The price of consoles and video games is likely to increase, at least for American gamers, following the election of Donald Trump. During his second term, the leader of the world’s leading power will apply high customs taxes, particularly for products from China.
Taxes provide for increases of 10 to 20% on all imports but it is worse for Chinese products: 60 % ! According to Serkan Toto of the Japanese consultancy Kantan, the impact will be “devastating for players”. According to the expert, China will not pay the price, unlike American consumers.
Read > Where to get the PS5 Pro at its lowest price?
Big price increases to expect for players
In the context of a PS5, whose Pro version would not be honest about its real performance, the price would increase from $500 to $800. And for video games, the prices would be 112 dollars instead of 70 dollars.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes CES, where Nvidia will be present to present its RTX 50 series, quantifies this increase. Console prices will increase by 40%. Tariffs on PC peripherals, video games and electronics will reduce the purchasing power of U.S. consumers by $90 billion. The National Retail Foundation speaks of an annual cost to citizens of between $46 billion and $78 billion. Or approximately $2,600 per person selon le Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Donald Trump’s previous term was also marked by increases. During his first presidency, the leader of the United States, 25% tax on Chinese imports threatened to drive up GPU prices. For example, an RTX 3080 would have gone from $699 to $874, excluding taxes. The new taxes could also affect the Nintendo Switch 2 which will be backwards compatible.
Companies like Apple could be spared
However, there are solutions. Companies are considering relocating outside China. According to Serkan Toto, certain companies would benefit d’exemptions : “Donald Trump knows that iPhones are made in China and India. Will American consumers agree to pay $1,600 instead of $1,000? “. During the president’s first term, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony had obtained authorizations for popular products.
While gaming is becoming more and more expensive, as evidenced by the hefty price of the PS5 Pro despite Sony’s justification on this subject, gamers could suffer a little more this increase. At least, in the United States.
Source : Digital Trends
