The gaming world is feeling the ripple effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest political maneuver—a sweeping new tariff initiative that has sent shockwaves through international markets and left Japanese gaming giants like Sony and Nintendo scrambling. As of early April 2025, both companies have seen significant drops in stock value, triggering concern over potential pricing hikes on consoles and accessories.
Sony, one of the biggest names in gaming, has taken the hardest hit so far. Its stock plummeted by 12.98% month-over-month on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, a sharp downturn that coincided directly with Trump’s unveiling of the controversial tariff package. Nintendo didn’t escape unscathed either, with its shares falling 8.11% in the same period.
These declines mark a worrying turn for an industry already facing global supply chain challenges. The root cause? Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” strategy, a bold but widely criticized move that includes a 24% tariff on Japanese imports and a massive 54% tax on goods from China, combining new levies with existing ones.
Tariffs Threaten to Jack Up Console Prices
This isn’t just a concern for Wall Street. Gamers could be paying the price soon—literally. According to past projections, if Trump followed through on his promised 60% tax on Chinese imports, the PlayStation 5 Pro could reach a price tag nearing $1,000. Although the new tariffs fall slightly below that prediction, they’re still high enough to make investors—and consumers—nervous.
In anticipation of these changes, Sony had already begun shifting PS5 stock into the U.S. earlier this year, hoping to soften the blow of Trump’s erratic trade policy. But that plan only buys time. Once that inventory dries up, prices could rise, and fast.
Nintendo, meanwhile, delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the U.S., citing the need to “assess the potential impact” of the new tariff law. Although the company tried to skirt tariffs by moving production out of China and into Vietnam and Cambodia, Trump’s sweeping policy included import duties of 46% and 49% on those countries too—undercutting the strategy before it had a chance to work.
Trump’s Trade War Targets the Gaming Industry—Again
Tariffs and protectionism were hallmarks of Trump’s first presidency, but the latest wave of policies feels more like economic aggression than negotiation. Industry analysts and tech advocates alike have slammed the administration for its lack of foresight and the long-term damage this could cause to international business relations.
For the gaming industry, the consequences are tangible. Pricing instability, disrupted supply chains, and a jittery investor base may lead to delayed launches, hardware shortages, and steep price tags for consumers.
And once again, it’s Trump’s name attached to the chaos.
With no clear end in sight to these aggressive trade policies, the Japanese gaming sector—and the global gaming community—are left bracing for impact. What remains to be seen is whether consumers will be willing to pay more for their favorite consoles, or if backlash will force companies, and perhaps even policymakers, to reconsider their next move.
