Dutch Pinball Exclusive (DPX) Is No More

Kineticist·article·analyzed·Feb 12, 2026

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 (batch) · $0.008

TL;DR

Melvin Brouwer-Williams exits DPX; Alice support continues but future projects move elsewhere.

Summary

Melvin Brouwer-Williams has stepped down from Dutch Pinball Exclusive (DPX) effective February 9, 2026, citing organizational restructuring and new investor vision misalignment. He will continue supporting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with code updates through his own team but plans to move future game projects to other US manufacturers. Dutch Pinball remains committed to fulfilling existing Alice orders and resolving outstanding topper issues.

Key Claims

Melvin Brouwer-Williams is stepping away from DPX effective February 9, 2026
high confidence · Official statement dated Amsterdam, The Netherlands February 9, 2026, attributed to Melvin Brouwer-Williams
The departure is due to new organizational structure within Dutch Pinball and new investors with a different vision
high confidence · Direct quote from Melvin's official announcement letter
Melvin claims topper issues and structural issues were never within his control
high confidence · Melvin's statement as reported in article: 'Melvin also distanced himself from the fulfillment problems...'
Dutch Pinball still plans to fulfill existing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland orders including all outstanding toppers
high confidence · Article states: 'It appears Dutch Pinball still plans to fulfill existing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland orders'
Melvin plans to continue supporting Alice with code updates, though they may come more slowly
high confidence · Article and Melvin's statement: 'Code updates will be a bit slower at times but rest assure it won't be forgotten'
Melvin has a team of coders, Lior, tech staff and others moving with him to future projects
high confidence · Melvin's statement: 'I have my own team (coders,Lior,tech and other great people) that will move with me'
Melvin's upcoming game(s) and other titles are his own IP and design
high confidence · Melvin's statement: 'As alice and the planned game that was announced and other titles are my own IP and or design'
Melvin plans to move future game/games to other manufacturers in the USA when possible
high confidence · Melvin's statement: 'my plan with my upcoming game/games will have to shift to other MFG party's in the USA when that possibility arrives'

Notable Quotes

“It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that, effective as of today, I Melvin Brouwer-Williams will be stepping away from DPX (Dutch Pinball Exclusive)”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Opening of official resignation announcement; signals emotional weight of the decision
“This decision is an unfortunate result of a new organizational structure within Dutch Pinball and also because of a new investors party that have a different vision then me”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Clear attribution of departure to organizational/investor conflicts
“I tried my best to build the brand to certain point that I now can no longer control to my standards”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Indicates loss of creative/operational control as core reason
“This was unfortunately never in my control, nor some of the other structural issues that many are aware off”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Distancing himself from fulfillment and quality issues; acknowledges community awareness of problems
“Code updates will be a bit slower at times but rest assure it won't be forgotten”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Commits to continued Alice support despite separation; sets expectations for pace
“my plan with my upcoming game/games will have to shift to other MFG party's in the USA when that possibility arrives”
Melvin Brouwer-Williams @ February 9, 2026 — Signals future projects will move to different manufacturers; future game pipeline implication

Entities

Melvin Brouwer-WilliamspersonDutch Pinballcompany Alice's Adventures in WonderlandgameDPXorganizationLiorpersonKineticistorganization

Signals

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personnel_signal: Melvin Brouwer-Williams departing from Dutch Pinball/DPX effective February 9, 2026; cites organizational restructuring and new investor vision mismatch
high · Official resignation announcement; Melvin explicitly states departure date and reasons
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industry_signal: New investor party at Dutch Pinball with conflicting vision to Melvin; indicates potential operational/creative direction shift
high · Melvin's statement: 'new investors party that have a different vision then me'
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business_signal: Dutch Pinball undergoing structural reorganization that precipitated key designer departure
high · Melvin cites 'new organizational structure within Dutch Pinball' as direct cause of departure
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product_concern: Outstanding topper issues and structural fulfillment problems with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; Melvin distances himself from accountability
high · Article states Melvin 'distanced himself from the fulfillment problems' and claims topper/structural issues 'were never within his control'
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product_launch: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland code updates will continue but at slower pace; Melvin maintaining support through separate team
high · Melvin states 'Code updates will be a bit slower at times but rest assure it won't be forgotten' and retains technical team
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Topics

Personnel and organizational changes in pinball manufacturingprimaryDutch Pinball operational restructuring and investor changesprimaryAlice's Adventures in Wonderland fulfillment issues and support continuityprimaryFuture game development pipeline and manufacturer changesprimaryDPX brand dissolutionprimaryCode update support and quality maintenance for existing machinessecondary

Sentiment

neutral(0)

Transcript

web_scrape · $0.000

Like what you're reading? Get pinball news, analysis, and deep dives delivered to your inbox. Get pinball news, analysis, and deep dives delivered to your inbox. Melvin also distanced himself from the fulfillment problems that have frustrated Alice customers, saying the topper issues and other "structural issues" were never within his control. It appears Dutch Pinball still plans to fulfill existing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland orders, including all outstanding toppers. Melvin said he plans to continue supporting the game with code updates, though he noted they may come more slowly. Amsterdam, The Netherlands February 9, 2026 Dear all, It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that, effective as of today, I Melvin Brouwer-Williams will be stepping away from DPX (Dutch Pinball Exclusive) . This decision is an unfortunate result of a new organizational structure within Dutch Pinball and also because of a new investors party that have a different vision then me. Therefore Dutch Pinball has decided that it will be continuing on its own path without my involvement. I fully understand that this announcement may raise many questions…. And at this moment, I do not yet have all the answers myself, and I must admit that this transition leaves me feeling somewhat uncertain. As many may know my next game was on its scheduled to be released. Nevertheless, I remain confident in the future of the pinball industry and in my own continued journey within it ,unfortunately that won’t be with the Dutch Pinball family .DPX will be defunct as of today for upcoming releases from my involvement. I tried my best to build the brand to certain point that I now can no longer control to my standards. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported and believed in me and in Alice throughout this journey. Your trust, encouragement, and shared passion have meant more to me than words can adequately express. I’m heartbroken that it came to this point as I also expected many more things to come from the DPX brand. While this chapter comes to a close, my commitment to pinball does NOT. I have to look forward in my own way to see what the future holds and hope our pinball paths in the community may cross again, as my plan with my upcoming game/games will have to shift to other MFG party’s in the USA when that possibility arrives. Rest assure that I will still do my best to help where ever needed on Alice. Although that will be through community contacts,forums,etc. Code updates will be a bit slower at times but rest assure it won’t be forgotten. As I have my own team (coders,Lior,tech and other great people) that will move with me and will handle upcoming projects with me . As alice and the planned game that was announced and other titles are my own IP and or design. I expect that Dutch Pinball will take care of there customers with the promises that where made and build all the final Alice’s and solve the outstanding topper related issues . This was unfortunately never in my control , nor some of the other structural issues that many are aware off. As you also might understand by now that some situations may have lead to this outcome I present today. Any questions regarding AAIW and or this writing please contact your local distributor and or dutch pinball support to keep this separation as professional as possible. With sincere thanks and respect, Melvin Brouwer-Williams Colin is the chief pixel pusher at Kineticist. He's a lifetime gamer who became enamored with pinball after taking in a family copy of the 1979 classic Joker Poker (the EM version). Since then he's bought, sold and repaired many machines, competed in all kinds of tournaments, and contributes to This Week in Pinball, the New Robert Englunds Pinball League, and Pin-Masters of New Robert Englunds. Previously, Colin spent over a decade working in marketing for agencies and tech startups. He also started and ran a music blog, happy hour website, and wrote a regular craft beer review column for Central Track in Dallas. Once aspired to be an artsy film director.