The $1,095 Question: 2-Player or 4-Player Arcade Cabinet?

Pick wrong and you pay for two extra sets of controls nobody touches — or you run out of elbow room on game night.

In this article

• The price gap: $100 separates the two cabinets.
• When 2 players is enough — and when it isn’t.
• The cases where 4 players earns its keep.
• Five checks before you buy.

The price gap is $100

The 2-player Upright Xtension starts at $1,095. The 4-player version starts at $1,195 — a $100 difference for two more sets of controls.

The trackball is the option that moves the price most. A 3-inch trackball adds $100 to either cabinet, taking the 2-player to $1,195 and the 4-player to $1,295. If your games don’t need a trackball, skip it — that’s the single biggest saving on the order.

The other add-ons cost the same on both cabinets: a single-slot coin door is $50 ($80 for a double), a locking metal door is $30, an amp and speakers are $110, and pinball buttons are $75 — all listed on the 2-player product page.

When 2 players is the right call

Most classic arcade games were built for one or two players, so a 2-player cabinet covers the library most people actually play. It costs less, takes up less room, and uses the same swappable control system as the 4-player: the controller is removable, so you can take it off the cabinet and use it on its own.

Two players is also the right pick if your game room is tight, or your regular players are a household, not a crowd.

When 4 players earns its keep

Four players only pays off when four people play at once, week after week — the four-at-once arcade classics, and a game night that actually fills all four spots. The 4-player cabinet gives each of them their own joystick and buttons, with room to play without crowding each other.

If your group is usually two, the extra panel is just extra furniture. Buy for the players you have, not the party you might throw.

Five checks before you buy

1. Screen. The cabinet fits up to a 32-inch flat-screen TV or monitor on a VESA mount, and the screen is not included. Budget for one, or reuse a screen you already own.
2. Trackball. A 3-inch trackball is an option, not standard: +$100. Only add it if your games need one.
3. Your system. The cabinet works with a PC, Mac, Raspberry Pi, Pandora’s Box, MiSTer FPGA, or a game console, and comes pre-configured for MAME. A front end — the menu software that lists your games, like Batocera, Hyperspin, or RetroPie — runs on your own system, so pick the one you already know.
4. Inside the panel. Ask what encoder and parts are inside before you buy. The encoder is the board that turns joystick and button presses into signals your computer understands — get its name in writing, and ask who makes the joysticks and buttons while you’re at it. Sanwa parts are the arcade standard people compare against.
5. Swappable. The control panel is removable and swaps between 2-player and 4-player, so a 2-player cabinet today doesn’t lock you out of 4-player controls later.

The takeaway

Buy the 2-player unless four people will play at once, on a regular basis. The $100 difference is small — but the wrong cabinet costs you space, money, or both.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2-player arcade cabinet?
$1,095, or $1,195 with the 3-inch trackball. (Upright Xtension 2 Player)

How much is the 4-player version?
$1,195, or $1,295 with the trackball. (Upright Xtension 4 Player)

Does the cabinet include a screen?
No. It fits up to a 32-inch flat-screen TV or monitor (VESA mount); the screen is sold separately. (Upright Xtension 2 Player)

What systems can I connect?
A PC, Mac, Raspberry Pi, Pandora’s Box, MiSTer FPGA, or a game console. The cabinet comes pre-configured for MAME. (Upright Xtension 2 Player)

Can I change the controls later?
Yes — the controller is removable and the panel swaps between 2-player and 4-player. (Upright Xtension 2 Player)