We are about a week away from IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando, FL and this week will be busy with announcements like this one, as Bandai Namco Amusement America and Europe have issued a press release that details their upcoming booth spaces. Since this year has a different layout from previous expos (many companies of have been in the same spaces for years are now in different areas of the show), you’ll find BNA’s three booths – S4409, S4609 and S809 – more in the south-middle area of the convention. Regardless, they will be bringing the following games and much more to see and play.
Keep in mind that because this expo combines the might of both mentioned regions, and the European arm handles game distribution for many territories in the Eastern hemisphere, you will also find products from other companies at their booths, including Raw Thrills and Adrenaline Amusements. So, if the lines are too long at those booths, you can play some of the same games over in these spots instead. Let’s go!
New Arcade Games For Bandai Namco
The three main titles Bandai Namco are touting for the event at this time are Resident Evil 2 Arcade, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ninja Coin Clash, and PAC-MAN Baller Derby. These will be taking center stage at their booth alongside existing releases such as GoldStorm Pirates and Taiko no Tatsujin, as well as the names that Bandai Namco Amusement Europe distribute in their territory.
PAC-MAN Baller Derby
Starting off with the last of the new three just mentioned, we have another entry in the Pac-Man Street Range, which has comprised numerous sports-centered titles themed around their little yellow dot-eating wonder over the past few years. To quote Bandai Namco on it:
[PAC-MAN Baller Derby] pits four players against each other around a large LED display, combining precise basketball shooting with a first-past-the-post racing-style challenge. Early results from major venues in the US and UK show strong performance, with the machine placing second out of 212 titles on initial location testing and earning more than other licensed basketball titles.
That’s impressive performance – while basketball games are always solid earners, you don’t see them hitting the top five in all places.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ninja Coin Clash
Before we finally get into the game that everyone is talking about, it’s worth talking about how Bandai Namco will also have another title based on a big license. As alluded to above, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ninja Coin Clash is their big push into the pusher market with a famous anime property, something that certain other names in the market have been doing. Bandai Namco are keeping a close lid on what this one looks like for now, but we do know that it will be a coin pusher with a card vending feature – which alongside the IP will give it extra cache on the market. Could it be similar to the one they already have for One Piece in Japan? Who knows…
Resident Evil 2 Arcade
Last but certainly not least is the official, Western debut of Capcom and Bandai Namco’s Resident Evil 2 Arcade. This has been no secret for a while – no, not that rumor from 2008, but from when it first popped up on test in the Summer of 2025, as first spotted by us. Other tests took place before Bandai Namco decided to officially announce the game, as there was no sense in pretending that it did not exist given the hype that spread online.
When we reached out to BNA, they made it clear that it was going to be a while before the game would reach production, initially saying “either the end of 2026 or early 2027”. As we just learned from the game’s appearance at the Japan Amusement Expo however, they have set the worldwide release date for Spring 2027. A special stream in Japanese provided more details, including the wind effects and unique vibrating floor that players stand on. The guns have also changed slightly from the tests, now featuring a color instead of the more realistic black.
Some of these features are mentioned in this trailer, although the dubbing of screams/laughter over much of it is a little weird:
As is the norm, stay tuned to the Arcade Heroes YouTube channel for updates; there will be one or two things posted to the site too, but that’s always a bit harder when working the show (as it’s easy to upload short videos and photos from my phone to both YT and other social channels as opposed to sitting down and hammering out a post).
Which of Bandai Namco’s new titles for IAAPA 2026 interest you most? Resident Evil 2 Arcade, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ninja Coin Clash, or PAC-MAN Baller Derby?
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