STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – JULY 2025

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:

JAWS 50^th Anniversary Pinball:

Celebrating soon…

King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pinball:

The King continues to conquer the pinball world with official launch parties heading to a location near you! Check out some tips on how to kongquer as well as a nice deep dive into the development of the game from the most recent NWPAS!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye Sweepstakes:

🚨Win a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye PRO Pinball Machine!🚨

Roll the dice and enter for a chance to win a new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye Pro edition! Sign up for Stern Pinball’s email list between June 20 @ 12:01 a.m. CT and September 28 @ 11:59 p.m. CT for your chance to win!

Already on our list? You still need to fill out the form to confirm your email.

Want a bonus entry? Log in to the Stern Pinball Insider Connected App during the promo period!

U.S. residents 18+ only.

Enter here: https://stpb.co/dndsweep

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye:

Check out Linus from Linus Tech Tips unbox and explore a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye!

Insider Connected:

Stay connected and play in ongoing community events! Featuring monthly quests and leaderboards, there’s no shortage of what you’ll be able to achieve!

Stern Pinball at IGN Live and Summer Games Fest:

No better way to get pinball out to the general public than at two of the biggest events in the gaming space, IGN Live and Summer Game Fest!

Iron Maiden Vault Spotlight:

Time is running out to help Eddie defeat the Beast! To celebrate its inclusion into the vault, watch our team rock out one last time in this celebratory gameplay video! As part of the Stern Vault Program, Iron Maiden has been removed from active production and will remain in the vault for a minimum of two years without any guarantee of returning. These games are almost completely sold out, so contact for availability before it’s too late!

Stranger Things Pinball:

Finn Wolfhard knows how to get ready for the final season of Stranger Things pinball!

Gameroom of the Month:

Congrats to Alex Bakker 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 Insider@sternpinball.com 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 SternArmy@sternpinball.com

Location of the Month:

Congrats to Eppig Brewing Vista of San Diego, California for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world?  Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Pro Circuit:

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 2025 Schedule:

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2025 season of the Stern Pro Circuit!

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 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye Pro and Premium as well as Metallica 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 Code.Updates@sternpinball.com. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/

Check out streams of the latest John Wick and Uncanny X-Men code here!

• John Wick – The most recent release (v0.95.0) implemented the “Baba Yaga Returns” including the following updates:
  –  Added Faction Perks for completing a job.  They are:
    1) “BALL SAVES EXTENDED” – Complete the “Night Watch” Job to add 5 Seconds to every ball
  save event in the game, i.e. ball start, multiball start, etc…
  2) “MARKER BALL SAVE DOUBLED” – Complete the “Heist” Job to light BOTH outlanes
  when completing the Marker target(s).
  3) “MULTIBALL EXTENDED” – Complete the “Security Detail” Job to Extend/Restart all multiballs
  when the multiball has drained down to 1 ball.
  4) “BONUS MULTIPLIER STARTS AT 2X” = Complete the “Escort the VIP” Job to always have
  Bonus Multipliers start at 2X
  5) “LIGHTS OUT MOTION SENSOR” – Complete the “Assassination” Job to enable Motion Sensors
  during the “Lights Out” Double scoring mode.
  6) “LIGHTS OUT EXTENDED” – Complete the “Gather Intel” Job to add 20 seconds to all
  “Lights Out” sessions.
  7) “ADD-A-BALL” (coming soon)
   –  Added Motion Sensor as a Faction Perk.  Complete the Ruska Roma “Assassination”
  Job to qualify a Motion Sensor during “Lights Out”.  When Qualified, press the
  Lockdown Bar Action Button” when it is flashing PURPLE during the “Lights Out” mode
  to start the Motion Sensor and temporarily reveal the hidden playfield lights.
  –  Added logic to the Lights Out Double Scoring Mode to “Lock Out” the availability
  of the Motion Sensor while the Lights Out mode start lamp effect is running.
   –  Now Enemies don’t block job/multiball/adversary award shots from being awarded.
  –  Now the number of Enemies in front of a shot arrow acts as a shot multiplier,
  i.e. 2x, 3x, or 4x for 1, 2, or 3 lit enemies.  This shot multiplier is available
  whenever an enemy is lit at a shot for:JOBS:
  Assassination
  Escort the VIP
  Gather Intel
  Heist
  Night Watch
  Security Detail
  Task a Crew
      MULTIBALLS:
  Deconsecrated Multiball
  Excommunicado Multiball
  Helipad Showdown
  Taxicab Chase
  Motorcycle Pursuit
  Bagarre a Letoile
      Note: Enemy Shot Multipliers are not available during Adversary Battles.
   –  Changed the game logic for how enemies are spawned.  Previously the Dance Floor
  Slings/Pops/Targets contributed to how many enemies were spawned. Now the 3 ramp
  targets contribute to the enemy spawning event(s).
  –  Changed the game logic for how enemies are spawned during Multiball Events.
  –  The Allies (and rules) are on a sabbatical and will be returning shortly to help
  John Wick battle enemies.
  –  Now the Tick Tock Mr. Wick mode is not available when the game is set to
  Competition Mode.
  –  Fixed a bug where the game would reset if the WINSTON letters/rule was set to Extra Hard.
  –  Added a Crate Hits rule adjustment, default = EASY.  Now it takes fewer hits to the Crate
  to qualify Mode/Job start at the right VUK.
  –  Now all locations start with 10 enemies.
  –  Now it takes fewer WINSTON letters to qualify the Center Ramp for Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Now it takes fewer car hits to qualify the Left Orbit for a Car Chase Multiball.
  –  Removed the Enemy Spawned TimeOut sound FX.
  –  Now the Center Ramp Arrow will indicate that the “lock” shots are available when advancing
  towards Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Changed the color of the shot arrows in Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Sped up the “Ball X Locked” display effects.
  –  Now the Center Ramp flasher is active when Deconsecrated Multiball is Ready to Start.
  –  Changed the rules to Deconsecrated Multiball.  Now 7 Jackpot Arrow shots are lit at the start
  of Deconsecrated Multiball. Collect 7 Jackpots to light the Continental for a 15 second
  Super Jackpot session.  Once Super Jackpots are no longer available collect 7 more Jackpots
  to relight the Continental for another Super Jackpot session, etc.. Subsequent paths to
  lighting/relighting the Super Jackpot get progressively harder.  The path to the 1st
  Super Jackpot session requires 7 Jackpots.  All of the arrow shots are relit (minus the made shot)
  after a successful Jackpot shot is made.  The path to the 2nd Super Jackpot session also requires 7
  Jackpots.  Each shot goes dark after a made Jackpot shot.  Subsequent paths to a Super Jackpot
  session require 14 Jackpot shots. Super Jackpot sessions start at the Winston/Continental
  captive ball shot.
  –  Changed the color of the shot arrow(s) for advancing towards and playing
  Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Changed the color of the shot arrow that indicates a “COIN” is available at
  that shot.
  –  Now the Deconsecrated Multiball Background display effect shows the Super Jackpot
  value along with the time remaining to score subsequent Super Jackpots.  This timer
  starts upon collecting the first Super Jackpot.
  –  Added Continental lights to sync with added Super JP timing down/expired sound FX during
  Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Added logic to show the “WINSTON” lights as progress towards lighting Super Jackpots
  during Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Fixed a problem where the Jackpot scored “0” points during Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Fixed a problem where Excommunicado Multiball was not starting when qualified. PRO only.
  –  Added Faction/Job Finished Sound FX.
  –  Added Multiball Extended Sound FX.
  –  Added logic for the Left Eject to Hold the ball until the Faction/Job display effect has finished playing.
  –  Changed the Adversary “Be Seeing You” Score Award.
  –  Changed the Adversary Score Awards.
  –  Changed the Deconsecrated Multiball Super Jackpot Score Awards.
  –  Changed the Job Award Base Scoring for “Escort the VIP” and “Task a Crew”.
  –  Changed the Job Award Base Score.
  –  Fixed a problem where the Faction/Job Perk Qualified Award Display Effects
  were being stopped prematurely by the Faction/Job Total Display Effect.
  –  Added a new “Multiball Extended” video.
  –  Changed the amount of time the lights are revealed by the “Lights Out”
  Motion Sensor.
  –  Changed how many lights are revealed by the “Lights Out” Motion Sensor.
  –  Added 7 New Faction/Job Finished videos.
  –  The Default Grand Champion/High Score Award Thresholds have changed due to the
  2X/3X/4X Enemy shot multipliers increasing game scores significantly.
  –  Changed the default starting “Auto” Replay Level.
  –  Changed the default starting “Dynamic” Replay Level.
  –  Changed the default “Fixed Replay Levels”
  –  Changed the default “Grand Champion” and “High Scores” Levels.
  –  Fixed a bug where the Main Play background scenes were stopping the John Wick Background
  Action Scenes from being displayed.
  –  Fixed a problem where, upon shooting the “Dance Floor” Arrow shot, a Job, Adversary Battle,
  or Multiball Award was not being given.
  –  Added logic for the Continental Captive Ball to grow the Super Jackpot Value during
  Deconsecrated Multiball.
  –  Added a Deconsecrated Multiball “Super Jackpot Grows” display effect.

• The Uncanny X-Men – The most recent release (v0.91.0) implemented the “Days of Future Code Part 1” including the following updates:
  New:
  – New FUTURE mode and rules
  – Playing each of the modes will allow you to play in the FUTURE, a timed
  challenge where you must DESTROY LIT SENTINELS and escape before time
  runs out.  Succeed and you collect a character’s perks to be used in
  both the PAST and the FUTURE.
  – Timed challenge is 40 seconds, destroy 6 or more lit SENTINELS
  before shooting the LEFT CENTER RAMP to escape and be awarded your
  characters perk.
  – Hit the SENTINEL HEAD to increase the value of all lit SENTINELS.
  – Run out of time or fail to destroy enough SENTINELS and
  you’re returned to the PAST.
    – New Mode Perks
  – Complete a mode to travel to the FUTURE — conquer it to unlock the
  perk of the character associated with that mode, active in both the
  past and future!
        BISHOP (RESCUE THE INNOCENT)
  – Bishop will require fewer pop hits to award a BISHOP action button.
  COLOSSUS (MAYHEM IN MIDTOWN)
  – All multiball ball saves are increased.
  GAMBIT (SMUGGLED CARGO)
  – Gambit assisted shots will be 3X.
  MAGNETO (GENOSAH UNDER SIEGE)
  – All mode and FUTURE timers are increased.
  PROFESSOR X (STOPPING A JUGGERNAUT)
  – The DANGER ROOM can be advanced in THE FUTURE.
  – Once per ball a DANGER ROOM ball save is activated the first time
  the DANGER ROOM is entered and no other ball save is active.
  ROGUE (SENTINEL FACILITY RAID)
  – Holds KITTY PRYDE lane values across balls.
  – KITTY PRYDE TARGET is available in the FUTURE.
  – KITTY PRYDE LANE scores are doubled in the FUTURE.
  STORM (A FIERY ASSAULT)
  – Bonus damage to other SENTINELS in SENTINEL MULTIBALL.
  – SENTINEL MULTIBALL will be extended once per play
  WOLVERINE (BITTER RIVALRY)
  – Time added to all single ball savers in past and future.
  – Increased damage on the first shot of SENTINELS in
  SENTINEL MULTIBALL.- Updated Perks
  BEAST – Collect by advancing BEAST LAB to level 3.
  – BEAST LAB awards are available in the FUTURE.
  CYCLOPS – Earn by maximizing the Danger Room Level
  – Combo timers are increased
  JEAN GREY – Collect by hitting 10 X-MANSION TARGETS
  – X-MANSION ball save can now be advanced in the FUTURE.
  – Next level 2 BEAST’S LAB award will be LIGHT X-MANSION BALL SAVE.
  NIGHTCRAWLER – Earn by completing 20 targets
  – Nightcrawler will spot any lit SENTINELS in the FUTURE by hitting
  the NIGHTCRAWLER targets between them.
    – BISHOP ACTION BUTTON
  – The BISHOP rule has been changed to now collect the highest scoring
  shot on the playfield when available.  Stack up to 3 BISHOPS
  by hitting the BISHOP POP BUMPER.   When the ACTION BUTTON
  flashes RED, BISHOP is available to collect a shot!
    – SKILL SHOT
  – The SKILL SHOT no longer requires holding the left flipper for
  some of the skill shots.  All SKILL SHOTS are now available
  from the plunge.
  – The 2X SKILL SHOT has been removed.
  – The LEFT LOOP SKILL SHOT has new progressive sound effects.
    – When all 8 modes have been completed, they will reset.  Any perks
  collected will be carried forward.
  – EXTRA BALLS are only awarded the first time through the modes.
  – Added MODE START DIFFICULTY adjustment.  Makes starting modes
  easier or harder.
  – SENTINELS DESTROYED counter added to the main score display.
  – Added SENTINEL CHAMPION.
  – On the last shot to start SENTINEL MULTIBALL, the ball will attempt
  to be caught on the MAGNENTO magnet and flung once multiball starts.
  – Added speech to the start of SENTINEL MULTIBALL.
  – Added audits for major shots.
  Bugs fixed:
  – Fixed issue where some of the switch sounds were being played twice.
  – Fixed issue where the upper shooter lane switch was playing sounds on
  top of itself for skillshots.
  – The wrong switch sounds were being played for the RIGHT RAMP.
  – Sometimes GAMBIT wasn’t multiplying shots correctly.
  – Lit SENTINEL shots destroyed during SENTINEL MULTIBALL were being
  counted twice for INSIDER CONNECTED achievements.
  – Competition mode wasn’t always being considered correctly during SENTINEL
  MULTIBALL.
  – SMUGGLED CARGO wasn’t showing an award for the red shot awards.
  – Sometimes the award for collecting a city in SAVE THE CITY was not
  correct.
  – EXTRA BALL would sometimes say it was being lit even when no extra balls
  were available.
  Tweaks:
  – (PRE/LE ONLY) The SENTINEL HAND will now only break the ramp during
  SENTINEL MULTIBALL.
  – You can no longer stack SENTINEL MULTIBALL and TO ME, MY XMEN MULTIBALL.
  – The DANGER ROOM ABORT TARGET is now lit at the start of a game.
  – During MAYHEM IN MIDTOWN, the lit arrows weren’t visible during the target
  light effects.
  – Improved the music choreography when the modes and multiballs start.
  – Tweaked the initial spawning of SENTINELS for SENTINEL MULTIBALL.
  – Removed unused adjustments for SPECIAL.
  – BEAST LAB no longer awards ADD TIME, replaced by MAGNETO’s perk.

• Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye – The most recent release (v0.92.0) implemented “Minor Healing Potion” updates including:
  ***  NEW  ***
  – Added Travel story speech for the first time you arrive in Gauntlgrym.
  – Added Hobgoblins, Shield Guardians, Helmed Horrors, and Minotaurs to
  Dungeon Crawl.
  – Added Adjustments descriptions.
  – Added speech to Purple 2 when stealth about to fail and has failed
  – Added Speech to Mystery at the Bottom of the Mine when the obelisk is
  damaged
  – Added Tournament attract mode pages to show tournament status.
  ***  FIXED  ***
  – Improved the logic with random seeds resetting on Sunday.
  – Fixed Spelling dragon being too hard at low level.
  – Fixed issues where some speech was not being called at the right time.
  – Gelatinous Cube will now catch a ball from the Short Cut shot as it
  should.
  – Dungeon Crawl timer will now not tick down if the ball is held.
  – (PRO) Removed the Disable Dungeon adjustment.
  – (PRO) Removed the Disable Diverter adjustment.
  – Fixed cases where you would have to fight the red dragon twice in
  Ritual of the Chosen.
  ***  TWEAKED  ***
  – Reduced how hard the targets get to give a Dragon letter.

• Metallica Remastered – The most recent release (v1.02.0) implemented the following updates:

  == NEW ==

  -New Snake eject ball save adjustments

  -“Snake Ball Save Timer” adjustment, default to 0 seconds (off).

  -“Snake Ball Save During Multiball”, default to NO.

  -Add tutorial videos to attract mode

  == FIXED ==

  -Fix lanes complete light effect not working

  -Fix an issue where a super jackpot of 0 could be collected during Frantic Multiball

  == TWEAKED ==

  -Blackened intro speech now has multiple band members convulsing rather than just one

  -Some other minor speech tweaking

  -Limit number of add-a-balls in Unforgiven victory phase to 3

Code updates and read me files are available at https://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://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

Random Tutorials, Interviews and more:

Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and more including a huge happy birthday to both Gary Stern and George Gomez!