STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – MARCH 2026

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

Analysis

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TL;DR

Stern announces Pokémon pinball launch success, factory tours, and Insider Connected party quests.

Summary

Stern Pinball's March 2026 monthly newsletter highlights the launch of Pokémon pinball with unprecedented global reach, ongoing Star Wars: Fall of the Empire promotion, new Insider Connected features including Beat That Score Party Quest events and free factory tours for All-Access members, Stern Army expansion initiatives, and Stern Pro Circuit tournament updates featuring Daniele Celestino Acciari's INDISC championship win.

Key Claims

Pokémon pinball machine received worldwide coverage reaching 100s of millions of people including Pokémon's official website and 9to5Toys
high confidence · Stern official newsletter announcing historic launch
All-Access Insider Connected members can book one free factory tour per year plus one guest
high confidence · Official Stern announcement of new membership perk
Walking Dead Remastered Premium has been added to the Stern Rewards Program
high confidence · Stern official announcement in partnership with IFPA
Beat That Score Party Quest runs from March 1 to April 11, 2026 with new badge sets revealed every two weeks
high confidence · Official Stern event announcement with specific dates
Daniele Celestino Acciari won the Open IFPA World Championship (INDISC)
high confidence · Official Stern Pro Circuit results announcement

Notable Quotes

“In what was a historic launch for all of pinball, the worldwide response to the first ever pinball machine of Pokémon has been astonishing.”
Stern Pinball (official statement) @ March 2026 — Emphasizes unprecedented scale of Pokémon pinball release and industry-wide impact
“Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues to spread the joy of pinball across the galaxy!”
Stern Pinball (official statement) @ March 2026 — Marketing language maintaining Star Wars game visibility despite prior critical reception issues
“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 (official statement) @ March 2026 — New monetization opportunity for premium membership tier through experiential offering

Entities

PokémongameStar Wars: Fall of the EmpiregameWalking Dead RemasteredgameStern PinballcompanyDaniele Celestino AcciaripersonBrittany HaswellpersonChieftain Pool and PinballvenueInsider Connectedproduct Stern Armyorganization Stern Pro Circuit

Signals

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product_launch: Pokémon pinball machine launched with unprecedented global media coverage reaching hundreds of millions, described as historic for the industry
high · Historic launch announcement with coverage in Pokémon official channels and major tech media (9to5Toys)
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business_signal: Stern introducing premium membership tier (All-Access) with exclusive factory tour experiences ($25 per additional guest/tour)
high · New All-Access perk announcement with detailed booking process and pricing structure
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market_signal: Walking Dead Remastered Premium added to Stern Rewards Program, indicating recovery or repositioning of previously underperforming title
high · Official IFPA partnership announcement incorporating Walking Dead Remastered into rewards catalog
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community_signal: Beat That Score Party Quest events designed to encourage team play and community engagement through social media sharing
high · 8-week event with bi-weekly badge reveals, explicit call for team formation and social sharing
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operational_signal: Stern Army program expanding with priority shipments and official launch party support network
high · Location of the Month recognition for Chieftain Pool and Pinball, Stern Army growth announcement
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Transcript

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STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – MARCH 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: In what was a historic launch for all of pinball, the worldwide response to the first ever pinball machine of Pokémon has been astonishing. Coverage and highlights of this unprecedented global release has reached 100s of millions of people worldwide including some incredible content including, but not limited to Pokémon’s official website, 9to5Toys, and many more! Star Wars: Fall of the Empire: Star Wars: Fall of the Empire continues to spread the joy of pinball across the galaxy! Insider Connected: Community Quests and Global Leaderboards are kicking things off right in 2026, but get ready for a party with the upcoming Beat That Score! From March 1 to April 11, 2026, join us for the “Beat That Score! Party Quest.” Every two weeks, we will reveal a new set of badges from current Insider Connected™ titles, showcasing community multiplayer scores. Gather a team of 2-4 players to surpass the scores and earn badges. Party scores will increase in size for following quests. Encourage your friends to get Insider Connected, and don’t forget to share your pinball party photos on social tagging Stern Pinball! 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 [email protected] if you have any questions. Gameroom of the Month: Congrats to Brittany Haswell 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 Chieftain Pool and Pinball of BC, Canada 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 Open IFPA World Championship (INDISC). In the end, Daniele Celestino Acciari slayed the competition! 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: 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, a trailer to the incredible Mastering Pinball: In-Depth Skills and Strategies and this year’s TWIPY Awards!