Analysis: Trump’s tariff war could affect Gaming industry

CGTN Europe

Gamers could find themselves losing against Donald Trump’s tariffs.  That’s because many of the components used in gaming consoles are made in China and Asia as a whole.  CGTN's Michael Marillier has more.  #Gaming #Tariffs #China #TradeWar #VideoGames

Transcript

00:00Game over.

00:01It could be game over for the gaming sector as we know it.

00:05That's the warning from one analyst as the Trump tariffs kick in.

00:09As of right now, it's really concerning.

00:12I almost see it as an existential threat to the business.

00:15Tariffs will push up the price of gaming consoles and computers.

00:19That could mean less profits for the companies that make them.

00:23And those firms often play a crucial role in the development of games.

00:27You end up in this weird cycle where companies play it safe.

00:32They are focused on what they do well rather than trying new things.

00:35It's the new things, though, that will cause the market to grow.

00:38And so we end up in this cycle where it's just the same old things being made and fewer of them.

00:44And then you end up in this sort of downward spiral.

00:48But video games are more than just products.

00:51Researchers say they help people understand other cultures.

00:54One of the powers of games is that they don't just display the historical or mythical content,

01:01but they also, through interaction, let players engage with the values and philosophies underpinning these.

01:09Black Myth Wukong was one of the top-selling games across the globe last year.

01:14It was developed in China, and it's exposed gamers to Chinese values and traditions.

01:19But in a world full of tariffs, it may be harder to bridge cultural divides.

01:25Success is already difficult in video games and is about to get even harder.

01:28You have to fear that investors and video game companies will take fewer risks on projects like Black Myth Wukong.

01:36Black Myth Wukong is all about the journey of a lone character.

01:39The gaming sector will now look to President Donald Trump

01:44Reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world

01:48Hoping he changes course on his journey.

01:51Michael Marilia, CGTN, London

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