# STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – JULY 2026 **Source:** Stern Pinball Website Newsfeed **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-07-07 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://wp.sternpinball.com/2026/07/07/stern-of-the-union-address-july-2026/ --- ## Analysis Stern Pinball Inc. 2026 monthly newsletter highlights the company's 40-year milestone, ongoing launches of Transformers and Pokémon machines, code updates across 34 games, and new All-Access member perks including free factory tours. The company reports continued growth of its Stern Army venue network and Insider Connected platform, with Carlos Delaserda winning the Silverball Super Showdown tournament on the Stern Pro Circuit. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Stern Pinball is celebrating 40 years in business with planned retrospective content covering key people, games, and moments — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, '40 Years of Stern Pinball' section_ - [HIGH] Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye pinball machines are rolling out worldwide with official Launch Parties starting soon — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter announcement_ - [HIGH] Pokémon accessories are now available for purchase — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, Pokémon section_ - [HIGH] Stern has posted new code updates across 34 different games — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, 'Status of Code' section_ - [HIGH] All-Access Insider Connected members can now book free factory tours (1 per year for member + 1 guest) — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, 'New All-Access Perk Unlocked' section_ - [HIGH] Pokémon by Stern Pinball (Pro and Premium tiers) has been added to the IFPA Stern Rewards Program — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, Stern Rewards Program section_ - [HIGH] Carlos Delaserda won the Silverball Super Showdown Stern Pro Circuit tournament — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, Stern Pro Circuit section_ - [HIGH] SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights are now available for purchase — _Stern Pinball Inc. newsletter, Merch and Accessories section_ ### Notable Quotes > "In the coming months, we'll walk down memory lane and highlight the people, games and moments we have cherished the most along this incredible pinball journey." > — **Stern Pinball Inc.**, N/A > _Signals company-wide retrospective content and 40-year anniversary celebration strategy_ > "TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets The Eye pinball machines are rolling out worldwide with official Launch Parties starting soon." > — **Stern Pinball Inc.**, N/A > _Confirms Transformers game is in active distribution phase with organized community launch events_ > "Spots are limited and will fill up fast — secure your visit to the Stern factory and see how the game is made!" > — **Stern Pinball Inc.**, N/A > _New premium All-Access benefit, monetization strategy for subscription tier, capacity constraint signal_ > "Stern Pinball has posted new code updates across 34 different games!" > — **Stern Pinball Inc.**, N/A > _Demonstrates commitment to ongoing game maintenance and software improvement; large-scale update activity_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; subject of newsletter; actively launching new machines, managing code updates, and operating Insider Connected platform | | Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye | game | Licensed pinball machine by Stern currently rolling out worldwide with official launch parties | | Pokémon | game | Stern licensed pinball machine; accessories available; featured in Linus Tech Tips stream; added to IFPA Stern Rewards Program | | Jaws: The Revenge | game | Stern pinball machine; featured in July 4th promotional campaign via Insider Connected | | John Wick | game | Stern pinball machine receiving latest code update; featured in recent stream with game team | | Insider Connected | product | Stern's digital connectivity platform enabling player accounts, quests, leaderboards, and All-Access membership benefits | | Stern Army | organization | Stern's venue network program; receives first priority shipments, event support, and promotional materials | | Stern Pro Circuit | event | Competitive pinball tournament series sponsored by Mountain Dew; 2026 season underway with scheduled events | | Carlos Delaserda | person | Competitive player; won Silverball Super Showdown Stern Pro Circuit tournament | | Greg Mitchell | person | Home collector/enthusiast; won Gameroom of the Month award | | Chips Sports Bar | venue | Location in Lubbock, Texas; won Location of the Month award | | International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) | organization | Competitive pinball sanctioning body; partnered with Stern on Stern Rewards Program | | San Diego Comic-Con | event | Referenced as venue for upcoming Transformers pinball promotional activities | | Linus Tech Tips | content_creator | Streamed first-look gameplay with Stern game team for Pokémon pinball | | Mountain Dew | company | Title sponsor of Stern Pro Circuit 2026 season | | GamesBeat | media | Published interview with Gary (Stern leadership) about 40-year milestone | | Assembly Magazine | media | Published exclusive feature article on Stern Pinball | | Silverball Super Showdown | event | Stern Pro Circuit tournament; recently completed with Carlos Delaserda as champion | ### Signals - **[product_launch]** Transformers pinball machines actively rolling out worldwide with organized official launch parties, indicating production maturity and distribution readiness (confidence: high) — Newsletter states 'TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets The Eye pinball machines are rolling out worldwide with official Launch Parties starting soon' - **[code_update]** Stern released code updates across 34 different games simultaneously, indicating significant development and maintenance activity (confidence: high) — 'Stern Pinball has posted new code updates across 34 different games!' - **[product_strategy]** All-Access membership tier now includes factory tour benefits (1 free per year), monetizing existing subscription base with experiential premium perks (confidence: high) — 'New All-Access Perk Unlocked: Book Your Free Stern Factory Tour!' with capacity-limited spots - **[community_signal]** Stern Army continues to grow globally with 'troops spreading the gospel of pinball'; receiving priority shipments and tournament/league support infrastructure (confidence: high) — 'The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe' - **[market_signal]** Pokémon accessories now available for purchase alongside main game release, indicating licensing monetization strategy extension (confidence: high) — 'Pokémon accessories are here!' - **[content_signal]** Pokémon game featured in Linus Tech Tips stream with Stern game team, expanding reach into tech/streaming audience beyond pinball enthusiasts (confidence: high) — 'Plus check out a fun stream with the game team and Linus Tech Tips seeing the game for the first time!' - **[industry_signal]** Mountain Dew continues as title sponsor of Stern Pro Circuit 2026, signaling brand investment in competitive pinball ecosystem (confidence: high) — 'Stern Pro Circuit 2026 Schedule' 'sponsored by Mountain Dew' - **[event_signal]** Stern planning 40-year anniversary content campaign highlighting company history, people, and games over coming months (confidence: high) — '40 Years of Stern Pinball: In the coming months, we'll walk down memory lane and highlight the people, games and moments' - **[technology_signal]** SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights now available, indicating ongoing hardware accessory ecosystem development for platform customization (confidence: high) — 'SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights are now available to purchase; make your game stand out!' - **[product_strategy]** Pokémon (Pro and Premium tiers) added to IFPA Stern Rewards Program, signaling competitive-focused merchandising and player incentive alignment (confidence: high) — 'The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added Pokémon by Stern Pinball, Pro and Premium, to the rewards program!' --- ## Transcript STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – JULY 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: 40 Years of Stern Pinball: 🥳In the coming months, we’ll walk down memory lane and highlight the people, games and moments we have cherished the most along this incredible pinball journey. Check out this additional great interview from GamesBeat with Gary here! TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye by Stern Pinball: TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets The Eye pinball machines are rolling out worldwide with official Launch Parties starting soon. Make sure you check out an official Stern Army launch party near you in the Insider Connected app for more details and locations! Plus stay tuned for some fun Transformers activities happening at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con! Pokémon by Stern Pinball: Pokémon by Stern Pinball Pokemon accessories are here! Plus check out a fun stream with the game team and Linus Tech Tips seeing the game for the first time! JAWS: The Revenge: In celebration of July 4th, play “Jaws: The Revenge” without spending Shark Teeth just by logging in with your Stern IC account. The fun has started; just make sure your machine is rebooted for this change to take effect. Happy hunting! John Wick: Check out the latest code update and stream with the team on John Wick! Insider Connected: Make sure you 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 will: • 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 [email protected] if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Greg Mitchell 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 [email protected] 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. Engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to [email protected] Location of the Month: Congrats to Chips Sports Bar of Lubbock, Texas for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world? Submit your pictures directly to [email protected] for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Pro Circuit: Congrats to all competitors at this year’s Silverball Super Showdown Stern Pro Circuit tournament! In the end, Carlos Delaserda conquered the competition for the circuit victory! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://wp.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 Pokémon by Stern Pinball, Pro and Premium, to the rewards program! Status of Code: Stern Pinball has posted new code updates across 34 different games! 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 [email protected]. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to [email protected]. Get Connected and play! https://insider.wp.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://wp.sternpinball.com/support/game-code/ Merch and Accessories: SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights are now available to purchase; make your game stand out! 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://wp.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 this exclusive feature article from Assembly Magazine! _(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v5)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 7a27a415-e2cc-4df1-9858-abd81bb55b61*