Dear President Donald Trump and Nintendo

 

As avid gamers parents educators and creators we recognize your goal to bring jobs back to America and strengthen our economy But the recent tariff policies directly threaten one of America’s most innovative and rapidly growing industries—video games Instead of helping American workers these tariffs risk stifling creativity increasing costs and eliminating opportunities for countless individuals including young people aspiring to become developers

 

This industry has long been a place where someone working from their bedroom could grow into a professional game developer where people could create indie games mods ROM hacks or full original titles without needing massive funding But if development kits like those for the Nintendo Switch rise from 500 dollars to over 700 dollars and PlayStation 5 kits go from 6500 dollars to more than 9000 dollars small teams and startups won’t stand a chance This puts a stop to creativity before it even begins

 

Retailers will also feel the impact GameStop which has already been struggling may be forced to close more stores as the cost to stock consoles and games becomes too high and consumer demand drops Walmart and Target will feel similar pressure with fewer people able to afford gaming products A crash in sales means fewer hours for workers and more layoffs across the retail sector

 

The damage extends to innovation Gaming has always been more than just screen time It has been about interaction education and even physical activity We had motion based games like Wii Sports accessories like Ring Fit Adventure and the Wii Fit Balance Board We had Nintendo Labo which though made of cardboard encouraged building creative controllers and interactive experiences We had games that came with pedometers for fitness We had instrument based games like Guitar Hero and DJ Hero toys to life with Skylanders Amiibo and LEGO Dimensions and even unique peripherals like the Donkey Konga bongos

 

But if development and manufacturing become too expensive companies may stop investing in these fun and creative ideas We may never see another Labo another Ring Fit another innovative controller or fitness game And with VR headset costs already high tariffs could push them out of reach entirely stopping the growth of immersive gaming and limiting access to new technology

 

This hurts more than companies It hurts careers and communities Streamers and content creators who rely on new releases will suffer when fewer games come out or when consumers can’t afford to buy them Developers and artists working in marketing trailers and game music could lose jobs because studios won’t have the budget to hire them

 

And now onto you Nintendo with the Nintendo Switch 2 being priced at $449.99 with no game and $499.99 with a game this feels like a step away from your legacy of affordability Nintendo has always stood for family friendly gaming accessibility and value A $399 base price would align with your past consoles and would be much more manageable for the families and players who made the Switch such a success

 

As for the games themselves raising prices to $70 or $80 is simply too much Nintendo has always delivered quality titles with long playtime and charm at $59.99 From Zelda to Mario to Pokémon those games were never overpriced but felt worth every penny Crossing into higher price territory especially for games that don’t have the production demands of photorealistic graphics or massive online infrastructure risks alienating the very audience that helped Nintendo thrive

 

Raising prices on consoles and games because of tariffs does more than impact companies It changes the entire gaming ecosystem It discourages new developers blocks young people from entering the industry and shrinks job opportunities across design streaming marketing and more It does the opposite of job creation

 

Mr Trump and Nintendo we ask you to reconsider the direction of these policies and decisions and the effect they are having on the future of American technology and innovation Protect the gaming industry Keep it affordable Keep it accessible Keep it a place where someone with a passion and an idea can still make something great

 

Sincerely

Gamers Developers Parents Teachers and Everyone Who Believes in the Future of Gaming