# Stern Pinball Unveils Official Godzilla Topper **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2023-05-30 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/stern-pinball-unveils-official-godzilla-topper --- ## Analysis Stern Pinball officially unveiled the Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper accessory, priced at $999.99, which activates an exclusive "King of Monsters Time Attack" mode and is compatible with all three game tiers (Pro/Premium/LE). The topper is already in stock and shipping to dealers immediately, with Stern indicating plans for additional production runs based on demand. A full accessory line including a Mothra Egg Shooter Knob, King Ghidorah Side Armor, and Inside Art Blades was also announced at various price points. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper MSRP is $999.99, significantly cheaper than Mandalorian ($2,000) and Rush ($1,699.99) toppers — _Official pricing from Stern press release and Knapp Arcade commentary_ - [HIGH] The topper activates an exclusive game mode called 'King of Monsters Time Attack' — _Stern official description and Knapp Arcade hypothesis confirmation_ - [HIGH] Topper is compatible with all three Godzilla game models: Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition — _Official Stern announcement_ - [HIGH] Stern Pinball does not have a second run of the topper planned after the initial batch but intends to produce more based on demand — _Direct statement from Stern to distributors via Knapp Arcade reporting_ - [HIGH] The topper features 3 fire panels, a custom sculpted heat ray plume with 21 RGB lights, and a special flash lamp projecting Godzilla's shadow — _Stern official product description_ ### Notable Quotes > "The Godzilla pinball accessories are a true game changer in elevating your pinball playing experience" > — **Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball**, Official press release > _Official company endorsement of accessory line strategic importance_ > "These officially licensed items will make your Godzilla pinball machine pop with excitement. Go, go Godzilla!" > — **Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball**, Official press release > _Marketing messaging tying accessories to brand excitement_ > "Insider Connected is transforming how players interact with pinball machines. Operators are benefiting from new tools that drive repeat play and help maintain games remotely while players can earn special entertainment location badges" > — **Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball**, Official press release > _Strategic importance of Insider Connected platform integration with accessory ecosystem_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Godzilla pinball machine and official accessory line; headquartered near Chicago | | Godzilla Pinball | game | Award-winning Stern pinball machine with Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition tiers; receiving official accessory line | | Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper | product | Official accessory priced at $999.99, activates exclusive 'King of Monsters Time Attack' mode, features custom Godzilla sculpture and 21 RGB lights | | Mothra Egg Shooter Knob | product | Official Godzilla accessory priced at $179.99, custom-designed shooter knob | | King Ghidorah Side Armor | product | Official Godzilla accessory priced at $289.99, side cabinet decoration | | Godzilla Inside Art Blades | product | Official Godzilla accessory priced at $99.99, features hand-drawn artwork by Zombie Yeti | | King of Monsters Time Attack | product | Exclusive game mode unlocked by the Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper accessory | | Seth Davis | person | President and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted on accessory line and Insider Connected platform | | Zombie Yeti | person | Artist credited for hand-drawn artwork on Godzilla Inside Art Blades | | Insider Connected | product | Stern's comprehensive technology platform for player engagement, leaderboards, remote maintenance, and location-based badges | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Pinball media outlet reporting on Stern accessory announcement | | Mandalorian Pinball Topper | product | Previous Stern accessory priced at $2,000; price comparison point for Godzilla topper | | Rush Pinball Topper | product | Previous Stern accessory priced at $1,699.99; price comparison point for Godzilla topper | ### Topics - **Primary:** Official accessory releases for Godzilla pinball, Topper pricing strategy and market positioning, Exclusive game mode activation through hardware accessories - **Secondary:** Stern Pinball's Insider Connected platform integration, Product availability and production strategy, Cross-tier compatibility (Pro/Premium/LE) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Official announcement with straightforward product details and competitive pricing compared to recent toppers. Knapp Arcade's tone is factual and reporting-focused. No criticism or controversy apparent; emphasis on product features and market positioning. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Insider Connected platform integration with Godzilla accessories ecosystem, expanding location-based badge system and player loyalty mechanics (confidence: high) — Official press release detailing Insider Connected features alongside accessory announcement - **[market_signal]** Stern indicating demand-based production planning for topper restocks rather than pre-committed manufacturing runs, suggesting flexibility in accessory line strategy (confidence: medium) — Statement that 'Stern Pinball does not have a second run of the topper planned after this initial batch but the Company has told distributors that it does intend to produce more based upon demand' - **[market_signal]** Godzilla topper priced at $999.99, significantly lower than previous Stern toppers (Mandalorian $2,000, Rush $1,699.99), suggesting potential strategy to increase accessory adoption rate (confidence: high) — Explicit pricing comparison in Knapp Arcade analysis and official MSRP announcement - **[announcement]** Stern officially announced a full line of Godzilla pinball accessories with exclusive mode integration (confidence: high) — Official press release, product descriptions, MSRP pricing, and immediate stock availability - **[product_strategy]** Exclusive game mode 'King of Monsters Time Attack' activation tied to topper purchase, creating gameplay incentive beyond cosmetic enhancement (confidence: high) — Official product description and Knapp Arcade confirmation of topper activating exclusive mode --- ## Transcript This morning, Stern Pinball officially revealed the official topper for it's super popular Godzilla Pinball machine. Not only was the topper revealed, they are already in stock and will begin shipping to dealers immediately. The topper will work on all three models of the game, Pro, Premium and Limited Edition. The official Godzilla topper will be a lot cheaper than the Mandalorian and Rush toppers, with an MSRP of $999, compared to $2,000 and $1,699.99 for those two. As I hypothesized in my post on the topper last week, the topper does activate an exclusive mode in the game, "King of Monsters Time Attack." At this time, Stern Pinball does not have a second run of the topper planned after this initial batch but the Company has told distributors that it does intend to produce more based upon demand. Description from the Stern On-Line Store: "The Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper accessory will immerse players into a world of chaos, incorporating a custom molded Godzilla sculpture breathing a heat ray against a city landscape. With 3 fire panels, a custom sculpted heat ray plume implementing 21 RGB lights, and a special flash lamp projecting Godzilla’s shadow, this exclusive decorative topper integrates distinct light shows and includes an exclusive “King of the Monsters Time Attack” mode elevating the entire gaming experience of Godzilla." Caption for the video: "One of the most beloved games of all-time just got better with the new line of official accessories for Godzilla! Go, go...to your official Stern reseller to upgrade your Godzilla pinball gaming experience today! LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TITLE: https://sternpinball.com/game/godzilla/ " Official Press Release: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230530005119/en/Stern-Pinball-Launches-Full-Line-of-Godzilla-Pinball-Machine-Accessories "Stern Pinball Launches Full Line of Godzilla Pinball Machine Accessories May 30, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stern Pinball, Inc., announces a full line of Godzilla pinball machine accessories compatible with the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models. Already one of the most sought-after pinball games in history, Stern Pinball’s award-winning Godzilla pinball machines just got better with these newly available upgrades. “The Godzilla pinball accessories are a true game changer in elevating your pinball playing experience” The Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper accessory will immerse players into a world of chaos, incorporating a custom molded Godzilla sculpture breathing a heat ray against a city landscape. With 3 fire panels, a custom sculpted heat ray plume implementing 21 RGB lights, and a special flash lamp projecting Godzilla’s shadow, this exclusive decorative topper integrates distinct light shows and includes an exclusive “King of the Monsters Time Attack” mode elevating the entire gaming experience of Godzilla. Everyone can use an ally including Godzilla. Straight from the plunge, the custom Godzilla Mothra Egg Shooter Knob adds a fun element to an already exciting gaming experience, teleporting pinballs straight into the fight to become King of the Monsters! The custom-designed, Godzilla Inside Art Blades feature stunning and distinctive hand-drawn artwork by Zombie Yeti, adding an entirely new dimension inside this world under glass pinball experience. Always prepare for battle against other Kaiju with the Godzilla King Ghidorah Side Armor. This thrilling side armor further highlights the incredible cabinet artwork while further immersing players into the world of Godzilla. “The Godzilla pinball accessories are a true game changer in elevating your pinball playing experience,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “These officially licensed items will make your Godzilla pinball machine pop with excitement. Go, go Godzilla!” Pricing and Availability: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: Godzilla Heat Ray Destruction Topper $US 999.99 Mothra Egg Shooter Knob $US 179.99 King Ghidorah Side Armor $US 289.99 Godzilla Inside Art Blades $US 99.99 MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes. Godzilla pinball machines and accessories are available now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. About Godzilla Pinball In this monster-packed pinball adventure, players become Godzilla! The evil aliens, the Xiliens, use mind control rays to take control of the monsters King Ghidorah, Gigan, Megalon, Ebirah, and Titanosaurus. The Xiliens are demanding all of Earth’s resources. Godzilla and its allies, Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus, battle the Xilien invasion with the goal of conquering Mechagodzilla to become King of the Monsters! To learn more about Godzilla Premium, please visit https://sternpinball.com/game/godzilla/ About Insider Connected Insider Connected is a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball machines. The platform is designed to enhance and extend player engagement with the games across both home and commercial environments. It also presents professional operators of the pinball machines a robust set of tools to drive location play, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com. Players can also register at a connected game by scanning a registration QR code on the machine. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player scans into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. "Insider Connected is transforming how players interact with pinball machines. Operators are benefiting from new tools that drive repeat play and help maintain games remotely while players can earn special entertainment location badges," said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc. creates compelling entertainment that inspires a lifetime love of games, sparks passion, forges friendships, and connects people everywhere through fun, innovative, technologically advanced pinball games, and experiences. Headquartered minutes from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe. Recent Stern Pinball titles include Foo Fighters, James Bond 007, Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira's House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball's games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com." _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 9eaa2690-484f-47fb-aafb-b7a4e54727a1*