At a press conference held by the Japan Game Machine Industry Association and the Japan Electric Gaming Machine Association on 7 September, the introduction of a new pachinko feature, the “Normal-Play Flag,” and four new categories was announced, along with details of the Promotion Month planned for February next year.
The Japan Game Machine Industry Association and the Japan Electric Gaming Machine Association held a press conference on 7 September on future policies for pachinko and pachislot, announcing the introduction of the new “Normal-Play Flag” feature and four new categories, as well as the “Easier-to-Play Pachinko and Pachislot Promotion Month” planned for February next year. The initiatives are intended to expand gameplay in pachinko machines and improve the playing environment in the market.
The Normal-Play Flag is a feature under which, when a specified trigger is met during normal play, the next state is determined by an internal draw. Multiple flags can be incorporated, including different types and numbers of time-shortening modes. Examples cited included reaching a prescribed number of games, specific chance symbols, the appearance or consecutive appearance of losing symbols, and branches that occur when returning to normal play from a jackpot, a probability variation mode or a time-shortening mode. It was explained that this would enable a wider variety of gameplay developments than the conventional format, which centers on waiting for a jackpot.
The Japan Game Machine Industry Association will introduce four new categories for pachinko machines and establish labeling guidelines that allow fans and hall operators to identify a machine’s category at a glance. Application will begin with machines introduced in November this year, with the system to be rolled out sequentially from February 2027 onward. The classification of previously sold machines is expected to become available on the association’s website.
The “Easier-to-Play Pachinko and Pachislot Promotion Month” will be held in February next year, with a policy of promoting the market launch of machines with low to medium payout intensity. On the pachinko side, priority sales are expected for Level 1 and Level 2 machines, while pachislot development is expected to focus on machines with relatively low payout intensity.
Industry participants shared the aim of revitalizing the market through two pillars: conventional simple machines and machines incorporating the new features. The view was also expressed that manufacturers’ creativity and ingenuity could lead to the creation of machines offering new forms of gameplay.