Stern's King Kong pinball just got its 0.95 code update

Stern Pinball released the version 0.86.0 code update for its King Kong: Myth of Terror Island pinball machines on September 18, 2025. This update, which was released several months ago, applies to the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models. It brings a new set of display animations and adjusts the scoring rules for several key playfield targets. The patch is available to download directly to the machines over Wi-Fi.

Keith Elwin designed the King Kong table. He previously worked on popular Stern releases like Godzilla, Iron Maiden, and Jurassic Park. Elwin is a former competitive pinball champion. His designs usually prioritize smooth shot flow and deep rulesets. The King Kong machine has a custom-sculpted Kong animatronic that physically reacts to your shots. The playfield also includes a helix-shaped Biplane ramp and a New York City train car that locks pinballs for multiball. It looks like a fun update. I really wish I could afford to own a pinball cab again. Pinball machines are expensive pieces of commercial hardware. For now, I will just have to find this one on location at a local arcade.

Lost Temple gets a scoring overhaul

The 0.86.0 code changes how players interact with the Lost Temple drop targets. The update adjusts the base point values for the Kong Cave scoop and the vertical up kicker. Pinball scoring is a delicate balance. If one ramp is too lucrative, tournament players will just shoot that single ramp repeatedly and ignore the rest of the playfield. Stern adjusts these values over time based on data collected from connected machines around the world.

The giant spider guarding The Pit also has new behavior. The playfield magnet now grabs the ball faster during specific modes. The LCD screen shows new animations when players hit the Gong bash target to summon Kong. The update also tweaks the lighting effects for the speaker panels on the Premium and Limited Edition models.

Wi-Fi updates via Insider Connected

Modern Stern tables connect to the internet through a system called Insider Connected. Players can download the 0.86.0 code directly through this platform. The code is also available for manual update via USB drive from the Stern Pinball website.

Insider Connected does more than just handle patches. It tracks player profiles and global leaderboards. The system records high scores and unlocks digital achievements across different machines.

The road to version 1.0

Pinball code updates often change the entire strategy of a game. Early code usually focuses on basic functionality and major multiballs. A machine might ship with version 0.80 code when it first leaves the factory. This allows the manufacturer to get physical cabinets into arcades and homes while the software team finishes the deeper rules.

Later updates like this one add polish and balance the scoring exploits. The King Kong table is getting closer to its final 1.0 release. The 1.0 milestone usually means all planned wizard modes are implemented and the core ruleset is locked in. Tournament players will need to learn the new rules before their next local event. Casual players will just notice that the giant ape yells at them a bit differently now.