UPDATE: The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has provided the following statement to GPlayr regarding the pending tariffs from the United States:
“Video games are one of the most popular and beloved forms of entertainment for Americans of all ages. Tariffs on video game devices and related products would negatively impact hundreds of millions of Americans and would harm the industry’s significant contributions to the U.S. economy. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to find ways to sustain the economic growth supported by our sector.”
ORIGINAL: The United States government—led by Donald Trump—is set to impose new trade tariffs across a number of countries such as Canada, Mexico, and China. These tariffs are set to impact a number of industries including video games, and has garnered a response from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
In a statement given to Kotaku, the organization is asking Trump and the United States government to consult to avoid “significant harm” to people in the United States.
“Tariffs on video game devices and related products would impact Americans of all ages across the country,” the statement reads. “We urge the administration to consult with the private sector in a transparent process to avoid causing significant harm to everyday Americans and to one of the fastest growing entertainment sectors in the United States.”
It’s worth nothing that digital software is likely to avoid the tariffs, physical products like game discs and consoles aren’t likely to be so lucky. It’s unknown just how much of an impact on prices gamers will see on things like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, computer graphics cards, and even the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
The tariffs are scheduled to being at 12:01 ET on February 4.
How do you think these tariffs will affect the video game industry, and what do you think of the ESA’s statement? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official GPlayr forums.
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