Stern Pinball Fleshes Out The Walking Dead Remastered With New Toys

There are very few interior design choices that say "I love the zombie apocalypse" quite like a fish tank filled with severed heads. If you happen to own one of Stern's premium pinball tables, you can now make that specific aesthetic choice a reality.

As announced by Stern Pinball today, the company is rolling out a full suite of accessories for The Walking Dead Remastered. This collaboration with AMC Networks is designed to work with the Premium and Limited Edition models of the machine, offering the kind of physical DLC that you can't just download from a server.

The Governor’s Fishtank (Now With More LEDs)

The centerpiece of this drop is undoubtedly the Governor’s Fishtank Topper. While based on the topper from the original 2014 release, Stern has significantly overhauled the hardware. The new unit features a larger tank with redecorated zombie sculpts and improved art. More importantly, it packs 45 LED lights to simulate that murky, water-filled look without the risk of actually pouring water on expensive electronics.

It is not purely cosmetic, however. The topper features an integrated progress bar that helps players track their advancement through the game. Stern also teased an upcoming exclusive mode called "Fishtank Frenzy" that utilizes the hardware, proving that even in pinball, the hardware upgrades eventually impact the gameplay.

Lighting Up the Apocalypse

For those who feel their cabinet is a bit too dark for a game about the end of civilization, Stern introduced a few lighting upgrades. The Speaker Expression Lighting System for the Premium Edition adds intelligent RGB LEDs that react dynamically to game events. If you have ever wanted your speakers to flash in terror while you drain a ball, this is your chance.

They also revealed new Expression Lights Side Armor. This black armor features foil-backed, laser-cut bullet shapes and a zombie head in crosshairs. Owners can upgrade this with a lighting system that adds 48 intelligent RGB LEDs to the mix. It is a lot of lumens for a machine usually played in a dark basement.

Nostril Lighting Technology

Perhaps the most specific engineering detail in the announcement concerns the new Zombie Head Shooter Knob. It features a forward-facing zombie head with multicolored LEDs. According to Stern, these lights illuminate the zombie’s "eyes, nostrils, and mouth." We have finally reached the peak of pinball technology: illuminated nostrils.

While digital remasters get all the attention, it is refreshing to see physical machines getting the remaster treatment too. Keeping these complex electromechanical beasts running is hard enough. Making them look this good is a bonus.