tariffs on steam games?

[CatLover]

Will games on steam be subject to tariffs if they are made outside the us?

[xBCxRangers]

From what i understand, the games themselves no, as far as digital media. But they will likely go up given what it takes and the parts and tech it needs to create such games. Just an opinion btw.

[Haruspex]

No. Tariffs won't apply to digital media.

Now physical games probably will. Most of the discs for console games are pressed in Mexico.

It might affect digital games indirectly because if the price of physical games goes up, publishers might price digital games the same to maintain price parity.

[RPG Gamer Man]

Escrito originalmente por Haruspex:

No. Tariffs won't apply to digital media.

Now physical games probably will. Most of the discs for console games are pressed in Mexico.

It might affect digital games indirectly because if the price of physical games goes up, publishers might price digital games the same to maintain price parity.

Yea, physical stuff will definetly go up in price. This poster is correct.

[Brian9824]

Escrito originalmente por CatLover:

Will games on steam be subject to tariffs is they are made outside the us?

Steam no, physical games possibly, but the tarrif's keep changing on a day to day basis based on whomever buddies up to Trump so no one including Trump has any clue what is or isn't being effected at this point.

[Subsonic]

"Drill Baby Drill"

You would be crazy to believe they wont want to tap into the video games market, if youre a large US company and you didn't bend the knee, you will soon feel it.

Let alone them pulling the "video games cause violence" agenda.

[Brian9824]

Escrito originalmente por Brian9824:

Escrito originalmente por CatLover:

Will games on steam be subject to tariffs is they are made outside the us?

Steam no, physical games possibly, but the tarrif's keep changing on a day to day basis based on whomever buddies up to Trump so no one including Trump has any clue what is or isn't being effected at this point.

Case in point, Trump just walked back most of the Tarriffs yet again because none of them have any clue what they are doing.

[Hamless Hog]

Escrito originalmente por CatLover:

Will games on steam be subject to tariffs is they are made outside the us?

What tarrifs are you even talking about. Digital video games arent imported.

[CatLover]

Escrito originalmente por Haruspex:

No. Tariffs won't apply to digital media.

Now physical games probably will. Most of the discs for console games are pressed in Mexico.

It might affect digital games indirectly because if the price of physical games goes up, publishers might price digital games the same to maintain price parity.

aren't discs part of the nafta agreement and aren't subject to any tariffs?

[Haruspex]

Escrito originalmente por CatLover:

aren't discs part of the nafta agreement and aren't subject to any tariffs?

Trump replaced NAFTA with USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) in his first term. I don't think there are any media exemptions listed there, and if there are these new tariffs would override them anyway.

Now that I think about it, rather than increase the price of physical games with digital games following for price parity, this will probably just hasten the demise of physical games all together.

[Brian9824]

Escrito originalmente por Haruspex:

Escrito originalmente por CatLover:

aren't discs part of the nafta agreement and aren't subject to any tariffs?

Trump replaced NAFTA with USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) in his first term. I don't think there are any media exemptions listed there, and if there are these new tariffs would override them anyway.

Now that I think about it, rather than increase the price of physical games with digital games following for price parity, this will probably just hasten the demise of physical games all together.

https://www.dentons.com/en/insights/newsletters/2025/february/19/trump-2-0-navigating-change-in-canada/us-market-access-and-cross-border-operations-for-canadian-software-companies#:~:text=Under%20the%20USMCA%20(formerly%20NAFTA,the%20US%20face%20no%20tariffs.

Under the USMCA (formerly NAFTA) and the WTO Information Technology Agreement, software and digital products transmitted electronically between Canada and the US face no tariffs.

They wouldn't be able to apply a tariff without voiding the agreement because the agreement specifically exempts the products from tariffs being applied

[sfnhltb]

Escrito originalmente por Brian9824:

They wouldn't be able to apply a tariff without voiding the agreement because the agreement specifically exempts the products from tariffs being applied

Well three days ago he wrote an executive order that applied tariffs to imports from Mexico and Canada that were specifically exempted under USMCA. Then yesterday he undid half the Mexico tariffs and a third of the Canadian tariffs to avoid breaching USMCA. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, maybe he will tariff everything again, because changing the rules for businesses to operate under every other day or so based on what is trending on social media makes for an excellent way to run an economy.

[Wolfpig]

Escrito originalmente por sfnhltb:

Escrito originalmente por Brian9824:

They wouldn't be able to apply a tariff without voiding the agreement because the agreement specifically exempts the products from tariffs being applied

Well three days ago he wrote an executive order that applied tariffs to imports from Mexico and Canada that were specifically exempted under USMCA. Then yesterday he undid half the Mexico tariffs and a third of the Canadian tariffs to avoid breaching USMCA. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, maybe he will tariff everything again, because changing the rules for businesses to operate under every other day or so based on what is trending on social media makes for an excellent way to run an economy.

Maybe some of his buddies told him that it most likely will have the opposite effect as the one he claims it would if he put tariffs on everything which they need to Import.

[Corvus Corone]

Tariffs for the cretins of Earth.
Trump is my King from across the pond.

[Bishop]

I'm sure devs and publishers will claim that tariffs are effecting them so they have to charge even more for video games. I remember way back when devs claimed that going all digital would mean games would be cheaper to produce and we'd get them for less then 60 bucks. Look at how that turned out.

[CatLover]

Escrito originalmente por Bishop:

I'm sure devs and publishers will claim that tariffs are effecting them so they have to charge even more for video games. I remember way back when devs claimed that going all digital would mean games would be cheaper to produce and we'd get them for less then 60 bucks. Look at how that turned out.

well game prices have not risen with inflation. In the 90s games typically were 49.99 that would be over $100 today and now we're only at 59.99.