Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship Update

It’s been bit since we’ve heard anything about Bandai Namco Amusements’ Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship, so let me share a couple of quick items about it. These should interest operators looking to get one as well as players hoping to experience it.

When first shown off at IAAPA 2021(see below), the release date was tentatively scheduled for February of this year, but that was soon pushed back to April; then May. At present, let me quote Frank Cosentino of BNA: “The standard will start shipping mid June. Supply chain issues are nuts. “

Sadly with major population centers of China under massive lockdowns recently, those production issues where many arcade manufacturers get their parts from, are not going to get better any time soon.

The plan is to offer the standard 4p model as originally shown, along with an upgrade kit that will also turn an existing PMBR unit into a Chompionship that supports up to 8-players. Here’s a newer & nicer cabinet image of that cabinet that Namco recently posted to their website:

Now you might be asking yourself a question from that statement “Standard? Does that mean that there is a deluxe?”

Well astute reader, I’m glad you asked as the answer is: yes. And those DX units have already begun shipping, but there’s a caveat to it. Here’s an image that reader Jdevy caught that isn’t the best, but it’s the first time I’ve seen the DX out in the wild; I did see a pre-production photo of it at AEI but it wasn’t ready quite yet:

What you see here is the DX version of the game, which offers 8-player action on a cabinet that is essentially like an air hockey table.  The screen size is around 75″-80″ but it also has two marquee screens to show the same action for onlookers. This is a Dave & Busters summer exclusive, after which other locations will be able to nab one. In the meantime, the standard should begin shipping as mentioned in June.

What do you think about this news?