchin - Hexa Pinball - Dutch Pinball Open Expo 2025 - Pinball News

**Source:** Pinball News (Dutch Pinball Open Expo 2025)  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-11-22  
**Duration:** 7m 44s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rurlfKrplRk

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## Analysis

Antoine Depelchin from Hexa Pinball, a French manufacturer founded in 2022, discusses the company's debut game Space Hunt and upcoming second title The Three Musketeers. Hexa emphasizes quality fabrication, in-house video production, proprietary epoxy playfield technology replacing plastic inserts, and a connected mobile app (Plunger) for score tracking and tournament management. The company positions itself as France's first pinball manufacturer in 50+ years with a distinct identity separate from existing competitors.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Hexa Pinball was created in 2022 and is based in Bordeaux, France — _Direct statement by Antoine Depelchin at Dutch Pinball Open Expo 2025_
- [HIGH] 18 months of R&D went into Space Hunt before launch — _Antoine Depelchin states 'It took us 18 months, just pure research and development to create our first game, Space Hunt'_
- [HIGH] Space Hunt sales began in France in early 2024 — _Antoine explicitly states 'We started to sell the model in France beginning of 2024'_
- [HIGH] Hexa attended Pinball Expo in October (2024) for first US public introduction — _Antoine states 'last October we went to Pinball Expo for the first time'_
- [MEDIUM] No French pinball manufacturer has existed for 50+ years; last was Jotel in the 1980s — _Antoine claims 'It is over 50 years that nobody manufactures any games in France. The last company was Jotel during the 80s'_
- [HIGH] The Three Musketeers theme was announced in Chicago in October 2024 — _Antoine states 'We announced the theme of our second machine in Chicago last October'_
- [HIGH] The Three Musketeers is based on the book, not licensed from movies — _Antoine explicitly states 'It's not licensed. It's from the book. So we have total freedom to use. We don't have any assets from movies.'_
- [HIGH] The Three Musketeers full machine reveal will occur at Texas Pinball Festival in March (2025) — _Antoine states 'We will have a fully functional machine' revealed in Dallas at Texas Pinball Festival in March_
- [HIGH] Hexa uses Bally-Williams mechanisms for compatibility and serviceability — _Antoine states 'we use a Bally-William mechanism, so it's very easy to find if the need comes'_
- [HIGH] Hexa developed a proprietary epoxy-based playfield process replacing plastic inserts — _Antoine explains 'we are not using plastic inserts anymore, we are using a process with epoxy. So it gives us a lot of freedom'_

### Notable Quotes

> "It is over 50 years that nobody manufactures any games in France. The last company was Jotel during the 80s"
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, early in presentation
> _Establishes Hexa's historical significance as France's first pinball manufacturer in decades, positioning the company as reviving a dormant national industry_

> "We don't want to make the exact same thing as the other manufacturers. We want to have our own identity. We have our own DNA."
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, mid-presentation
> _States Hexa's core positioning strategy: differentiation through distinctive design philosophy and manufacturing approach rather than imitation_

> "we use a Bally-William mechanism, so it's very easy to find if the need comes"
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, technical discussion
> _Explains practical serviceability strategy: using standardized mechanisms to ensure long-term machine maintainability and operator confidence_

> "Franck Deniro who is a very well known guy in restoration in France is working on our playfields and he is applying six coats of varnish we have over three months drying time"
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, production quality discussion
> _Demonstrates Hexa's commitment to manufacturing quality through multi-stage finishing process with industry-recognized craftspeople_

> "we are not using plastic inserts anymore, we are using a process with epoxy. So it gives us a lot of freedom"
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, technology discussion
> _Highlights Hexa's proprietary manufacturing innovation as competitive differentiator enabling complex playfield shapes impossible with traditional plastic inserts_

> "It's all in-house. Yes."
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, video production discussion
> _Confirms Hexa's complete vertical integration of game design including proprietary video content creation_

> "You can also have a connected mode because the machines are connected to the Wi-Fi. So if you download our application Plunger, you can create also your virtual game room."
> — **Antoine Depelchin**, closing remarks
> _Introduces Hexa's digital ecosystem innovation: connected machines with mobile app integration for score tracking, tournament management, and virtual social features_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Antoine Depelchin | person | Spokesperson for Hexa Pinball, presenting at Dutch Pinball Open Expo 2025 |
| Hexa Pinball | company | French boutique pinball manufacturer founded 2022 in Bordeaux; first French manufacturer in 50+ years |
| Space Hunt | game | Hexa's debut pinball machine, released in France early 2024, introduced to US market at October 2024 Pinball Expo; distinctive purple aesthetic |
| The Three Musketeers | game | Hexa's second pinball machine in development; theme announced October 2024 Chicago; based on book not licensed movies; full reveal planned March 2025 Texas Pinball Festival |
| Pinball Expo | event | Major pinball trade show where Hexa debuted Space Hunt to US public in October 2024 |
| Dutch Pinball Open Expo 2025 | event | Event where Antoine Depelchin presented Hexa Pinball information |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Location where Hexa will reveal fully functional Three Musketeers machine in March 2025 in Dallas |
| Plunger | product | Hexa's mobile application for connected pinball machines; enables virtual game room creation, score tracking, achievements, tournament organization, and leaderboard management |
| Jotel | company | Last French pinball manufacturer, operated in 1980s; no French manufacturer has existed since until Hexa |
| Franck Deniro | person | Well-known pinball restoration expert in France working on Hexa playfield finishing; applies six coats of varnish with 3+ months drying time |
| Bally-Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; Hexa uses standardized Bally-Williams mechanisms in their machines for compatibility and serviceability |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Manufacturing Innovation, New Game Announcements, Boutique Manufacturer Strategy, Playfield Technology & Epoxy Process
- **Secondary:** Connected Digital Ecosystem, Theme Licensing & IP Strategy, Quality Control & Fabrication
- **Mentioned:** International Market Expansion

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Antoine presents Hexa with genuine enthusiasm and pride. Reception of Space Hunt was positive; company positioned as innovation-focused and quality-conscious. No critical commentary or defensive posturing observed. Friendly, professional tone throughout.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Hexa Pinball represents revival of French pinball manufacturing after 50+ year absence since Jotel in 1980s (confidence: high) — Antoine states 'It is over 50 years that nobody manufactures any games in France. The last company was Jotel during the 80s' and describes forming team from scratch to build manufacturing competencies
- **[sentiment_shift]** Space Hunt received positive feedback at Pinball Expo 2024 from US community regarding game solidity and fabrication quality (confidence: high) — Antoine states 'They said that the game was solid that the quality of fabrication was real, and they were quite impressed by the quality of our first machine'
- **[licensing_signal]** The Three Musketeers based on book not licensed from movies, giving Hexa total creative freedom and eliminating dependency on movie IP (confidence: high) — When asked about licensing, Antoine confirms 'It's not licensed. It's from the book. So we have total freedom to use. We don't have any assets from movies. It's going to be an original creation, an interpretation of the book.'
- **[announcement]** Hexa officially confirms The Three Musketeers as second pinball machine with Texas Pinball Festival March 2025 reveal date (confidence: high) — Antoine explicitly states theme announced Chicago October 2024 and full functional machine will be revealed at Texas Pinball Festival in March with 'little nuggets' teased on social media before then
- **[product_strategy]** Hexa explicitly positions itself with distinct identity and DNA separate from existing competitors through manufacturing approach and game design philosophy (confidence: high) — Antoine states 'We don't want to make the exact same thing as the other manufacturers. We want to have our own identity. We have our own DNA.'
- **[product_concern]** Hexa emphasized quality fabrication and finishing through multi-stage varnishing process with 3+ months drying time supervised by industry-recognized craftsperson Franck Deniro (confidence: high) — Antoine highlights six coats of varnish and three months drying time as part of quality commitment, with Franck Deniro (well-known restoration expert) applying finishes
- **[technology_signal]** Hexa introduces connected pinball ecosystem with WiFi-enabled machines and mobile app (Plunger) for score tracking, tournament management, and virtual game rooms (confidence: high) — Antoine explains machines are WiFi connected, Plunger app allows virtual game room creation, score/achievement tracking, tournament organization, and leaderboard management
- **[technology_signal]** Hexa introduces proprietary epoxy-based playfield technology replacing traditional plastic inserts, enabling custom playfield shapes (confidence: high) — Antoine explains 'we are not using plastic inserts anymore, we are using a process with epoxy. So it gives us a lot of freedom' and enables complex shapes on Three Musketeers

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## Transcript

All right. Hello, everybody. My name is Anthony. I'm working for Hexa Pinball. I don't know if you're familiar with the brand. Some of you, maybe? No? Nobody? All right. So I have to start from scratch. The company was created in 2022. We are based out of Bordeaux in France. It's a story of passion. Again, I want to say a group of friends that are in the pinball community for a long long time decided to transform their hobby into a business. It took us 18 months, just pure research and development to create our first game, Space Hunt, that is at the show. I'm sure you saw it because of the purplish color that you can see from far. So Space Hunt is our first model. We started to sell the model in France beginning of 2024. And last October we went to Pinball Expo for the first time and we had a great time and we introduced our first machine to the US public. We received a very good feedback. They said that the game was solid, that the quality of fabrication was real, and they were quite impressed by the quality of our first machine. It is over 50 years that nobody manufactures any games in France. The last company was Jotel during the 80s, so we had to find all the skills, all the competencies and assemble a team to make this pinball machine. So it's the start of the adventure for us. We are a new company. We are proud of what we do. We don't want to make the exact same thing as the other manufacturers. We want to have our own identity. We have our own DNA. We announced the theme of our second machine in Chicago last October. So the theme will be The Three Musketeers. We think it's a good theme to develop interesting gameplay. So we want to make it fun. And we still want to keep the same quality of fabrication because we want our pinball machines to be present in arcades like another brand that you know well. So we are following our tracks. We announced the date of the reveal of the machine and it will be in Dallas at the Texas Pinball Festival in March. We will have a fully functional machine and from now to March we will also reveal some little nuggets, as we call them, on social networks. So that's the plan and I would be very happy to answer any questions that you might have, if you have some. What aspect is licensed? No, it's not licensed. It's from the book. So we have total freedom to use. We don't have any assets from movies. It's, again, it's going to be an original creation, an interpretation of the book. So you're making all your own videos? Absolutely. It's all in-house. Yes. Yes. What I can add also is that we use a Bally Williams mechanism, so it's very easy to find if the need comes. We also developed a patent on the playfield. We are not using plastic inserts anymore, we are using a process with epoxy. So it gives us a lot of freedom and it will be the case on The Three Musketeers to have very very special shapes that will be drawn on the playfield. We have total freedom because we don't use plastic inserts anymore, so we can imagine anything. And for the playfields also it's a long process because the quality of fabrication again is very important to us. Franck Deniro who is a very well known guy in restoration in France is working on our playfields and he is applying six coats of varnish. We have over three months drying time and it makes the final result what we want it to be. Voilà messieurs. Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy the expo and your weekend here and hope to see you at our booth. You can also have a connected mode because the machines are connected to the Wi-Fi. So if you download our application Plunger, you can create also your virtual game room. You can track your score, your achievements, organize tournaments and follow your score on a leaderboard. That's part of the innovation we want to bring also. Thank you very much guys and I wish you a very nice afternoon.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 608334b6-4a0b-4aa7-9945-a69909b53c2f*