Price Increase on Hachette Boardgames USA Catalog

Since GAMA 2025 in early March, we have been discussing the need for price increases on our products here at Hachette Boardgames USA. When the first waves of tariffs hit, we implemented a small increase on our affected products that were already on the water. Now as Trump's "Trade War" continues, we are sadly having to increase most of our catalog. Prices are increasing as little as possible, and only on products that we feel can withstand the price increase. If we feel a product cannot withstand an increase that allows us to produce more of that game, we did not increase its price and will likely be discontinuing the product in the future.

Bringing International Games to the United States

The function of our business at Hachette Boardgames USA has always been to connect partners from outside of the US with a US audience, while supporting and maintaining the partner's brand identity. Our publishing partners will tell you that we are extremely open with our pricing, costs and impact. They have been working with us tirelessly to try and find solutions that make importing to the US make sense, but unfortunately, it no longer makes sense without increasing prices.

Again, the purpose of our business has, and will always be, to import partner's games to the US. It is literally our business's mandate, to bring games designed and made abroad to the US market. You can see how it is a little more difficult right now...

Tabletop Games Growth and Inclusion

The board game industry has thrived over the last decade thanks in part to the widening global trade market and partnerships between nerds all around the world. It is an industry built on passion and a desire to spread the joy of play with everyone, not just other nerds.

Millions of people have learned to love tabletop games and have discovered there's more to play than just Monopoly! Aspiring designers are inspired daily by games invented all around the world. Even as I type this, there are thousands of people in Tokyo for a Game Market, and if you aren't even a little jealous that you aren't there too - who linked you to this blog and why have you read this far? Welcome. I'm sorry we had to meet in this situation.

Play has no borders. It has no race, no religion, no age limit, no age minimum. It is universal to all life. It is about building community and joy. It is at the core of this industry - in every store, company, designer, artist, developer, and player. We will continue to support and encourage play, as best we can.

Sincerely,

T. Caires

Director of Hachette Boardgames USA

Regarding the news on Sunday of the temporary pause of the higher tariffs on China - it's too short, too little, and too late. The Board Game Wire article does a great job summarizing the issue, with quotes from myself and several of my peers in the industry. And a reminder, Trump's 90-day pause on the EU tariffs will be coming to end soon as well, meaning any of our products produced in the EU will be subject to tariffs as well. 

Our new pricing will go into effect the evening of the 5/15/2025. Retailers were informed of the increase two weeks prior via our retailer mailing list.