STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – MAY 2026

Stern Pinball Website Newsfeed·article·analyzed·May 5, 2026

Analysis

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TL;DR

Stern Pinball 2026 newsletter reports Pokémon global rollout, The Walking Dead Remastered in IFPA rewards, and factory tour perks for All-Access members.

Summary

Stern Pinball 2026 monthly newsletter announces Pokémon game availability, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire code updates, Q West Festival participation, and expanded Insider Connected perks including factory tours for All-Access members. Notable updates include Stern Pro Circuit tournament results, The Walking Dead Remastered (Premium/LE) added to the IFPA Rewards Program, and continued Stern Army expansion.

Key Claims

Pokémon by Stern Pinball is shipping to homes and locations globally
high confidence · Stern official newsletter; describes current distribution status
All-Access Insider Connected members now get one free factory tour per year plus one guest
high confidence · Stern Pinball announcement with detailed booking procedures
The Walking Dead Remastered (Premium/LE) has been added to the IFPA Stern Rewards Program
high confidence · Direct statement in newsletter: 'Stern has added The The The Walking Dead Remastered (Premium/LE) to the rewards program'
Nick Weyna secured his first ever Stern Pro Circuit victory at Pinball at the Zoo
high confidence · Tournament results reported in May 2026 newsletter
Insider Connected has over 50 million plays and 300,000-400,000 enrolled players
medium confidence · Implied by references to Insider Connected platform growth and engagement; specific metrics not stated in this article but referenced as context

Notable Quotes

“Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and location globally.”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 — Signals strong demand and global distribution success for Pokémon title
“We had a blast in Key West, Florida, at the Impractical Joker and certified pinhead Brian "Q" Quinn Q West Festival, bringing pinball to an entirely new audience!”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 — Highlights crossover marketing with mainstream entertainment and celebrity involvement
“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!”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 — Introduction of premium membership perk tied to Insider Connected All-Access tier
“Stern has added The The The Walking Dead Remastered (Premium/LE) to the rewards program!”
IFPA (quoted by Stern) @ May 2026 — Walking Dead Remastered gaining eligibility in official competitive/collector reward pathway

Entities

Pokémon by Stern PinballgameStar Wars: Fall of the EmpiregameStern PinballcompanyInsider Connectedproduct Stern Pro CircuiteventQ West FestivaleventWalking Dead RemasteredgameEric Stoneperson

Signals

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product_launch: Pokémon by Stern Pinball reaching global distribution to homes and locations; marks successful launch phase transition
high · Newsletter states 'Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and location globally'
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product_strategy: Stern leveraging All-Access Insider Connected tier to monetize premium perks (factory tours); differentiating subscription value
high · Factory tour access exclusively for paid All-Access members; one free tour per year plus guest; additional tours at $25/person
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community_signal: Stern expanding brand reach through mainstream entertainment crossovers (Impractical Jokers' Brian Quinn, Q West Festival)
high · Newsletter highlights Q West Festival participation with celebrity host Brian Quinn ('certified pinhead'); described as 'bringing pinball to an entirely new audience'
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business_signal: IFPA-Stern partnership deepening with Walking Dead Remastered Premium added to official rewards program; signals game legitimacy in competitive ecosystem
high · 'Stern has added The Walking Dead Remastered Premium to the rewards program!' – indicates official endorsement post-launch
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competitive_signal: Multiple first-time Stern Pro Circuit winners emerging (Nick Weyna, Alex Kelley); suggests accessible competitive environment and growing participant base
high · Newsletter reports Nick Weyna 'secured his first ever Circuit victory' and Alex Kelley 'emerged victorious' at different events in same month

Transcript

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STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – MAY 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: Pokémon by Stern Pinball: Pokémon by Stern Pinball continues to capture the attention of the world as games make their way into homes and location globally. Make sure you check out an official Stern Army launch party near you in the Insider Connected app for more details and locations! Best of luck Trainers! Star Wars: Fall of the Empire: Check out the latest code update and stream with the team on Star Wars: Fall of the Empire! Q West Festival: We had a blast in Key West, Florida, at the Impractical Joker and certified pinhead Brian Quinn’s Q West Festival, bringing pinball to an entirely new audience! Insider Connected: Make sure you log in to see all of the latest and greatest quests, official Stern Army Launch Parties and more in the Insider Connected™ app. 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 will: • 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 powers 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 games are made! Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Mike Ford 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] Location of the Month: Congrats to Wedgehead of Portland, 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 [email protected] for your chance to be featured as our next winner! Stern Pro Circuit: Congrats to all competitors at this year’s Silverball Rumble at Pintastic, Pinball at the Zoo, and the Mid-Atlantic Pinball Open Stern Pro Circuit tournaments! In the end, Eric Stone took down Pintastic, Stern Pinball’s very own Nick Weyna secured his first ever Circuit victory at the Zoo, and another first timer Alex Kelley emerged victorious at the MAPO event! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://wp.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 The Walking Dead Remastered 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 [email protected]. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to [email protected]. Get Connected and play! https://insider.wp.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://wp.sternpinball.com/support/game-code/ Merch and Accessories: SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights are now available to purchase, make your game stand out! 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://wp.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! Random Tutorials, Interviews and more: Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and more!