GTI Guangzhou wrapped last week and one theme stood out: pinball machines are hotter than ever. Walking the halls, we saw dozens of exhibitors - from established cabinet-makers to fast-growing OEMs - showing updated mechanical, electronic and hybrid pinball units. The sheer volume of pinball products on display makes it clear China's pinball market is experiencing a strong revival tied to both nostalgia and modern tech upgrades.
Why the momentum now? Two forces are driving demand. First, a nostalgia wave among Millennials and older players is bringing pinball back into social venues and themed arcades; second, manufacturers have added digital features - online leaderboards, app connectivity and remote telemetry - that make pinball relevant to today's social, data-driven operator. These upgrades let operators run tournaments, track performance remotely, and tie machines into loyalty systems - a big win for ROI and guest engagement.
Supply-side signals are clear: Chinese factories and marketplaces are flooded with pinball SKUs - from compact children's marble machines to full-size, themed pinball cabinets - giving buyers fast, cost-effective sourcing options. This widespread manufacturing capacity means operators can trial concepts quickly or scale across multiple locations with manageable unit economics.
What this means for operators and investors
- Faster pilots: Low-cost, locally produced pinball machines make it economical to test pinball banks in malls, FECs and pop-ups.
- Higher ARPU: Tournament modes, collectible features and social sharing convert one-time visitors into repeat players.
- Omnichannel potential: Connected pinball hardware can feed data into online leaderboards and mobile apps - extending guest engagement beyond the venue.
Our next step: Online–Offline Pinball House
At XIYU we're moving from observation to action. Inspired by GTI feedback, we're launching an integrated pinball hall that combines physical machines with an online platform - leaderboard, booking, and prize claims - to create a unified player ecosystem. We'll pilot this concept in our demo venue and are open to partnerships with mall operators and FECs interested in a turnkey, data-driven pinball solution.
