At least two companies specializing in retro gaming hardware have halted shipments to the United States due to tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, which they claim could lead to shipping delays and lost items. Recently, Retrotink announced a pause on U.S. orders, effective April 28, and Anbernic has since updated its shipping policy accordingly.
Mike Chi, the CEO of Retrotink, explained, “Because there’s no clear direction on how tariffs will be administered starting May 2nd, we’ve made the tough choice to temporarily stop shipments to the U.S.” He noted that there is still limited stock available within the United States, so customers might be able to purchase Retrotink products for a little while longer. “We are hopeful that this situation will be resolved, but it’s difficult to predict when or how,” Chi added.
Anbernic also updated its shipping guidelines, stating, “Due to modifications in U.S. tariff regulations, we are suspending all orders shipping from China to the United States starting today. We encourage customers to prioritize products shipped from our U.S. warehouse, which are currently unaffected by import fees and can be purchased with assurance.”
The company does not view these measures as permanent. They declared, “Once we have confirmed updates regarding import charges, we will inform our customers promptly and publish our revised policy on our website.”
The tariffs have significantly impacted the gaming industry. While the pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 remained unchanged from its initial announcement, various accessories associated with it have experienced price increases. Other companies, like Razer, have also put a hold on their products directed at the U.S. market. While some businesses are discovering ways to adapt and maintain their supply chains without raising prices, others have opted to withdraw entirely from the market until conditions stabilize.
