Stern Pinball Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. is an American pinball machine manufacturer that traces its origins to Stern Electronics (1977–1985) and the pinball divisions of Data East (founded in 1986 with Gary Stern at the helm) and Sega Pinball (established in 1994). In 1999, after Sega decided to exit the arcade business, Gary Stern purchased its pinball assets and formed Stern Pinball, Inc., based in the Chicago area—historically the hub of pinball production. Notably, Gary Stern was the son of Sam Stern, who co-led the original Stern Electronics and had previously managed operations at Williams, further establishing a robust pinball legacy within the family. Throughout the 2000s, Stern Pinball became the sole major pinball machine manufacturer worldwide, preserving the tradition of mechanical arcade entertainment when most competitors had exited the market.

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Stern Pinball garnered a reputation for modernizing pinball through licensed themes and technological innovation. Under the company’s Data East and Sega predecessors, it introduced such features as the first dot-matrix display in Checkpoint (1991) and other mechanical novelties that expanded gameplay possibilities. At Stern Pinball, the approach to securing popular licenses—such as The Simpsons Pinball Party (2003), The Lord of the Rings (2003), AC/DC (2012), and more recent titles like Godzilla (2021)—helped maintain player and collector interest. Additionally, updates to internal hardware systems, such as SPIKE electronics and the transition to LCD screens, have enabled online connectivity and enhanced multimedia integration. Today, the company continues to operate from its facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, releasing multiple new games each year. Its leadership includes Gary Stern as Chairman and Seth Davis as CEO, with Dave Peterson as Vice Chairman. Stern’s sustained output and innovative designs have been instrumental in safeguarding and revitalizing pinball’s status as a vibrant form of arcade entertainment for new and veteran enthusiasts alike.