# Stern Pinball to Run James Bond & Godzilla Premiums in Early 2023; Announces Elvira Premium Pricing

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2022-12-19  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/stern-pinball-to-run-james-bond-godzilla-premiums-in-early-2023-announces-elvira-premium-pricing

---

## Analysis

Stern Pinball announced its 2023 production schedule via The Pinball Show podcast, revealing plans to manufacture James Bond, Godzilla, Elvira, Iron Maiden, and Jurassic Park machines across Pro, Premium, and Anniversary tiers from January through June 2023. Notably, Elvira Premium pricing increased significantly from $8,399 to $10,499, causing some customer order cancellations but still representing only 30% of distributor Flip N Out Pinball's backlog.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Stern scheduled to produce James Bond Premium in mid-to-late January 2023 — _Information from Zach Meny on The Pinball Show podcast episode 119, distributed via The Pinball Network_
- [HIGH] Godzilla Premium has massive backorder and large production run planned for early February 2023 — _Stern production schedule shared on The Pinball Show podcast_
- [HIGH] Elvira Premium price increased to $10,499 from original $8,399 — _Official Stern Pinball pricing announcement during The Pinball Show podcast_
- [MEDIUM] Some customers cancelled Elvira Premium orders following price increase — _Industry reporting on customer response to price hike_
- [MEDIUM] Keith Elwin designed a James Bond 60th Anniversary single-level machine — _Referenced as 'still yet to be officially revealed' in production schedule_
- [HIGH] Stern produced Elvira 40th Anniversary machines during 2021-2022 despite lack of Premium production — _Production history noted in podcast update_
- [MEDIUM] Iron Maiden Pro and Premium machines planned for May 2023 production — _Referred to as 'word is' suggesting less confirmed than other schedule items_
- [MEDIUM] Jurassic Park Premium planned for June 2023 production — _Included in production schedule but qualification level unclear_

### Notable Quotes

> "It has been a long two years since Stern produced Elvira Premiums, though the Company did slide in a run of the super fancy Elvira 40th Anniversary machines in during that period."
> — **Knapp Arcade reporting on Stern production data**, n/a
> _Demonstrates strategic focus on Anniversary editions during Premium drought; indicates manufacturing capacity constraints_

> "Even with some customers cancelling their orders after the price increase, the next run of Elvira only represents around 30% of the order backlog at the distributor Flip N Out Pinball."
> — **Source reporting on distributor inventory**, n/a
> _Shows strong demand persists despite $2,100 price increase; indicates significant unfulfilled orders in channel_

> "Surprisingly, word is that Stern is going to produce Iron Maiden Pro and Premium machines in May."
> — **Knapp Arcade**, n/a
> _Qualification 'surprisingly' and 'word is' indicates lower confidence in this item compared to others in schedule_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer announcing 2023 production schedule across multiple licensed IP games |
| The Pinball Show | organization | Podcast hosted by The Pinball Network; Episode 119 featured Stern production schedule announcement |
| Zach Meny | person | Provided Stern Pinball production schedule update on The Pinball Show podcast |
| Flip N Out Pinball | company | Stern distributor with significant backorder of Elvira Premium machines; only 30% of backlog can be fulfilled in next production run |
| The Pinball Network | organization | Media outlet that distributed The Pinball Show podcast episode 119 with Stern updates |
| Keith Elwin | person | Pinball designer credited with James Bond 60th Anniversary single-level machine variant |
| James Bond | game | Stern licensed pinball game with Pro, Premium, and 60th Anniversary variants planned for production in January, April, and June 2023 |
| Godzilla | game | Stern licensed pinball game with massive backorder; Premium variant planned for large production run in February 2023, Pro variant in June |
| Elvira Premium | game | Stern licensed pinball game with price increase from $8,399 to $10,499; production scheduled for February-March 2023; represents major pricing signal |
| Jurassic Park | game | Stern licensed pinball game with Premium variant planned for June 2023 production |
| Iron Maiden | game | Stern licensed pinball game with Pro and Premium variants rumored for May 2023 production |
| Elvira 40th Anniversary | game | Limited edition variant of Elvira produced by Stern during 2021-2022 period when Premium production was halted |
| Stern Cornerstone | game | Stern machine scheduled for production in March 2023 |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Production scheduling and capacity, Pricing changes and market signals, Backorder fulfillment and distributor inventory, Licensed IP game releases
- **Secondary:** Three-tier game variants (Pro/Premium/LE), Designer involvement and game variants

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0) — Article is factual industry reporting. Tone is informative without editorial opinion. Price increase could be viewed negatively by consumers but article presents it matter-of-factly. Strong production schedule suggests positive industry momentum from Stern's perspective.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Stern maintaining aggressive production schedule across multiple franchises despite supply chain challenges, suggesting either resolved constraints or strategic priority expansion (confidence: medium) — Coordinated schedule showing James Bond, Godzilla, Elvira, Iron Maiden, Jurassic Park, and Cornerstone across consecutive months
- **[market_signal]** Elvira Premium price increase caused customer order cancellations but demand remains strong (only 30% of distributor backlog can be fulfilled in next run) (confidence: high) — 'Even with some customers cancelling their orders after the price increase, the next run of Elvira only represents around 30% of the order backlog'
- **[market_signal]** Godzilla Premium experiencing massive backorder with large production run planned for February 2023, indicating strong demand despite competitive market (confidence: high) — Production schedule includes 'BIG production run of its still massively back-ordered Godzilla Premium' in first half of February
- **[personnel_signal]** Keith Elwin designing James Bond 60th Anniversary variant, confirming continued involvement of legendary designer with Stern (confidence: medium) — 'Keith Elwin James Bond single-level 60th Anniversary game' listed as upcoming production variant
- **[market_signal]** Elvira Premium price increased 25% ($2,100) from $8,399 to $10,499, indicating inflationary pressure on manufacturing costs and/or strategic margin expansion (confidence: high) — Official Stern Pinball pricing announcement: 'Stern Pinball finally officially revealed the new price of Elvira Premium...$10,499, up from the game's original $8,399'
- **[product_strategy]** Stern producing multiple variants of licensed games (Pro/Premium) with Anniversary editions as limited intermediate tier between standard and premium (confidence: high) — James Bond 60th Anniversary single-level machine variant, Elvira 40th Anniversary production, standard Pro/Premium tiers across multiple franchises
- **[product_strategy]** Stern has coordinated multi-month production schedule spanning January-June 2023 across five major licensed IP franchises with multiple tier variants (confidence: high) — Detailed month-by-month production schedule provided: James Bond, Godzilla, Elvira, Iron Maiden, Jurassic Park, Cornerstone
- **[rumor_hype]** Iron Maiden pinball production qualified with 'Surprisingly, word is that' phrasing, suggesting less-confirmed status than other items in production schedule (confidence: low) — 'Surprisingly, word is that Stern is going to produce Iron Maiden Pro and Premium machines in May' — lower confidence language vs other items

---

## Transcript

This morning, the fine folks at The Pinball Network gave us an early Christmas or timely Hanukkah present (depending upon which you celebrate) in the form of a new episode of The Pinball Show podcast.

During the episode, Zach Meny gave us a great update on Stern Pinball's production schedule. Stern is scheduled to do its first run of the new James Bond Premium pinball machine in mid- to late-January.

It's possible that Stern is going to sprinkle in some James Bond Pros or its new still yet to be officially revealed Keith Elwin James Bond single-level 60th Anniversary game in January as well.

During the first half of February, Stern is going to do a BIG production run of its still massively back-ordered Godzilla Premium. Elvira Premium is going back on the production line during the second half of February and into March. It has been a long two years since Stern produced Elvira Premiums, though the Company did slide in a run of the super fancy Elvira 40th Anniversary machines in during that period.

On a related note, Stern Pinball finally officially revealed the new price of Elvira Premium...$10,499, up from the game's original $8,399. Even with some customers cancelling their orders after the price increase, the next run of Elvira only represents around 30% of the order backlog at the distributor Flip N Out Pinball. It is possible that Stern will do another run of Elvira Premiums in 2024.

March should bring us the next Stern Cornerstone machine.

April will bring more James Bond Pro and Premium machines.

Surprisingly, word is that Stern is going to produce Iron Maiden Pro and Premium machines in May.

June supposedly will bring more James Bond and Godzilla Pros and Jurassic Park Premiums.

The Pinball Show Ep 119: Big Gifts, Big Prizes, & Big Stern Production Updates

https://www.thepinballnetwork.net/e/the-pinball-show-ep-119-big-gifts-big-prizes-big-stern-production-updates/

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: c303a5fc-3543-46ea-89ab-ef8833b77e74*