If you were planning on waiting for that sweet price drop to buy the next gen consoles or accessories, I have some terrible news for you my friend. The U.S Tariffs are here and they’re about to make our pockets hurt! So if you're thinking of getting a game console, please get one ASAP, like... now! Let me explain why.

So, What’s Going On?

Back in February, the US decided to impose tariffs on certain products coming from China (and various other countries) including electronics like consoles, accessories, and parts. When companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo make a console, a large portion of the parts come from China everything from the microchips inside to the plastic casing is often made overseas. The tariffs now raise the cost of importing these parts, and guess who gets to foot the bill? Yup, we do gamers! 

How Much Does This Really Affect Us?

The question is, how much of the bill are we footing? Let’s see, experts are projecting that at base, game consoles could see a 30% hike in their price.

And that's just at base… Yikes.

It's not just the consoles either, the price of accessories like gaming headsets, keyboards, and mice are all going to feel the sting.

Why Doesn’t the Industry Just Absorb the Cost?

Well, here’s the thing: making a console isn’t cheap. Even without tariffs, companies have tight margins. So, when something like a 145% tariff is slapped on imported goods, companies either have to eat that extra cost (which eats into profits) or pass it on to consumers. 

*Spoiler Alert*: They almost always pass it on to us!

What About Smaller Companies?

Now, let’s talk about the smaller players accessory makers and indie developers. For them, tariffs can be even more of a nightmare. Many of these companies rely on affordable manufacturing overseas. If their costs go up, they either have to raise prices or sacrifice quality. And as any gamer knows, there’s only so much we’re willing to pay for a generic knockoff controller before we start searching for something that feels just right.

Will It Ever Get Better?

That’s the big question. There are talks about rolling back some of these tariffs, but with so many industries affected, it’s anyone’s guess when that will happen. Until then, we’ll likely continue to see higher prices on consoles, games, and accessories.

Bottom Line?

At the end of the day, tariffs are adding a serious cost to your gaming gear. While there’s no easy fix, one thing’s for sure your next console might cost a little more than it would’ve a few years ago… you hate to see it.

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