STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – MAY 2026

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

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.020

TL;DR

Stern May 2026: Pokémon launch, factory tours unlocked, Pro Circuit updates, code releases ongoing.

Summary

Stern Pinball's May 2026 monthly newsletter announcing major releases and community initiatives including Pokémon game rollout, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire updates, expanded Insider Connected perks (free factory tours for All-Access members), Stern Army growth, and 2026 Pro Circuit tournament results and schedule.

Key Claims

Pokémon by Stern Pinball is shipping to homes and locations globally
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball newsletter, May 2026
Factory tours now available exclusively for Insider Connected All-Access members with paid subscription (1 free tour per year for member + 1 guest; additional guests $25 each)
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball newsletter announcement of new All-Access perk
Eric Stone won Pintastic, Nick Weyna won Pinball at the Zoo (his first Pro Circuit victory), Alex Kelley won Mid-Atlantic Pinball Open at 2026 Stern Pro Circuit events
high confidence · Official Stern Pro Circuit results in May 2026 newsletter
The Walking Dead Remastered Premium has been added to the IFPA Stern Rewards Program
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball and IFPA partnership announcement
SPIKE 3 Speaker Lights are now available for purchase
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball merchandise announcement
Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties
high confidence · Official Stern Army program details in May 2026 newsletter
Star Wars: Fall of the Empire code update released with team stream
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball newsletter
Stern participated in Q West Festival in Key West, Florida hosted by Brian Quinn of Impractical Jokers
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball newsletter event coverage

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 newsletter — Confirms Pokémon rollout is in progress with global distribution already underway
“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 newsletter — Highlights major new monetized perk for subscription tier; indicates Stern is leveraging community interest in manufacturing transparency
“Step behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball factory • Watch pinball machines come to life — from initial wiring to cabinet decaling”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 newsletter — Describes factory tour experience scope, indicating structured behind-the-scenes access program
“The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe.”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 newsletter — Indicates Stern Army program is expanding and framed as core to community engagement strategy
“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!”
Stern Pinball @ May 2026 newsletter — Highlights competitive results including first-time winners and internal staff achievement (Nick Weyna)

Entities

Stern Pinball Inc.companyPokémongameStar Wars: Fall of the EmpiregameThe Walking Dead Remastered PremiumgameInsider Connectedproduct Stern Armyorganization Stern Pro Circuitevent IFPA

Signals

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product_launch: Pokémon by Stern Pinball is in active global distribution to homes and commercial locations with organized Stern Army launch parties ongoing
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' and directs players to Stern Army launch parties via Insider Connected app
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business_signal: Stern has created new premium tier feature (free factory tours) exclusive to paid All-Access subscribers, indicating monetization of community experiences and factory access
high · Newsletter announces 'factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for All-Access members with a paid subscription' with tiered pricing ($25 per additional guest)
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community_signal: Stern Army community program continues growth with emphasis on organizational structure and recurring location support for tournaments and leagues
high · Newsletter states 'The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe' and describes support programs including first priority shipments
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competitive_signal: 2026 Stern Pro Circuit season launched with Mountain Dew sponsorship; early tournament winners include Eric Stone (Pintastic), Nick Weyna (Pinball at the Zoo—first Pro Circuit win), and Alex Kelley (MAPO—first-time victor)
high · Newsletter reports three completed Pro Circuit events with specific winners and highlights of Weyna's first Circuit victory as Stern internal staff
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code_update: Star Wars: Fall of the Empire code update released with accompanying team stream; ongoing code development and bug fixes in progress across Stern portfolio

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://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.sternpinball.com/ Code updates and read me files are available at https://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://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!