The retro gaming world has seen a surge in new console releases in recent years, but Atari’s latest move might be a harbinger of things to come. Following up its Atari 2600+ replica console from 2023 with the 7800+ in late 2024, the company has announced that it will be increasing the price of its classic game cartridges due to tariffs.
- The price increase will apply to all game cartridges, including the 2600 and 7800.
- The tariffs are a result of President Trump’s ongoing trade war with China.
Atari’s retro gaming lineup includes the wood-paneled 2600+ and streamlined 7800+, along with the Atari 400 Mini and VCS digital gaming set top boxes. The prices for these consoles appear to remain unchanged, but the replica cartridges will see a price bump due to recently levied import taxes.
| Consoles | Original Price | Priced Increase |
| 2600+ | $30 | $33 |
| 7800+ | $30 | $33 |
| Atari 400 Mini | $50 | Unchanged |
| VCS Digital | $100 | Unchanged |
Atari’s ’80s-inspired gaming lineup has been well-received by fans, with a wide range of classic games available to play on the consoles. The recent price increase is a result of the ongoing trade war between the US and China, which has led to increased tariffs on imported goods.
“Today, we wanted to share an important update about how the recent increases in tariffs have affected our business,” Atari wrote to customers in an email on April 30. “Starting May 5th, we will be increasing the price of all game cartridges by 10 percent. The pricing applies to both 2600 and 7800 cartridges.”
The price increase will not only affect the cost of the cartridges themselves but also the overall cost of the consoles. For fans who want to build a collection of classic games, the price increase alone could add up to over $60 in tariff-adjusted price increases. Example: Let’s say a fan wants to purchase the entire collection of 2600 and 7800 cartridges, which would cost $60 in the original price. With the 10% tariff increase, the price would jump to $66, a significant increase that could be a barrier to entry for some fans. Atari is not alone in facing the challenges of the trade war. Other companies, such as Anbernic and 8bitdo, have also been affected by the tariffs. Anbernic, which produces popular emulation handhelds that look like knock-off Game Boys, has halted all shipments to the US due to the tariffs. 8bitdo, a controller maker, has also been affected, and Nintendo has temporarily halted Switch 2 pre-orders before later raising the price of all its accessories by $5. Sony is also expected to face similar pressure to increase the price of the PlayStation 5 if tariffs on China persist after current US inventory gets used up.
Definition: Tariff
A tariff is a tax or duty imposed on imported goods. In the context of the trade war, tariffs have been imposed on China by the US, leading to increased costs for companies that import goods from China.
Key Takeaway: The price increase for Atari’s retro gaming consoles is not just a one-time bump, but a long-term consequence of the ongoing trade war between the US and China. Quote:
“We understand the impact this could have on our community, and we want you all to know that we don’t make this decision lightly,” Atari wrote. “Though we have worked to absorb some of these rising costs, we won’t be able to absorb all of them. As the global trade situation continues to evolve, we will be as transparent as possible about any further adjustments we may need to make.”
The price increase is a reminder that the retro gaming industry is not immune to the global economic trends that affect the world at large. As the trade war continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other companies in the industry adapt to the changing landscape. One thing is certain, however: the retro gaming industry will continue to evolve, and Atari’s price increase is just one example of how the ongoing trade war is affecting the industry as a whole.
news is a contributor at Vivid Gamer. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
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