We all know that arcade gaming isn't as popular as it once was, but the recent COVID-19 pandemic has delivered the death blow to many of the amusement centres that still continue to operate in recent times.
We now have the sad news that one of Japan's most legendary arcades will close its doors at the end of this month. The Daytona III arcade in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture isn't as large as Sega Akihabara Arcade 4 (recently closed and reinhabited by Bandai Namco), but it's one of the country's most notable places when it comes to coin-op titles.
As well as preserving and operating many popular old arcade games, Daytona III was the place where more than a few World Record scores were achieved. It was also famous for its selection of shmup titles and attracted many top-level players.
If you're in Japan this month, it might be worth dropping by to pay your respects before the place closes for good on March 26th.