Konami earns ire of arcade for terminating online service for older machines 

Apparently spotted in a Japanese gaming arcade, a photo of a notice brimming with anger directed at Konami has gone viral in Japan after being posted on X.  

Arcade gaming still has its fans in Japan, and you can find rows of machines just ready to eat your spare change in many cities. Manufacturers of arcade machines continue to release upgraded versions of beloved games, but Konami’s recent decision to terminate online services to old models of DJing rhythm game Sound Voltex Exceed Gear, released in 2020, has apparently angered at least one arcade owner in Japan. Although the following notice is in polite, customer-facing language, it is quickly apparent who the writer has a beef with.

The first game in the Sound Voltex series was released in Japan back in 2012, subsequently gaining popularity and spawning five sequels. It is similar to Beatmania, with players using a combination of buttons and knobs to hit notes and lasers as they come towards the player on a Guitar Hero-style course lane. 2020’s Sound Voltex Exceed Gear, was the first arcade machine title in the series to be released in North American territories in 2022. 

The original cabinet for Sound Voltex Exceed Gear was quickly updated to the Valkyrie model in 2021, which added a touchscreen and some new game modes. However, the old model apparently had its online service access terminated on March 31 2024, prompting social media users to post farewell messages to the machine (like the one pictured above). The game is dependent on Konami’s e-amusement online service for player accounts, rankings, tournaments and multiplayer mode. 

So-called “planned obsolescence” of consumer and industry electronics alike has become a contentious topic in recent years, as is the dependance on online, provider-driven services. In this case, the business that posted the irate notice sees Konami’s move as “turning the arcade’s assets into garbage” by making a machine that is at most 4 years old obsolete. Commenters on the post wanted more details, questioning whether arcade owners must buy the machines or can rent them. Others mused on the reasons behind Konami’s decision, wondering if Sound Voltex cabinets had become less popular with customers. Some expressed sympathy with the owner’s anger but also disapproved of how they had openly expressed their annoyance, which could put off players from going to the arcade.