If You Thought Console Prices Were Too High, Things Could Get Even Worse
The Trump administration is reportedly considering implementing new tariffs on imported computer chips that could significantly impact gaming hardware prices. According to Politico, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is weighing an expansion of tech product tariffs to include everyday electronics that rely on semiconductors—specifically citing gaming consoles, data center servers, and laptops.
The proposed tariffs would target not just the chips themselves, but also finished products containing them. This would directly affect gaming hardware pricing, potentially making upcoming consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, and Xbox Series X even more expensive than they already are.
The administration’s stated goal is to incentivize foreign technology companies to establish manufacturing facilities within the United States. One proposed measure would tie tariff relief to investments in U.S. semiconductor factories, effectively using trade policy as leverage to boost domestic chip production.
While the plan hasn’t been finalized and could still change in the coming months, Politico’s sources indicate that if approved, the tariffs would be implemented gradually. This news comes at a time when gaming hardware prices have already faced criticism from consumers, making a new round of price increases particularly unwelcome for the gaming industry.