Exclusive Look at the New Cobra Kai Pinball Machines

Knapp Arcade·article·analyzed·Dec 20, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.021

TL;DR

Brian Soares completes exclusive Cobra Kai custom pinball builds for show creators

Summary

Brian Soares of Gameroom Pinball has created two custom Cobra Kai pinball machines for Netflix show creators Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz over a 2.5-year development period. Both machines are based on Gottlieb Cactus Jacks and feature custom graphics, audio from all six seasons, quotes, songs, and custom diecast cars. The machines are one-of-a-kind commissions intended for the creators' homes, with no plans for public exhibition.

Key Claims

Brian Soares built two custom Cobra Kai pinball machines for Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz
high confidence · Direct quote from Soares: 'one of the shows co-creators, Jon Hurwitz, was also interested in a game as well.'
The project took 2.5 years to complete
high confidence · Brian Soares: 'This has been the longest project I've ever worked on, roughly 2 ½ years in total.'
Both machines are based on Gottlieb Cactus Jacks
high confidence · Brian Soares: 'Both games are based on Gottlieb Cactus Jacks'
The game includes content from all six seasons of Cobra Kai
high confidence · Brian Soares: 'The game includes images or audio from all (6) seasons.'
Only two copies of the Cobra Kai machine will ever be made
high confidence · Brian Soares: 'There are and only will be (2) copies on Cobra Kai pinball.'
The machines feature custom diecast cars that are modified Hot Wheels
high confidence · Brian Soares: 'These cars were actually Hot Wheels that were disassembled, decaled and painted to match the cars on the show.'
Josh Heald was already a significant pinball fan before commissioning the machine
high confidence · Josh Heald: 'I was already a huge pinball fan. I played virtually every machine I encountered in my youth.'
Jon Hurwitz owned a Bally Harlem Globetrotters machine in his basement during childhood
high confidence · Jon Hurwitz: 'my dad bought an old Bally's Harlem Globetrotters machine for our basement while I was in middle school.'

Notable Quotes

“This has been the longest project I've ever worked on, roughly 2 ½ years in total.”
Brian Soares — Indicates scope and complexity of custom pinball commission work
“The writers strike, season 6, graphics artist (who was actually a 'super fan' of the show), studio approvals for images and sound, competing timelines for my other games, etc.”
Brian Soares — Explains factors contributing to extended development timeline
“There could be no 'spoilers' included on the game, so graphics couldn't be completed until season 6 was live on Netflix.”
Brian Soares — Highlights unique licensing/content constraints in entertainment IP custom pinball builds
“I was already a huge pinball fan. I played virtually every machine I encountered in my youth, from bowling alley arcades to friend's garages. Other than Street Fighter II, there was no greater threat to my allowance than pinball machines.”
Josh Heald — Shows creator's genuine passion for pinball that motivated the commission
“I've enjoyed pinball for as long as I can remember, but my love fully solidified when my dad bought an old Bally's Harlem Globetrotters machine for our basement while I was in middle school.”
Jon Hurwitz — Demonstrates emotional connection to pinball machines and childhood nostalgia
“The fact that it's a pinball representation of a series I poured my heart and soul into for a decade makes it that much more special.”
Jon Hurwitz — Shows how custom pinball commissions provide personal validation for creators

Entities

Brian SoarespersonGameroom PinballcompanyJosh HealdpersonJon HurwitzpersonMark KerrpersonCobra Kai PinballgameGottlieb Cactus JacksgameCobra Kaientertainment_ipRyan SaghianpersonKnapp Arcadeorganization

Signals

?
community_signal: Entertainment IP creators (Netflix show runners) commissioning custom pinball machines indicates pinball's cultural relevance extends to mainstream entertainment industry figures
medium · Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz both express strong personal passion for pinball and sought out custom commissions for their homes
?
community_signal: Brian Soares expanding custom pinball business to work with high-profile entertainment IP creators (Netflix show), indicating growth in boutique custom pinball market beyond traditional collector/operator base
high · Multiple major client commissions mentioned including San Diego Padres and Pacifico beer, now Netflix creators
?
licensing_signal: Custom pinball work requiring approval from content studios and creators; spoiler-sensitive graphics design delayed work until final season aired
high · Brian Soares: 'There could be no spoilers included on the game, so graphics couldn't be completed until season 6 was live on Netflix' and 'studio approvals for images and sound'

Topics

Custom pinball machine commissionsprimaryEntertainment IP licensing and pinballprimaryGameroom Pinball portfolio and businessprimaryPinball fan culture and nostalgiasecondaryCustom playfield design and graphicssecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Content is celebratory and enthusiastic about the custom machines. Creators express genuine passion for pinball. No criticism or negative sentiment present. The article frames this as an exciting exclusive reveal of high-quality custom work.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

News Exclusive Look at the New Cobra Kai Pinball Machines k knapparcade December 20, 2025 I've been a big fan of the custom pinball machines that Brian Soares designs through his company Gameroom Pinball for several years now. He has created some amazing custom pinball games for themes ranging from Ferris Bueller's Day Off to The Hangover to Happy Gilmore. He's done work for a number of major clients, including the San Diego Padres baseball team and Pacifico beer. So it was no surprise to me when I found out that he had yet another famous client reach out to him to create a custom game. Brian's latest work was done for Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz, two of the creators of the hit Netflix show Cobra Kai. He built not just one, but two Cobra Kai custom pinball machines for them. Brian was kind enough to sit down for a Q & A session with me and was even able to get the creators of the show to answer a few questions for us. Without further ado, I present to you the exclusive reveal of Cobra Kai pinball. Knapp Arcade: How did you get involved in creating a Cobra Kai custom pinball machine? Brian Soares: Josh Heald, one of the creators of Cobra Kai, reached out to me back in the spring of 2023. He like my work and was wondering if I would be interested in making a game about the show. After a little back and forth we had a plan and one of the shows co-creators, Jon Hurwitz, was also interested in a game as well. Knapp Arcade: How long did it take you to make the game? Brian Soares: This has been the longest project I’ve ever worked on, roughly 2 ½ years in total. There were a number of things that affected the timing. The writers strike, season 6, graphics artist (who was actually a “super fan” of the show, studio approvals for images and sound, competing timelines for my other games, etc. Knapp Arcade: Did you work with anyone else to create the game? Brian Soares: Mark Kerr a Cobra Kai “super fan” from the UK. He’s a graphic artist who actually crafted the entire graphic design package as well as compiled list of audio soundbites. Knapp Arcade: What machine is it originally based upon? Brian Soares: Both games are based on Gottlieb Cactus Jacks Knapp Arcade: Tell me about the game. Which seasons are in it? Brian Soares: The game includes images or audio from all (6) seasons. This was one of the reasons for the extended build time. There could be no “spoilers” included on the game, so graphics couldn’t be completed until season 6 was live on Netflix. Knapp Arcade: Does the game have any music or songs from the show? Brian Soares: The game is packed with both quotes and songs from the show. Many of the playfield switches include a dozen or so quotes that play at random upon activation. There is a background track plays instrumental music from all the seasons and 18 different songs when the ball enters the top multiball hole. Knapp Arcade: What are your favorite aspects of the machine? Brian Soares: My overall favorite is the graphic design on both games which came out terrific. Jon and John each wanted the exterior to look different so there are two completely different design packages and metal trim colors. Both playfields are the same though. I also love the custom diecast cars on the playfield. I work with a shop that creates a lot of my toys. These cars were actually Hot Wheels that were disassembled, decaled and painted to match the cars on the show. Knapp Arcade: Are you building more than one copy of the machine? Brian Soares: There are and only will be (2) copies on Cobra Kai pinball. (1) for the Heald family and (1) for the Hurwitz family. Knapp Arcade: Where is it going to end up? Brian Soares: Each of the games will end up in the creators home on the west coast. Knapp Arcade: Will it ever be available for the public to see or play? Brian Soares: That is totally up to them, but my guess is that they won’t be out in the public. Then again, who knows, maybe they will eventually bring them to a Cobra Kai event in the future. Time will tell. Cobra Kai Creator Josh Heald: Knapp Arcade: How did you hear about Gameroom Pinball? Josh Heald: I first heard about Gameroom Pinball from through Ryan Saghian, the talented designer who helped decorate our home. His earliest renderings included a nook that said “custom pinball machine.” He thought it would be fun to commission a bespoke game to honor both my fandom of The Karate Kid and my decade of making Cobra Kai. I lit up at the possibility, and Ryan set about finding the right person to bring this creation to life. Knapp Arcade: Were you already pinball fans ? Josh Heald: I was already a huge pinball fan. I played virtually every machine I encountered in my youth, from bowling alley arcades to friend’s garages. Other than Street Fighter II, there was no greater threat to my allowance than pinball machines. Well, maybe candy. But then pinball machines. Knapp Arcade: What do you plan on doing with the game? Josh Heald: This game will hold a place of honor in our home. It will be plugged in and enjoyed lovingly and often. I imagine guests might want to try it too, but they’ll have to pry me off it first. Cobra Kai Creator John Hurwitz: Knapp Arcade: How did you hear about Gameroom Pinball? John Hurwitz: I actually heard about Gameroom Pinball through Josh. Knapp Arcade: Were you already pinball fans? Jon Hurwitz: I’ve enjoyed pinball for as long as I can remember, but my love fully solidified when my dad bought an old Bally’s Harlem Globetrotters machine for our basement while I was in middle school. I spent hours upon hours playing that machine with my friends. I’ve missed having a regular machine in my adult life, so when Josh mentioned there may be an opportunity for us to create custom Cobra Kai machines for our homes, I was immediately all in. Knapp Arcade: What do you plan on doing with the game? Jon Hurwitz: Much like the machine I grew up with, this Cobra Kai machine will be the centerpiece of my basement. But the fact that it’s a pinball representation of a series I poured my heart and soul into for a decade makes it that much more special. Collaborating on all the visuals and the sound design alongside Josh and our favorite Cobra Kai fan artist, Mark Kerr, was an absolute blast! It was almost as much of a labor of love as the show itself! If you're interested in having a custom pinball machine built yourself or just want to check out Brian's amazing game portfolio, make sure to check out the Gameroom Pinball website: Gameroom Pinball Posted about 2 months ago k About knapparcade Site administrator Comments (0) Please sign in to join the conversation. No comments yet Be the first to share your thoughts on this post! Related Articles Stern Officially Reveals New Pokémon Pinball Machine 3 days ago Dutch Pinball is NOT Working with Stern to Release Back to the Future 3 days ago Pokémon Reveal Tomorrow?; Beetlejuice Pinball on Location 5 days ago Subscribe to Updates Get the latest pinball news, blog posts, and event announcements delivered to your inbox Subscribe StripeM-Inner