Gamers Brace for Price Hikes as Tariffs Exempt Electronics but Not Consoles!

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As a dedicated gamer over the past few weeks, I’ve found it challenging to stay updated with the ongoing changes in U.S. tariff policies. The potential implications of these import taxes on upcoming gaming devices like the Switch 2 have been intriguing to follow. Although President Trump has temporarily halted some larger tariffs, those affecting goods imported from China are still a concern. Interestingly, a recent memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed several electronics that would be exempt – unfortunately, video game consoles weren’t on the list.

The document details a set of codes representing various types of electronics that will not be subjected to tariffs. According to economic analyst Ray Wang, these codes encompass items like computer systems, semiconductors, mobile phones, communication devices, solid-state drives, media players, transistors, and more. However, video game consoles are not included in this list, meaning that the headlines about electronics being excluded from tariffs may not bring good news for gamers after all.

Including computer parts such as SSDs in the exemption might prevent significant price rises for gaming laptops and their components among PC gamers. On the other hand, consoles being imported into the United States will still be subjected to tariffs, potentially leading to increased prices. To better understand this, let’s examine how this situation could affect each console depending on its manufacturing location and shipping to the U.S.

Which Consoles Will Be Most Impacted By U.S. Tariffs on China?

In a previous explanation, Nintendo shifted a significant portion of its production to Vietnam to dodge earlier U.S. taxes on Chinese goods. This could be advantageous for Nintendo enthusiasts because President Trump has postponed extensive tariffs affecting countries such as Vietnam, which means the Switch 2 might not be affected – at least temporarily. However, similar to the TikTok ban, these tariffs have not been canceled but only delayed for 90 days. Currently, Vietnam is not subject to high tariffs, but this could change in July, just after the launch of the Switch 2.

Fans of PlayStation and Xbox might be facing higher prices due to uncertainty, as these new consoles like the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S are predominantly made in China. With recent U.S. tariffs at a steep 145% on most imports (excluding a few electronic exceptions), it’s expected that the cost of importing these consoles into the U.S. could significantly rise. Some analysts, such as those at Bloomberg, predict an increase of about 30%.

Due to the constant changes in tariff policies, it’s uncertain how prices for video game consoles will eventually pan out. As of now, it seems gamers might need to budget a little extra for purchasing consoles in the immediate future. Not just video games, but also board games could see a price increase due to high tariffs on China. Creators of board games have voiced their concerns about the potential impact of these increased U.S. tariffs on the board game industry. Similar to video game consoles and electronic items, many components for board games are manufactured in China. Consequently, the overall cost of gaming could potentially rise due to these new U.S. tariffs.

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2025-04-12 22:39