Trump Tariffs Force Square Enix to Halt US Pre-Orders—Fans Left Waiting

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Summary

  • Square Enix stopped some product pre-orders due to tariff uncertainties.
  • The decision currently only affects merchandise, not video games.
  • The pause appears to apply to every market serviced by Square Enix North America rather than just the U.S.

Square Enix temporarily paused some product pre-orders due to uncertainties about tariffs arising from the U.S. trade policies under the Trump administration. This move could impact Square Enix fans residing not only in the U.S., but across North America as a whole.

In his second term, similar to his first, President Trump focused heavily on tariffs as a key aspect of his economic strategy in the White House. On April 2nd, a day declared “Liberation Day” by Washington, broad tariffs were instituted across the board. A week after this, the administration announced a 90-day halt on all “reciprocal” tariffs, with the exception of those imposed on China, which currently has a total tariff of 145%. Additionally, Trump has also removed tariffs from certain electronic items since then.

Due to the current unpredictability, Square Enix has chosen to halt the acceptance of pre-orders for specific items available through its North American online shop. This move was announced on April 9, coinciding with Washington’s decision to put a three-month hold on reciprocal tariffs. The store notice explains, “Due to ongoing uncertainties regarding international tariffs, we have decided to temporarily halt some new merchandise pre-orders.” Square Enix expresses gratitude to their fans for their understanding in this situation.

Square Enix Store’s New Tariff Notice

Currently, the Japanese company has temporarily stopped accepting pre-orders for merchandise items (excluding games), with a total of 181 such products still available as of April 16th. This decision might also impact Canadian consumers, as confirmed by Game Rant, since both U.S. and Canadian pre-order pages appear identical. Square Enix has not yet specified how long this new policy will continue. Given that economic instability was cited as the primary reason for this move, it’s possible that this pause could persist until at least mid-July 2025, when the fate of certain tariffs on Japanese imports might be more clear due to the upcoming end of Washington’s three-month tariff hiatus.

Given the current global uncertainty surrounding tariffs, I find myself compelled to momentarily halt the acceptance of new merchandise pre-orders. Your patience and backing during this time are greatly valued and appreciated.

The tariffs implemented by Trump have already negatively impacted the stocks of Japanese game companies, with some experiencing greater harm than others. Interestingly, Square Enix’s share price has remained relatively stable since Trump assumed office on January 20, three months ago. However, if the high reciprocal tariffs are reinstated in July 2025, it is likely that Square Enix will either increase prices for consumers or choose not to sell some products in North America at all.

As a gamer eagerly waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2, I’ve got some news that might dampen our collective spirits – the pre-orders have been pushed back due to the ongoing economic uncertainties. The official release date is still shrouded in mystery, but popular leaker Billbil-kun hinted it could be either April 21 or 30, depending on the retailer. However, the console itself is still slated for a June 5 launch. Square Enix has announced that they’ll be releasing Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster as one of the Switch 2’s launch titles, and they’ve also confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will find its way to the new console at a later point.

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2025-04-16 14:15