GTI Asia China Expo 2026 has now come and gone, and with that, we have got a small preview of what to expect from the Asian arcade scene coming up for the end of this year and beginning of next. Whilst Western companies tend to wait until IAAPA before unveiling the bulk of their latest wares, the Chinese amusement trade shows are always an early chance to sample some of those that they may also be exporting, depending on distribution agreements (though some are sold directly too).
Today’s post kicks our coverage off with a look at Wahlap, one of our own site advertisers, and Bandai Namco, who were both most notably showing off a certain high profile racing game that has loomed large over this entire show. As we can’t be there in person, thanks to Wahlap as always for sending us a huge folder of photos; the producer of the racing game in question has also posted some snaps used here on this occasion.
GTI Asia China Expo 2026
For a quick primer in case anyone is new here, the GTI Asia China Expo is one of two major Chinese amusement trade shows that happen yearly, the other being the slightly larger Asia Amusement & Attractions (AAA) Expo each May. GTI in its current form happens at the Pazhou Complex of Guangzhou’s China Import and Export Fair every September, and is one of several shows held by the company in question (Game Time International), this one being their biggest of their bunch.
From what we have been told by our close sources who attend, this year’s show was roughly half the size of AAA was in May (though that’s not to say it wasn’t big), and didn’t have as many new game reveals. Here’s a map of the venue this year. There has also apparently been some travel issues that may have hit some attendees who intended to come from the UK, though whether that went for everyone is unsure.
Wahlap
When it comes to Wahlap’s appearances at Chinese trade shows, it’s hard to overstate just how big they go with their booths. We have mentioned time and time again how these are considerably more lively and jam-packed than the arcade company trade show booths we see out West, which just goes to show what a little money can do. As always, they have also uploaded a highlights video, which gives a better sense of how their GTI Asia China Expo space goes than the still photos seen below:
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune Ignition
At the top of the arcade anticipation list is of course the next major installment of Bandai Namco’s Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune, which has now been confirmed for a Asia-wide release in addition to Wahlap’s one in China, and the original launch that will inevitably happen first in Japan. As alluded to in the preview, Wahlap have unsurprisingly pulled out all the stops in exhibiting it, to the extent of wheeling along a GR YARIS car from Toyota as a special showpiece. It looks like numerous members of the game’s development team (including producer Kazuhiro Maeda) came over to put in appearances too; there are plenty of group photos with them and high ranking Wahlap personnel in the photo folder they sent to us.
Unfortunately, there has still been no news on whether or not this will show up out West at this time. That probably won’t change until the WMMT team says so, but on the off chance that things move quickly, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for it at IAAPA 2026. If it does get a Western release, then there’s a high probability that it will have some cabinet changes. This early build of the Chinese version already has a couple for that territory in the form of it using the steering wheel seen on Storm Racer 2, as well as a QR code scanner rather than one for Amusement IC cards (as with most online games in China). It also apparently wasn’t translated yet; the extent to which it might be altered over here remains to be seen.
Battle Through The Heavens
For something that most probably won’t be finding its way out West, here’s a rare glimpse at one of the many card battlers proliferating in China right now. This genre has been becoming a bigger deal of late over there, which seems to be a ripple effect of Wahlap bringing the likes of Minecraft Dungeons Arcade over, and adding a card function to NBA Superstars. It’s now progressed to makers like them and IGS turning to more Asian entertainment IPs like this one (Battle Through The Heavens), which don’t mean much over here, but certainly pull in the crowds even more out in their homeland.
For the gameplay on this, it seems to be more hack and slash with card vending fun. It’s not outside the realms of possibility that one of these cabinets gets repurposed into housing a different, more Western-friendly game by Wahlap at some point, but as with their previous Kingdoms Fantasy, don’t expect it to turn up outside of Asia. That said, UNIS did release one of their similar trading card titles overseas recently (Picture Fantasy), although it’s unclear how many have picked it up out West so far.
Pokémon Spot
The main surprise that Wahlap had on show here was this new Pokémon piece, which was suddenly announced by them with very few details after their preview had already been posted. Who knows whether that was down to licensing with The Pokémon Company, but now that it has been fully revealed, this looks like a novel, if simple touchscreen game in which the name says it all. Using a specially-linked mobile phone app, players spot different types of Pokémon roaming around the wilderness, against a time limit. The cabinets almost look more like large kiosks than traditional arcade game machines; Wahlap had them set up in their own mini area with some Pokémon statues and standees adjacent to their main booth.
Something of note is that this is a Wahlap original, rather than a game they have brought over from Japan as with their previous Pokémon titles. There have been numerous videos of it uploaded to the Chinese video platform BiliBili, and just for convenience, we have now posted a couple of clips of these on the AH YouTube channel, in what is likely the first content of it on an English site. The current absence of that officially doesn’t inspire confidence in it ever coming outside of China, but surely someone will bring over one of the many Pokémon arcade games that have hit the scene in Asia to the West someday…
Disney Speedstorm Arcade
Now to a Western game making its Chinese debut, as this show has also marked the first appearance of Adrenaline Amusements’ Disney Speedstorm Arcade in China. The design of this one is different to the cabinet we’d seen before; is unclear if this is the same as what’s currently shipping in the West (their website shows an older render and it’s normal for cabinets to receive changes for the release build), however Wahlap have sold a different design of Adrenaline’s NFS Heat Takedown, so perhaps this has some region-specific changes too.
Asphalt 9 Legends Arcade / Moto Blitz DX Plus
For another vertical screen wonder, Wahlap and IGS’ two big updates to their Asphalt racers returned here, now sporting the cross-title bike/car race battle feature that was announced shortly after their early appearance at AAA. As mentioned previously, these will be frequently showing up out West now that both are shipping via LAI Games (with Moto Blitz coming out a little ahead of schedule), and Wahlap will have them on hand again at IAAPA Expo Europe in just over a week’s time.
Other Games
For a quick overview of the other games Wahlap had here, check out this photo carousel, featuring several more games of theirs that have put in repeat appearances like Demon Hunter 1892 (which may be coming over here soon), Monster Eye 3, Phantom Vanguard, Storm Rider X, and Storm Racer 2 (recently announced to soon be making its UK debut via Sega Amusements at IAAPA Expo Europe), but also the new Miraculous video redemption game from them and IGS. Note that this has Amusement Source International’s logo on it, which isn’t always something that happens with their games right out of the gate, so expect them to be selling that. Look out for some promo of Wahlap’s WEC 2026 championships behind the rhythm games, and the Chinese version of NBA Superstars again too:
Bandai Namco
If Wahlap’s showcase of Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune Ignition wasn’t enough, Bandai Namco also had their own directly opposite booth where it took complete priority, with them seemingly not exhibiting anything else. Usually they’ve brought along other games to their stands at Chinese shows, but it was all eyes on WMMT this time. Given how much it has been tested across other parts of the world, you’d be forgiven for thinking Resident Evil 2: Arcade might’ve put in an appearance here too… but apparently it didn’t (for now). At the very least, we will be seeing RE2: Arcade over here by the end of the year, so hold tight there.
That’s it for this first day of coverage from GTI Asia China Expo 2026, but check back soon for a second part that dives into what UNIS and Ace Amusement have showcased at the event. We’re still waiting on some official media through from the latter, as like Wahlap they are a site advertiser, so hopefully they should come through soon. Until then, which of the new arcade games seen in China of this post interest you the most?
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