Arcade1Up
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game hardware |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Scott Bachrach |
| Products | 3/4-scale arcade cabinet replicas, replica pinball machines, replica light gun games, sit-down arcade cabinets |
| Parent | Tastemakers, Inc. |
Arcade1Up is a technology firm focused on producing 3/4-scale arcade cabinet replicas that utilize contemporary hardware and emulation technology to run classic arcade video game titles.
History
Established in 2018 as a division of Tastemakers, Inc. under the leadership of CEO Scott Bachrach, Arcade1Up was created to offer an affordable and compact alternative to traditional full-size arcade cabinet reproductions. Bachrach recognized an opportunity to serve customers seeking space-saving and cost-effective arcade solutions for residential, workplace, and entertainment environments such as arcade bars.
The company manufactures 3/4-scale cabinets sold as do-it-yourself kits, which include precisely cut fiberboard components, 17" LCD displays, control panels, and emulation systems. These units are priced near , stand approximately tall, and weigh less than . Optional risers are available that elevate the cabinets by about to enable standing gameplay. Initial production runs experienced some quality assurance issues that led to refinements in later models.
Arcade1Up obtained licensing agreements with major players like Namco, Midway, and Atari, initially concentrating on games from the 1970s and 1980s before branching out to include titles from the 1990s and beyond. Their cabinets often feature between two and twelve games sharing similar control schemes—for instance, the Pac-Man cabinet includes Pac-Man Plus, while the Centipede model offers other Atari trackball-based games. Control interfaces are designed to closely resemble the originals. For multiplayer experiences requiring additional space, such as the four-player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arcade1Up developed full-sized control decks. They have also introduced remote multiplayer functionality through Wi-Fi connectivity.
The product range grew to incorporate smaller "counter-cades" intended for placement on bars or tables, featuring two to five games, along with sit-down table-style cabinets designed for head-to-head competition.
In June 2020, Arcade1Up collaborated with Zen Studios to release 3/4-scale replica pinball machines showcasing officially licensed tables from Marvel and Star Wars. The company also secured rights for replica light gun games, launching with Big Buck Hunter. November 2020 marked their debut of a sit-down cabinet equipped with steering wheel controls for Out Run.
October 2020 saw Arcade1Up successfully fund the Infinity Table through a Kickstarter campaign—a touchscreen table featuring multiple board and card games licensed from Hasbro, applying their expertise in arcade-style recreations.
Growing enthusiasm for retro gaming contributed to robust sales figures; by May 2020, more than one million units had been sold. The COVID-19 pandemic notably accelerated demand, with sales increasing by an average of 96% weekly between March and May 2020. By early 2022, total sales surpassed three million units.
At CES 2022, Arcade1Up unveiled full-size cabinets built to replicate the dimensions of original arcade machines. These new models incorporate 19" screens and updated SuzoHapp controls that are widely used in authentic arcade hardware.