Pinball FX 3

Pinball FX 3 allows players to play one of several simulated pinball tables, and includes online scoreboard support for informal competition with other players. The game is aimed to provide a more engaging multiplayer experience than previous titles; the game will provide support for asynchronous competitive multiplayer options, and tournament-style play.{{Cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-28-zen-pinball-says-goodbye-to-last-gen-with-pinball-fx3 | title = Zen Studios says goodbye to last-gen with Pinball FX3 | first= Jeffrey | last = Matulef | date = June 28, 2017 | accessdate = June 29, 2017 | work = Eurogamer}} There will be shared leaderboards and multiplayer options among platforms, although PlayStation 4 players can only compete with users playing through Steam on Windows due to Sony's initial decision to prohibit cross-platform play between its PlayStation 4 and other consoles.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/pinball-fx-3-is-all-about-cross-platform-competition-1797931064 | title = Pinball FX 3 Is All About Cross-Platform Competition | first = Mike | last = Fahey | date = August 17, 2017 | accessdate = August 17, 2017 | work = Kotaku}}

Zen's prior games have been split across consoles. The Pinball FX games typically have been released on Microsoft platforms, while the Zen Pinball games were released on non-Microsoft platforms. Pinball FX 3 will be the first game in the series to target both Microsoft and non-Microsoft platforms, and Zen intends that any future titles in the series will do so as well. Zen has stated that a "majority" of the previous downloadable content pinball tables that a player has purchased for either Pinball FX 2 or Zen Pinball 2 will be available in Pinball FX 3 at no cost; Zen cited issues with licensing that prevents some tables from being brought to the new version. Zen Studios has affirmed that more than fifty tables will carry over, with only about half a dozen that will not.

Pinball FX 3 launched with three new tables based on movie properties from Universal Pictures that includes E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, and Jaws. Additional tables are in development with new intellectual property holders.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pinball-fx3-aims-to-redefine-the-video-game-pinbal/1100-6451286/ | title = Pinball FX3 Aims To "Redefine" The Video Game Pinball Experience | first = Eddie | last = Makuch | date = June 28, 2017 | accessdate = June 29, 2017 | work = GameSpot}}

A version for the Nintendo Switch was released in December 2017, with one free table and 29 additional tables that can be purchased as DLC. The Switch version takes advantage of the unit's portability; the game can be played in portrait mode and the player can tilt the device to simulate tilting of the pinball table.{{Cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/pinball-fx3-is-tilting-on-to-switch-soon-470351.phtml | title = Pinball FX3 is tilting on to Switch soon | first = Peter | last= Glagowski | date = November 1, 2017 | accessdate = November 1, 2017 | work = Destructoid}} However, following release, players reported issues with low frame rates and poor graphics on some of the tables; while Zen Studios has said they were working on a patch to fix these as well as make other display improvements, the studio later announced in March 2018 that they had to forgo the patch citing that there was no universal fix as the issue was one done table-by-table; they can optimize tables going forward but could not justify the time and cost to fix the existing ones.{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-03-07-zen-studios-ditches-plans-to-patch-pinball-fx3-nintendo-switch-performance | title = Zen Studios ditches plans to patch Pinball FX3 Nintendo Switch performance | date = March 7, 2018 | accessdate = March 7, 2018 | work = Eurogamer }} Reacting on the negative backlash of this announcement, the studio later reverted on this stance and is now committed to releasing a performance update during summer 2018 that will increase handheld performance to 60fps and will raise docked resolution to 1080p Full HD for all existing tables.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinballfx.com/?page_id=7632|title=Pinball FX3 – Nintendo Switch Update|work=Zen Studios|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en-US}} The Switch version also omits Zen Studios' Marvel and Star Wars pinball tables, with the latter being made available separately as a single, standalone compilation game exclusive to that platform, titled Star Wars Pinball, in 2019.{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen |title=Entire Star Wars Pinball collection coming to Switch, with new modes |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/11/18305227/star-wars-pinball-nintendo-switch-release-date |website=Polygon |accessdate=12 October 2020 |date=11 April 2019}}

In September 2018, Zen Studios announced that it has received the license to recreate several real Bally and Williams tables for the game.{{cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|title=Classic Bally/Williams pinball tables coming to Pinball FX3|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/4/17818186/pinball-fx3-arcade-bally-williams-rights|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|accessdate=2018-09-04|date=2018-09-04|df=mdy-all}} This marks the first time in the Pinball FX series that real world tables are recreated in the game. This announcement came a few months after FarSight Studios, the developers of The Pinball Arcade, lost the same license. These tables can be played in two visual modes that otherwise do not impact the game: one based on the more realistic appearance of the actual pinball games, and another that added Pinball FX 3{{'}}s simulated elements like animated characters, and unique ball trail colors.{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/pinball-fx-3-s-williams-tables-will-feature-classic-and-all-new-remastered-modes-523460.phtml | title = Pinball FX 3's Williams tables will feature Classic and all-new Remastered modes | first= Chris |last = Moyse | date = September 20, 2018 | accessdate = September 20, 2018 | work = Destructoid }} However, as to retain the game's overall ESRB Everyone 10+ rating and to avoid the cost and difficulties of re-rating the game, original graphical elements of the pinball tables had to be censored or altered, such as altering innuendo that was present on the Fish Tales backboards.{{cite web | url = https://www.destructoid.com/pinball-fx-3-s-williams-tables-are-available-now-feature-censored-elements-526515.phtml | title = Pinball FX 3's Williams tables are available now, feature censored elements | first = Chris | last = Moyse | date = October 10, 2018 | accessdate = October 10, 2018 | work = Destructoid }}{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/10/pinball-fx3-self-censors-classic-pinball-art-for-lower-esrb-rating/ | title = Zen Studios alters classic pinball art to protect family-friendly rating | first = Kyle | last = Orland | date = October 12, 2018 | accessdate = October 12, 2018 | work = Ars Technica }}{{refn|group=N|The Steam version and the stand-alone Williams Pinball mobile app available on iOS and Android will feature the uncensored, unaltered versions of the tables,{{cite web |title=Pinball FX 3 Williams Pinball - Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.pinballfx.com/?page_id=7989 |website=Pinball FX 3 |accessdate=18 May 2019 |date=4 September 2018}} the latter which consequently was issued higher content age ratings (17+ on the Apple App Store and the ESRB's Teen rating on the Google Play Store, respectively).{{cite web |title=App Store listing for Williams Pinball |url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/williams-pinball/id1406370101 |website=Apple App Store |access-date=18 May 2019 |quote=Rating: Rated 17+ for Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References, Gambling and Contests, Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity, Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling, Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes}}{{cite web |title=Google Play Store listing for Williams Pinball |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zenstudios.williamspinball&hl=en_US |website=Google Play Store |accessdate=18 May 2019 |quote=Rating: Rated Teen for Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes and Simulated Gambling (ESRB)}}}} Zen Studios' Mel Kirk said that while these tables had been released in The Pinball Arcade under its E10+ ESRB rating, Zen Studios' internal review believed that there was no way that the tables could have fallen within E10+. Kirk stated that he believed that with The Pinball Arcade, "somehow they flew under the radar and it was not caught". Further, Zen Studios had had past issues with ESRB content ratings with games such as Infinite Minigolf and wanted to exercise caution. The first of these tables were released on October 9, 2018.

{{note|fx1|fx1}}Table originally from Pinball FX
{{note|fx2|fx2}}Table originally from Pinball FX 2
{{note|zp1|zp1}}Table originally from or was also released on Zen Pinball
{{note|zp2|zp2}}Table also released for Zen Pinball 2
{{note|ip|ip}}Non-Disney-owned IP(s) licensed to Zen Studios
{{note|*|*}}The Balls of Glory pack was delisted on August 28, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Pinball FX3 is Delisting Balls of Glory DLC – Lords of Gaming |date=7 August 2024 |url=https://lordsofgaming.net/2024/08/pinball-fx3-is-delisting-balls-of-glory-dlc/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |language=en-US}}

The game was nominated for the Central Park Children's Zoo Award for Best Kids Game at the New York Game Awards 2018,{{Cite web | url = https://www.axs.com/complete-list-of-winners-of-the-new-york-game-awards-2018-127527 | title = Complete list of winners of the New York Game Awards 2018 | first = Kayla | last = Whitney | date = January 25, 2018 | accessdate = January 28, 2018 | work = AXS}} and won the award for "Game, Special Class" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.{{Cite web | url = http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/ | title = Nominee List for 2017 | date = February 9, 2018 | accessdate = February 19, 2018 | work = National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers | archive-url = https://archive.today/20180215172210/http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/ | archive-date = February 15, 2018 | url-status = dead }}{{Cite web | url = http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/ | title = Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY | date = March 13, 2018 | accessdate = March 15, 2018 | work = National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers | archive-url = https://archive.today/20180314070824/http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/ | archive-date = March 14, 2018 | url-status = dead }}

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Category:2017 video games

Category:Nintendo Switch games

Category:Pinball video games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:PlayStation Network games

Category:Video games developed in Hungary

Category:Video games with cross-platform play

Category:Windows games

Category:Xbox One games

Category:Xbox Play Anywhere games

Category:Video games based on Marvel Comics

Category:Zen Studios games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games