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Pinball

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Star Wars Pinball

gamemerged133 mentionsFirst seen Dec 22, 2016Last seen Feb 20, 2026

Profile

Star Wars Pinball is a Stern Pinball manufacturing game released in 2025 based on the Star Wars franchise (original trilogy Episodes IV-VI). Designed by John Borg on the Spike 3 platform, it was positioned as Stern's flagship 2025 title with premium pricing ($13,000 LE, ~$10,000 Premium, ~$6,700 Pro). Despite strong IP recognition and high expectations, the game has received predominantly negative critical reception for rushed design, poor execution, quality control issues, and failure to justify premium pricing, with notably weak sales performance and licensing restrictions preventing European release.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • manufacturesStern Pinball Inc.Stern Pinball Company designed and manufactured Star Wars Pinball in 2025medium
  • designedJohn BorgJohn Borg served as primary designer for Star Wars Pinball (2025 Stern release)medium
  • affiliated_withLucasFilmStar Wars Pinball is licensed by Lucasfilm/Disney; subject to licensing approval and regional restrictionsmedium
  • appears_inPinball ExpoStar Wars Pinball was showcased at Pinball Expo 2025 with approximately 30-50 units on displaymedium

Facts

  • attributeCriticized for overwhelming screen callouts and lack of theme integrationhighfrom 2025
  • attributeStern Spike 3 flagship titlehighfrom 2025
  • attributeWell-coded but lacking mechanical wow factormediumfrom 2025
  • attributeAvailable in Pro and Premium versionshighfrom 2025
  • attributePremium model priced approximately $8,500highfrom 2025
  • attributeFeatures Jabba the Hutt sculpthighfrom 2025

Claims (35)

  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pinball has poor art package and screen integration compared to Pokémon

    Source: Kaneda opinion/comparisonKaneda's Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectacular VALENTINE'S DAY
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars LE is selling for $10,000 in secondary market ($3,000 off MSRP)

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1175: "Pokemon Teaser This Week?"
  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pinball was a humongous disappointment and one of the biggest failures of a major IP

    Source: KanedaFREE EPISODE 1174: "How Stern Has Fallen From Within...And Pokemon Will Suffer"
  • factualmedium

    Star Wars pinball sold well through Christmas 2025

Recent Mentions (0)

No mentions

Contradictions

  • Existing: Star Wars Pinball is a Stern Pinball machine designed by John Borg (mentions 6, 7, 8)vsConflicting: Mention 11 describes it as 'recently released Stern game designed by Steve Ritchie' with Keith Elwin contributing to code testing in 2017
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Star Wars Pinball is a 2025 Stern release (mentions 0, 3, 6, 7, 8)vsConflicting: Mention 11 is dated 2017-07-22 and refers to a recently released Steve Ritchie design, which appears to be a different Star Wars pinball game
    Expert: merged definition Expert: merged definition
    Resolved
    merged · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Code version 0.85 cited in mention 87 (2017 tutorial)vsConflicting: Mention 62 references code at .85 version in 2025 context; core version numbering inconsistency
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

attribute
Features whirlpool ramp mechanism
medium
from 2025
  • attributeCriticized for poor artwork qualityhighfrom 2025
  • attributeExperienced Death Star shot bricking issueshighfrom 2025
  • locationDisplayed at Pinball Expo 2025highfrom 2025
  • roleDesigned by John Borghighfrom 2025
  • statusReleased by Stern Pinball in 2025highfrom 2025
  • statusSubject to QA issues and mechanical failureshighfrom 2025
  • Source: Dennis
    Episode 262 - Welcome to 2026!
  • factuallow

    Star Wars Pinball reveal occurred in the week of September 11th alongside Charlie Kirk news

    Source: Walt WoodI'M BACK BABY! thx for the love...up all nite but lets talk #beetlejuice #pinball @SpookyPinball
  • opinionmedium

    Star Wars Pinball has poor visual design that appears cheap

    Source: KanedaKanaeda Sunday Morning After Expo
  • factualmedium

    Star Wars Pinball has licensing restrictions preventing European release

    Source: Jeff Teolis (secondhand knowledge)Ep 89 – Soul Sucker
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars Pinball is the highest-performing rental machine at Bruce's location despite player criticisms

    Source: Bruce NightingaleEp 89 – Soul Sucker
  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pinball LE has poor design quality that makes it look cheap despite premium pricing

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1144: "Don Joins Spooky & We Are Witnessing A Changing of the Guard"
  • factualmedium

    Death Star shot on Star Wars is experiencing quality control rejections

    Source: KanedaKaneda' Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectacular Oct 4
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars Pinball includes movie clips from original trilogy

    Source: Jared🔴LIVE - Medieval Madness Merlin Edition Pinball Machine!
  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pinball would be appropriately priced at $8,000 for the LE tier rather than $13,000

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • predictionmedium

    A 50th Anniversary Star Wars Pinball edition will include full Spike 3 features and make the LE release less attractive

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • factualmedium

    Distributor phones are not 'ringing off the hook' for Star Wars LE pre-orders despite franchise strength

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • factualhigh

    The opening crawl text is cut off on the Spike 3 screen in Star Wars Pinball, unlike in the original Star Wars films

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • factualhigh

    Stern recycled shooter rod handles and Stormtrooper heads from the 1977 original Vader-era Star Wars game

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • factualhigh

    The AT-AT toy mechanism is undersized compared to Star Wars film source material

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars Pinball features only two flippers and eight linear shots with no creative gameplay variety

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1135: "Kaneda Got a Bad Feeling About Star Wars - First Impression Review"
  • predictionlow

    Star Wars Pinball will be mediocre; just another Stern game; will not deliver the Star Wars experience fans deserve

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1131: "Stern is Acting Like They Know Star Wars Isn't Great"
  • predictionlow

    Star Wars Pinball Limited Edition (770 units) will not reach $18,000 secondary market; will underperform

    Source: KanedaEpisode 1131: "Stern is Acting Like They Know Star Wars Isn't Great"
  • rumorlow

    Star Wars Pinball uses a smaller AT-ST walker mech (not iconic AT-AT) recycled from Avatar design

    Source: Kaneda (rumor belief)Episode 1131: "Stern is Acting Like They Know Star Wars Isn't Great"
  • factualhigh

    Jabba the Hutt has a sculpt featured in Star Wars Pinball

    Source: Stern official email announcementQuick bonus show
  • rumormedium

    Star Wars Pinball is the rumored next cornerstone release from Stern

    Source: Streamer (Wild Dog Arcade)1 Billion Point Game on Dungeons & Dragons Pinball (Pro) on Code 0.93 - New High Score!
  • opinionhigh

    All existing Star Wars pinball machines are poor quality and not worth the space they occupy

    Source: GenghisWe are Pinball Episode 2.1 My TOP 10 Pinball Themes (filler episode)
  • factualhigh

    Leaf switch vibration on this Data East machine was caused by contacts being spaced too closely together

    Source: Cary HardyStar Wars Pinball Overhaul: Episode 1
  • factualhigh

    A pin on the 12-pin power supply connector was not fully seated in its slot, causing connection issues

    Source: Cary HardyStar Wars Pinball Overhaul: Episode 1
  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pro pinball is divisive in the community with some finding it one of the funnest modern games while others dislike it fundamentally

    Source: Bruce Nightingale and Zach (hosts)Episode 200 – Glenn’s Song
  • opinionhigh

    Star Wars Pinball has poor shot geometry and problematic plunger design

    Source: Bruce NightingaleEpisode 181 – Spinner Kings
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars tournament mode uses 10x playfield multiplier in competition settings, not the standard 40x

    Source: Tournament playerPinball Expo 2019 Flip Out Tournament Playoffs - Featured Match #1
  • factualhigh

    Star Wars 1.0 adds a ball save feature to the mystery hole that can be enabled in settings

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • factualhigh

    The 1.0 update includes call-outs for nearly every action including plunges and mode selections

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • opinionhigh

    Version 1.0 makes Star Wars harder overall

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • factualhigh

    Battle of Endor and Death Star modes cannot be stacked in 1.0

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • factualhigh

    A custom 'dead flip' code animation featuring Jack Danger is integrated into Star Wars 1.0

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • opinionhigh

    Back-handing the Death Star is easier on Pro than Premium models

    Source: Jack DangerStar Wars Pinball 1.0 Code | 2.9 Billion shot?! | Dec. 14th, 2017
  • Existing: Original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) themed game per multiple 2025 sourcesvsConflicting: Mention 42 describes it as sequel trilogy aesthetic themed
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: 2025 Stern pinball game designed by John BorgvsConflicting: Mention 29 claims Star Wars is a Data East game designed by Borg/Tim Seeley
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 3, 2026