this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2025
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Considering how short the phase was where videogame arcades really made sense (so the phase between them appearing in the 70s and them losing their advantage over games consoles and PCs in about 2000), it's quite surprising that any of them still continue to hang around.
I mean, totally cool that they do, but apart from for an occasional nostalgia kick, why would anyone regularly frequent a (by now retro) arcade and waste money playing the games there, when for the price of a few rounds you could just buy the whole game on a steam sale?
It's one of these things where the concept of them still existing feels good, but not good enough for people to actually pay for it.
VR arcades are the current version of that, they will likely last for a bit and then they will be out of fashion too.
These days arcades are more pinball focused and it has saved the arcade industry in the US at least. I'm one of the people who uses the Pinball map app and tries to go play pinball anywhere I go. Many arcades have opened in the past 5 years and are doing well. People are tired of being at home from covid, and the social aspect is amazing and the community is very open and kind.
Most people can't afford a $7,000-15,000 pinball machine, so they go out and pay 50 cents to a dollar per game and have fun for a couple hours.
I'm actually going to an arcade today in my city that is one of 3 huge ones within a 45 minute drive. Over 35 pinball machines and 50 arcade games, many are imported from Japan and are Amazing!!