<
https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/552558/tabletop-panic-tariffs-on-china-layoffs-bankruptcy-gama>
"The games you play are likely to become much more expensive. Nearly 20
organizations that
Polygon spoke with said that profits will be severely
impacted. Many said jobs will be lost, companies shuttered, and games that have
been in development for years may simply never come to market.
Tabletop gaming, which includes board games, card games, and role-playing
games, has enjoyed a roughly two-decade renaissance brought on in part by
crowdfunding. Nevertheless, much of the industry consists of individual
creators, sole proprietors, small family businesses, and remote teams of
creatives. The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) said Thursday that the
impact of these tariffs will be nothing short of a disaster.
“The latest imposition of a 54% tariff on products from China by the
administration is dire news for the tabletop industry and the broader US
economy,” GAMA said in a news release. “As an industry highly dependent on
producing goods overseas and importing them into the US, this policy will have
devastating consequences.
“Tariffs are essentially taxes on consumers, not on the countries where the
products are produced,” it continued. “Publishers will be forced to pass these
costs along to their customers or face the prospect of ceasing operations.
Nearly a third of all US consumer goods — including clothes, food products,
appliances, cars, and entertainment items like games — are imported. This means
higher prices across the board as all these products will need to increase
prices to compensate for these new Trump Taxes.”
It went on to add that as prices rise domestically, discretionary spending will
necessarily decrease, further constraining consumer spending on games.
“This one-two punch is likely to put many of our members out of business or
force them to downsize and lay off employees to survive,” GAMA concluded.
The U.S. has a very small industrial capacity for manufacturing tabletop games
— especially board games. That was made clear in a statement issued Thursday by
Steve Jackson Games CEO Meredith Placko.
“Some people ask, ‘Why not manufacture in the U.S.?’” Placko said in an impact
statement. “I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale
boardgame production — specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and
wood components — doesn’t meaningfully exist here yet. I’ve gotten quotes. I’ve
talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor,
and timelines simply aren’t.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
