Here we go! This morning Stern Pinball officially unveiled the first pinball machine of 2025, it's new cornerstone game Dungeons and Dragon's: The Tyrant's Eye.
Let me begin by saying that, I LOVE this game as much as it's possible to love a pinball machine that I've never played, never seen streamed and have only seen for a few minutes. This theme is an absolute homerun for me personally. There's not many themes that I would want more. I'm going to sell whatever machines I have to to get this game.
From what I've seen so far, the theme integration in this machine is excellent. The game's designer Brian Eddy and programmer Dwight Sullivan are big D&D fans and you can feel their passion for it in the game.
Stern claims that the "Rath the Relentless" dragon is the most advanced mech that they have ever done. It moves in multiple directions and fires balls back at players in the Premium and LE models. It even has an 8-ball multiball with the Dragon firing balls at the player.
Other features include:
A Gelatinous Cube captures the player's ball so that it has to be rescued.
A Dungeon entrance that pops up out of the playfield, a lot like the basement mech in Bally's Theatre of Magic. Players have to traverse the dungeon, which is procedurally generated and changes every week.
A player activated drain shield between the flippers that is triggered using the action button. It is very useful in the battle with the dragon.
The dragon only moves up and down and does not shoot pinballs at the player in the Pro model. The Pro also does not have the pop-up dungeon entrance. The dungeon area is a transparent window.
The voice talent in this game is outstanding, with big names including Kevin Smith of Clerks fame, members of the Critical Role Dungeons and Dragons show, Matt Mercer, Laura Bailey and Marisha Ray. I need to digress for a moment to express how awesome the inclusion of Critical Role actors in this game is to me on a personal level. I discovered the Critical Role show on YouTube about 8 years ago, right before I was hospitalized twice in three months to have heart bypasses of my ascending and descending aorta. I was in intensive care in the hospital for a week after each surgery and one of the things that I did to pass time was listen to every episode of Critical Role as I drifted in and out of consciousness. Critical Role and watching a D&D stream literally helped me get through one of the most challenging times of my life. Anyhow, back to the game :).
Pricing of the game remains unchanged from Stern’s recent releases, $6,999 for the Pro, $9,699 for the Premium and $12,999 for the Limited Edition. Stern is limiting the LEs to 740 units in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons, which was created in 1974.
Production of D&D LEs will begin within the next couple of weeks. Pro production will happen in early February and Premiums in mid-February. There has been some delays with Dragon sculpts being imported from overseas that may limit availability.
Dungeons and Dragons machines now include an upgraded power supply that includes better specs, mounting and a quieter fan.
The game will launch with Code Version 0.8. When starting a game, players can choose from four starting characters, Paladin, Wizard, Cleric and Rogue. Three more characters, Ranger, Barbarian and Bard will be unlockable by progressing in the game. The game has 3 different potential story endings
Other features include the PinSave system lets players pick up where they left off last game their last game if they want to or start from the beginning. The game contains Co-Op mode. In this mode other players are part of your adventuring party.
The first stream of gameplay will take place tomorrow, Saturday January 4th. The machine will make its public debut at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Expo from January 7th through the 10th. It will also appear at the London EAG Show from January 14th through the 16th.
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
"In celebration of 50 years of the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game, Stern Pinball players worldwide will be brought on an epic and thrilling journey as they adventure into the forgotten realms, featuring iconic enemies, including a red dragon, gelatinous cube, mimic, Sammaster the lich, Xanathar the beholder, an owlbear, and locations including those in Faerûn such as Arabel and Westgate. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye pinball games are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models and feature artwork by prolific artist Vincent Proce, music from world-renowned composer Cris Velasco, and voiced by a talented cast including Michael Dorn, Kevin Smith, Luke Gygax, Chris Prynoski, Brendon Small, Gerard Way, Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, and Marisha Ray.
In Stern’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye pinball games, players are chosen members of the Dragonshield Guild, trying to defeat the dragon queen Tiamat, who is hatching a plan to rise again, triggering the War of Dragons, with Xanathar, Balinor and Sammaster all fighting for power. Players will experience the game’s fantasy world under the glass, fusing pinball with the iconic franchise like never before.
Battle Rath the Relentless, the red dragon, the most advanced animatronic mech in pinball, intelligently reacts to player action with multi-axis motion and features omnidirectional impact sensing technology. Voiced by the iconic Michael Dorn, players will attempt to defeat Rath the Relentless with pinballs and by hitting the 3-bank target, steal its treasure. When Rath the Relentless breathes his magnificent fire, multiple pinballs shoot from its mouth but be prepared. Players can activate a metal shield between the flippers to not only defend against attacks but also assist with playfield shots.
Enjoy mysterious and exciting features by navigating through hidden passageways, experience an electromagnet-powered gelatinous cube that freezes the pinball, and explore dynamic dungeon levels that are accessed through a disappearing playfield trap door. Other features include Fizmo’s store that allows players to acquire unique items, a treasure chest that unleashes mimic monsters, and more secrets to uncover.
Roll the dice with randomness as players unlock where shots and choices control the path of the game’s campaign, driving toward different story endings. Each path is different for players, spanning from characters to trinkets to weekly items and more; once the game campaign has concluded, additional characters will be unlocked.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye is in a beautiful package with Stern’s ever-expanding Insider Connected™ platform, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in multiple ways, including ongoing code updates from Stern Pinball to extend and improve the experience over time. Through Insider Connected, players can choose to pick up where they left off with Stern’s new PinSave System, including character experience points, inventory items, and game campaign progress. For a more traditional pinball experience, players can start each game without saved progress. Players can also play cooperatively, sharing game progress together along their pinball adventure. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/ or in the Insider Connected App. Download it today on iOS and Android.
To honor the original release of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D) from 1974, the Limited Edition model will be limited to 740 games globally. This highly collectible model includes the Speaker Expression Lighting System with D&D-themed game effects, a full-color Dragon-inspired mirrored backglass, full-color reflective foil Tiamat and Xanathar high-definition cabinet decals with hand-drawn artwork by Vincent Proce, exclusive custom D&D “Dragon Red” powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and a digital Insider Connected LE owner’s badge on registration.
“We’re so excited for players to experience one of the most iconic and beloved franchises that is perfect for pinball,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Get ready to roll through a D&D adventure like never before.”"
UPDATE: I have put down a deposit with MAD Pinball for a D&D Premium.
