STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 2026

Stern Pinball Website Newsfeed·article·analyzed·Feb 3, 2026

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.020

TL;DR

Stern announces factory tour access for subscribers, promotes Star Wars game and Insider Connected features.

Summary

Stern Pinball's February 2026 monthly newsletter highlights CES participation, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire promotion, expansion of Insider Connected features (Community Quests, Global Leaderboards), new All-Access member perk offering free factory tours, Stern Army and Location of the Month recognition, Stern Pro Circuit tournament results and 2026 schedule, IFPA Stern Rewards Program updates, and ongoing code development initiatives.

Key Claims

Raymond Davidson won the first Stern Pro Circuit tournament of 2026 season (Starfighters SPF)
high confidence · Official Stern newsletter announcement of tournament results
All-Access Insider Connected members can book one free factory tour per year plus one guest
high confidence · Formal announcement of new subscription perk with specific booking instructions
Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium variants added to IFPA Stern Rewards Program
high confidence · Official partnership announcement with IFPA in newsletter
Community Quests and Global Leaderboards launched in 2026 for Insider Connected
high confidence · Status update in Insider Connected section
Stern Pinball exhibited at CES 2026 to showcase pinball amid technological innovation
high confidence · Opening news item in monthly newsletter

Notable Quotes

“Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues to spread the joy of pinball across the galaxy and it never hurts to get some nice strategies on how to play this adventure or even dress it up with one of the coolest toppers out there!”
Stern Pinball (official) @ February 2026 newsletter — Promotional language emphasizing Star Wars as flagship 2026 title with accessories ecosystem
“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.”
Stern Pinball (official) @ February 2026 newsletter — Marketing messaging for new factory tour perk targeting engaged All-Access subscriber base
“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.”
Stern Pinball (official) @ February 2026 newsletter — Clarifies operator benefits and incentive structure for Stern Army participation
“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.”
Stern Pinball (official) @ February 2026 newsletter — Positions Jack Danger as community liaison and emphasizes personable brand engagement strategy

Entities

Stern PinballcompanyStar Wars: Fall of the Empiregame Raymond Davidsonperson Insider Connectedproduct Stern Pro Circuitevent Stern ArmyorganizationIFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association)organization

Signals

?
business_signal: Expansion of Stern Army network with Location of the Month recognition program, indicating growth in operator/location partnership network
high · Announcement of Public House Pinball as Location of the Month with call for submissions from other locations
?
community_signal: Stern launching factory tour access as All-Access subscription perk, creating direct manufacturer-to-collector engagement channel
high · New All-Access Perk section detailing free annual factory tours plus one guest for subscription members
?
competitive_signal: Raymond Davidson (Stern employee/designer) winning first 2026 Stern Pro Circuit event, maintaining company presence in competitive tournament scene
high · Stern Pro Circuit results announcing 'Stern's own Raymond Davidson took down all competitors for the circuit victory'
?
event_signal: Stern Pinball participating at CES 2026 with booth presence, positioning pinball as significant technology/entertainment category
high · Opening announcement: 'At this year's CES, Stern Pinball reinforced how pinball stands out amidst a sea of technological innovation'
$
market_signal: Stern adding Star Wars: Fall of the Empire to IFPA Stern Rewards Program indicates confidence in game availability and positioning as flagship accessible title
high · IFPA partnership announcement: 'Stern has added Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium to the rewards program!'

Topics

Insider Connected platform expansionprimaryStar Wars: Fall of the Empire promotion and availabilityprimaryStern Pro Circuit 2026 season and tournament resultsprimarySubscription-based member perks and factory tour accessprimaryStern Army operator network and location partnershipssecondaryIFPA Stern Rewards Program and player incentivessecondaryCode updates and software development processsecondaryCommunity engagement and content strategymentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Newsletter maintains promotional, celebratory tone highlighting company growth (All-Access perks launch, Stern Army expansion, Insider Connected features, tournament success). Focus on customer engagement, accessibility, and community building. No negative announcements or criticism present.

Transcript

web_scrape · $0.000

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 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: Stern Pinball at CES: At this year’s CES, Stern Pinball reinforced how pinball stands out amidst a sea of technological innovation. And you just never know who will stop by our booth… Star Wars: Fall of the Empire: Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues to spread the joy of pinball across the galaxy and it never hurts to get some nice strategies on how to play this adventure or even dress it up with one of the coolest toppers out there! Insider Connected: Community Quests and Global Leaderboards are kicking things off right in 2026! 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’ll: • 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 tours@sternpinball.com if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Matt & Kristen Jusiak 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 Insider@sternpinball.com 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 SternArmy@sternpinball.com Location of the Month: Congrats to Public House Pinball of Happy Valley, Oregon for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world? Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Pro Circuit: Congrats to all competitors at this year’s first Stern Pro Circuit tournament of the 2026 season, Starfighters SPF. In the end, Stern’s own Raymond Davidson took down all competitors for the circuit victory to kickstart the season. For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit sponsored by Mountain Dew and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://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 Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Pro and Premium to the rewards program! Status of Code: 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 Code.Updates@sternpinball.com. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://sternpinball.com/support/game-code/ Merch and Accessories: 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://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! Drinks with Jack: Random Tutorials, Interviews, and more: Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and interviews including a fun pinball spotlight on a recent Conan O’Brien!