Anbernic Halts US Shipments Amidst Trump’s Tariff Chaos—What This Means for Gamers!

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Summary

  • Anbernic has stopped shipments to the US due to tariff hikes imposed by Trump, causing a lack of availability for certain products.
  • Other companies, like Square Enix, have also been affected by the tariffs, halting pre-orders on merchandise in the US.
  • Nintendo is redirecting Switch 2 consoles made in Vietnam to the US to avoid high tariffs, but the impact on pricing and availability is uncertain.

In response to Donald Trump’s increased global tariffs, the maker of retro handheld consoles, Anbernic, has temporarily halted all shipments destined for the United States. Although gamers can still buy existing products within the U.S., it will no longer be possible for American consumers to import these items directly from China.

Recently, I’ve been deeply concerned about the trade policies implemented by President Trump. A few weeks back, he imposed tariffs globally, causing quite a stir in international markets and manufacturing sectors, particularly those involved in console production like China and Vietnam. Interestingly, while smartphones were exempted from these tariffs, video game consoles weren’t so lucky.

Currently, the situation with China is rather tricky due to the high tariffs they impose on imports – up to 145%! This makes it a challenge for us Americans to bring goods in from there. It’s a complex issue that I’m keeping a close eye on.

Currently, Anbernic, a well-known manufacturer known for producing affordable Game Boy replicas, has decided to halt all US orders originating from China. As reported by The Verge, the company attributes this move to adjustments in U.S. tariff policies. Customers can still buy products that are currently stored in American warehouses, but Anbernic will no longer ship items from China to the United States.

However, some of Anbernic’s products, such as the RG CubeXX and RG 406H, are exclusively available through imports from China and are at present unavailable for American customers. The company is actively seeking a “workable solution” for those consumers who were impacted by fees prior to import restrictions being implemented.

US Customers Will Only Be Able to Purchase Anbernic Consoles Already in the Country

In the gaming industry, it’s not just Anbernic that has been hit hard by tariffs. Last week, Square Enix halted pre-orders for merchandise in the US due to similar reasons. For now, only merchandise is affected, but there’s a possibility that games could be impacted down the line.

In recent times, Nintendo has been significantly impacted by tariffs, leading to a halt in pre-orders for the highly anticipated Switch 2 in the U.S. However, this week, pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States have been reinstated at the same prices as initially announced.

Currently, it’s unclear whether there might be a scarcity of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles in the U.S., or if their prices could fluctuate once more. It’s been reported that Nintendo is primarily shipping Vietnam-produced Switch 2 units to the U.S. to dodge China’s high tariffs, but whether this will meet the demand for the new gaming platform in the American market remains uncertain. Only future events will clarify the situation.

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2025-04-22 21:04