For arcade machine owners, customization is a passionate endeavor to create a unique gaming experience tailored to personal taste. The most common modifications span both aesthetics and functionality, allowing enthusiasts to revive classic cabinets or build modern masterpieces from the ground up.

A primary focus is often the control panel. Owners frequently upgrade to modern, high-quality joysticks and microswitch buttons for a more precise and tactile feel. Custom button layouts, specialized controllers for games like racing or fighting titles, and even the integration of trackballs and spinner knobs are highly popular.

The visual identity of the cabinet is another major area for customization. This includes designing and applying custom sideart, marquees, and bezels. From classic game character artwork to personalized themes, new vinyl overlays can completely transform a machine's appearance. Additionally, adding LED lighting to buttons, joysticks, and behind the marquee sign has become a standard mod for a vibrant, modern look.

Under the hood, hardware upgrades are crucial. The most significant is swapping the original CRT monitor for a modern LCD display, which reduces weight and maintenance issues, though some purists prefer the authentic scanline look of CRTs. Internally, many owners install multi-game solution boards like a Pandora's Box or leverage software such as LaunchBox or RetroPie on a mini-PC to play thousands of games from different systems on one machine.

Finally, quality-of-life improvements are common. These include adding external volume controls, headphone jacks for private play, and even internal speakers and subwoofers for enhanced audio fidelity. For bartop or countercade models, custom risers are built to adjust the height for more comfortable gameplay.

Ultimately, these customization options empower owners to go beyond preservation and create an arcade machine that is truly their own, blending nostalgia with modern performance and personal flair.