More Than 1300 Retro Arcade Games From the Museum of Pinball Are Heading to Auction

In July 2021, the Museum of Pinball in Southern California announced it will be permanently closing after eight years of operation. The news was a blow to fans of arcade history, but it comes with a silver lining. This September, the museum is auctioning off over 1300 classic games and pinball machines to the public, Nerdist reports.

Captain’s Auction Warehouse held the first sales event from September 10 to September 12, and they will host the second from September 24 to September 26. Bidding takes place live at the Museum of Pinball at 700 South Hathaway Street in Banning, California. Prospective buyers can either put down a $300 refundable deposit to attend the auction in person or submit their bids online in real time.

Even if you don't have thousands of dollars to spend on a machine of your own, the inventory is still worth checking out. The museum has already sold arcade games themed after The Amazing Spider-Man, Rocky, and Waterworld. Just scrolling through the list is like taking a time machine through pinball history.

The Museum of Pinball opened in 2013, and for years it was home to the largest collection of retro pinball and arcade games on Earth. It featured hundreds of machines spread out over 40,000 square feet of playing space. After more than a year of suffering financially due to COVID-19, the nonprofit was forced to close its doors for good in 2021.

Arcade enthusiasts may have lost an important institution, but the auction is a chance for some to bring part of the museum into their homes. You can register to take part in the bidding here.

[h/t Nerdist]