The growing trade war between the United States and China is causing serious problems for many industries. 8BitDo, a well-known company that makes third-party gaming controllers and accessories, is the latest business hurt by the Trump administration’s new 145% tax on goods imported from China.
Along with removing exemptions for small shipments under $800, this policy change has forced 8BitDo to stop sending products from its Chinese warehouse to the U.S. for now. This sudden stop in shipments creates big problems for American customers who want to buy the company’s popular products.
8BitDo announced this temporary pause in a notice on its website, explaining that it directly results from the extremely high new taxes. The notice read, “Due to U.S. tariffs, only products from our U.S. warehouse are available for shipping to the United States. China warehouse shipping is temporarily paused.”
The situation is unclear since customers in the United States can still order products already in 8BitDo’s U.S. warehouse. The company’s website does not provide a full list of what is available in the U.S. warehouse, so customers cannot easily check what is in stock before placing an order.
The system only shows which items in the cart cannot be shipped when entering a shipping address. This lack of clear information upfront makes things really frustrating. However, there doesn’t seem to be an issue on Amazon. So you can take advantage of the current deal on the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Controller for $35.98 on Amazon. This is down from its original price of $49.99.
The impact goes beyond just 8BitDo. The new taxes and the removal of the small shipment exemption are causing major disruptions in the video game and tabletop gaming industries.
Other companies, including Anbernic and Razer, have also had to stop shipping to the U.S., facing the same problem as 8BitDo. Another issue is that the U.S. International Trade Commission classifies video game consoles and accessories as “toys,” which means they do not qualify for any exemptions from the high taxes.
This rule even puts pressure on big companies like Nintendo, which had to delay pre-orders for its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console and raise prices on some accessories. Unfortunately, this is how things will be until there’s some solution to tariffs.
8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller
The 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller successfully merges old-school design with modern conveniences, making it the best way to experience your old favorite games all over again.
Even though 8BitDo’s pause is temporary, it does not mean that this isn’t a big issue. Until the trade problems are resolved, the unreliable supply of gaming accessories will cause a financial strain on the industry. The higher costs from these taxes are not just making products harder to find but also increasing prices and forcing companies to make tough choices.
We’ll have to wait and see when 8BitDO starts selling items again, but it’s a good idea to stick to Amazon (or even buying used) for now.
