Latest news with #Wingspan
Business Insider
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The only certainty around Trump's tariffs for consumers and retailers is more uncertainty
Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. If you're lucky enough to receive a lump sum of cash, it might be tempting to take the trip that's been on your bucket list. But if you want to take the responsible route, BI broke down how to manage a windfall that includes age, risk factors, and financial goals. On the agenda today: Why Microsoft is flattening its management layers. HBO Max is mocking itself with memes as it rebrands … again. The Seed 100: Here are the best early-stage investors of 2025. Goldman Sachs is leaning into AI. Here's what we know about five of its tools. But first: Let's talk tariffs. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here. This week's dispatch/Mint Images RF 'A lose-lose situation' There are a few ways to think about President Donald Trump's trade deal with China. For one, Wall Street loves it. Stocks recovered their "Liberation Day" losses. Fears of an imminent recession, at least viewed through the lens of the betting markets, have already started to subside. But the real-world ripple effects of the current tariff situation are far less clear-cut. Friday's downbeat consumer sentiment data, the second-worst reading on record, showed just how gloomy people feel right now. Consider how a range of businesses — big and small — reacted in the aftermath of the 90-day pause on higher tariffs with China. Retail titan Walmart said it will raise prices in light of Trump's tariffs. John David Rainey, Walmart's chief financial officer, told CNBC, "the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb." Toy maker Hasbro abruptly reversed course on its decision to raise prices and halt some production following Monday's deal, but the future isn't clear. Gina Goetter, Hasbro's chief financial officer, said at a conference, "every day is a new adventure." And for small businesses, planning ahead during this rapidly changing global landscape is proving to be particularly difficult. One small-business owner quantified the tariff impact. Jamey Stegmaier told BI he worries they could put his board game company, Stonemaier Games, out of business. If the full 145% tariffs had remained in effect, he'd need to raise the price of his Wingspan game, which sells for $65, to close to $200. "No one would buy it," he said. He'd love to move production to the US to avoid tariffs. However, the US doesn't have the infrastructure or expertise he said he needs. The current US-China trade agreement also isn't a complete relief. The 30% tariffs are "still painful," Stegmaier added. Ultimately, the unpredictability surrounding Trump's tariff policy means customers could start seeing higher prices across the board. "There's no math that makes it work," Stegmaier said. "There's no silver lining. It's a lose-lose-lose situation for everyone involved." Microsoft's bid to flatten management Microsoft is axing 6,000 jobs to increase "span of control," or the number of employees reporting to each manager. The cuts come as the tech giant reduces costs and invests heavily in AI. The half-dozen Microsoft insiders whom BI spoke to about the cuts see the effort as a good thing. Microsoft isn't the only company to do so. Also read: Internal Microsoft memo reveals plans for a new "Tenant Copilot" and an "Agent Factory" concept Max is roasting its own rebrand The streamer is tacking "HBO" back onto its name after abandoning it in 2023. That may seem a bit ridiculous, and Max is well aware. Instead of being laughed at, Max is opting to laugh with the internet. The social team at Warner Bros. Discovery cooked up a host of memes for the occasion. BI's Dan Whateley broke down why silliness, rather than sincerity, could be the right move. Need a good laugh? Also read: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos explains why he thinks the HBO Max rebrand "makes sense" Max is going to be HBO Max. Again. Here's what that really means. Here's why HBO Max has rebranded so many times The top 100 early-stage investors of 2025 Seed-stage investors reach for their checkbooks after hearing merely the kernel of an idea. They may have the hardest job in VC. Back for its fifth year, BI's Seed 100 list uses Termina's data analysis to identify and honor these dealmakers. Their interests span tech, from defense to consumer. Some names may sound familiar. Also read: The Seed 40: The best women early-stage investors of 2025 Five tools in Goldman's AI arsenal The bank's tech chief once said AI would be as ubiquitous as email, with 100% of the workforce relying on it. With Goldman Sachs' up-and-coming slate of AI tools, the bank appears to be on track. BI kept tabs on the rollout of these resources, ranging from an AI assistant to a translation tool. This week's quote: "These days Gates looks like a sage compared to Musk and compared to the administration." — Michael Morris, a professor at the Columbia Business School, on both Elon Musk's and Bill Gates' approach to efficiency. More of this week's top reads: How to get a job in the booming business of secondaries. We found 200 "podcasts" peddling opioids. Now Spotify is taking them down. Meet the CEOs behind YouTube's biggest stars. Please, kids: Do not set your Chromebook on fire. Hulk Hogan's beer brand is eyeing a takeover of the Hooters name. Why Citadel Securities is training its developers on a coding language that hasn't even been released yet. Meta's Llama has reached a turning point with developers as delays and disappointment mount. Brevan Howard hires longtime JPMorgan dealmaker Carlos Hernandez as its first executive chair. In a chilly funding market, a VC explains why legal tech is " as hot as you can humanly imagine." The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.
Metro
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
10 incredible new tabletop games for you to play in summer 2025
GameCentral looks at the most exciting new summer tabletop releases, including adaptations of Final Fantasy, Assassin's Creed, and Citizen Sleeper The tabletop games industry has become an unlikely victim of Trump's tariff trade war. Just after it was recovering from Covid supply chain issues it now sees itself hit with manufacturing issues and an uncertain future. It's so bad that board game developer CMON has already shut up shop and Stonemaier, famous for the hugely successful Wingspan, is suing the Trump administration. Meanwhile Cephalofair, developer of fan favourite Gloomhaven, can't even get their product on to the shelves, as it's stuck in China. While I don't expect any empty shelves at the UK Games Expo this month, there's definitely panic in the air. Although one company that doesn't seem to be too concerned is Games Workshop, who have always manufactured most of their products in the UK – although accessories and terrain for your favourite Warhammer army might become harder to find in the future. After everyone got into it during lockdown, the tabletop industry was riding a huge boom, with recent industry projections of the market doubling to around £20 billion by 2030. But US tariffs have left the industry reeling and could see the price for tabletop games around the world rise significantly. Despite the doom and gloom there's plenty of exciting new products already out this year and many more on the way from massive brands such as Pokémon and Disney, as well as new Kickstarters that you can print yourself, thereby completely bypassing any manufacturing issues. There's also never been a better time to support your local board game shop or Dungeons & Dragons club, as their overheads rise, so here's a selection of games you might find on their shelves right now and those coming soon, that I'm excited to play during the summer break. Square Enix's iconic Final Fantasy franchise is stepping onto the cardboard battlefield with Magic: The Gathering, and the result is as gloriously nostalgic as it is mechanically exciting. The Universes Beyond initiative brings beloved characters, summons, and settings into Magic's gameplay, with Cloud Strife leading the charge. The Final Fantasy Starter Kit offers two pre-constructed 60 card decks, packed with flavour and function and perfect for newcomers attracted by the sight of a Chocobo or Moogle. Each deck includes five rares, a foil mythic legendary, deck boxes, and digital codes for Magic: The Gathering Arena. But the real draw? The cards themselves. They are stunning . Cloud channels Final Fantasy 7's environmental and emotional themes, with equipment-focused synergies that feel spot-on. Stiltzkin the Moogle is a flavourful support piece for donation strategies and the terrifying Tonberry arrives with Deathtouch and First Strike, which is fitting for a creature that's haunted players for decades. With gorgeous full art treatments by amazing artists such as Takahashi Kazuya and Yoshitaka Amano, underpinned by clever mechanical call backs, this crossover is more than fan service, it's a lovingly crafted bridge between two gaming giants that's bound to fly of the shelves. £15.99 on Amazon – releases June 13 There's a possible future where Games Workshop is the final tabletop company left standing, as they dodge tariffs and take down licence infringers like a particularly vicious swarm of tyrranids. You too can act out this future in Kill Team: Typhon, which delivers the chaos of Warhammer 40,000 in a claustrophobic, subterranean brawl between flesh-rending Tyranid Raveners and a desperate Adeptus Mechanicus Battleclade. The latest Kill Team box looks stunning and turns up the tension with asymmetric forces: a lean, elite brood of Raveners – deadly melee predators that can tunnel through terrain – versus a jury-rigged Mechanicus strike team, built from repurposed servitors and guided by a technoarchaeologist scouring ancient relics. But this isn't Helldivers 2. The Raveners can be customised into deadly variants like the Tremorscythe and Felltalon, each armed with bio-engineered weapons designed for close-quarters carnage. On the other side, the Mechanicus bring massed, lobotomised firepower: breachers, gunners, medics, and overseers to allow for some tactical coordination. Also included are Hormagaunts, the swarming Tyrranids shock troops and new Tyranid-infested terrain – always the standout feature of these kill team boxes, in my opinion, and perfect for narrative or larger 40K battles. Typhon embraces Kill Team's strength: cinematic asymmetry and high stakes. Price TBA – releases June This red and black box is going for gangbusters on eBay, before it's even supposed to be out. The Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals set reintroduces the beloved Trainer's Pokémon mechanic, but now with a twist where players can align with iconic duos like Arven's Mabosstiff and Ho-Oh ex or Cynthia and Garchomp ex. Or fall in with Team Rocket under Giovanni's command, fielding heavy hitters like Mewtwo ex. It's a rich throwback to the Gym Heroes era, with cards that spotlight specific trainer and pokémon bonds, each emblazoned with the trainer's name. The expansion includes 83 cards branded under Team Rocket, 17 new Pokémon ex cards (10 of which are Trainer's Pokémon ex), and a trove of high rarity collectibles: 23 illustration rares, 11 special illustration rares, and six hyper rare gold-etched cards. But the pre-launch hasn't been all Sunflora and Jigglypuffs. Since its full reveal on March 24, pre-orders have sparked a frenzy amongst scalpers, with sellouts and early store hiccups are already marring the rollout. Still, between the nostalgia bait and villainous charm, Destined Rivals is shaping up to be one of 2025's hottest trading card releases. RRP £54.99 – releases May 30 One game I just can't put back on the shelf at the moment is Finspan; who'd of thought fish could be so much fun? Since Wingspan took flight in 2019, it's become a modern classic: part art piece, part engine builder, and a benchmark for gateway games. Finspan, the third entry in the series, swaps feathers for fins, inviting players to explore marine ecosystems across oceanic zones in a beautifully illustrated, medium-lightweight game that last about 45 minutes. Mechanically, Finspan is more accessible than Wingspan, thanks to forgiving resource generation and a gentler deck structure. Strategic depth is still there, whether you chase high value fish, go wide with schools, or balance both. It's more of a solo puzzle, and less about blocking opponents, which might suit more casual groups. Replayability is strong, and with one to five player support it scales well. The art is stunning, and the fish facts make you feel like a would-be marine biologist. But I missed the funny components (no birdhouse dice tower), so this is missing some of that Wingspan magic. Finspan is a fantastic entry point to the series and an accessible and fun addition to the franchise. It's not as perfect as Wingspan, but it swims confidently in its own current. Could we see whale and crustacean expansions? I hope so. RRP £41.99 – available now While you might have missed the Star Wars Celebration in Japan last month, and be bereft over the end of Andor Season 2, don't worry – there are plenty of alternatives for Star Wars fandom. Fantasy Flight Games is revving its hyperdrive with Jump To Lightspeed, the fourth set for trading card game Star Wars Unlimited. A dramatic shift from previous ground-focused releases, this set propels players into orbit, with an emphasis on space combat and a host of gameplay refinements. Headlining the release are two new Spotlight Decks, each featuring a classic rivalry, such as Han Solo vs. Boba Fett. These 50-card preconstructed decks introduce Pilots, a brand-new card type that changes how space units operate. Pilots can be deployed to enhance ships with improved health and damage dealing abilities, offering fresh tactical depth. The set also debuts the Piloting keyword, a hyperspace mechanic, and five special rarity cards per deck, including one new Leader per Spotlight release. It's a sleek continuation of Unlimited's mission, with deep strategy wrapped in Star Wars flair. Fantasy Flight isn't just releasing a new set; they're effectively entering year two of the game with a soft reboot, that smartly rebalances and refreshes. For new and returning players, the standalone Spotlight Decks offer a refined on-ramp into the meta, while the stellar art and fan favourite make this one of the best sci-fi trading card games around. RRP: £34.99 – available now I was gutted I didn't manage to nab some physical Cycles of the Eye Data-Cloud dice from Lost in Cult, before they sold out, so I was ecstatic to see the shadow drop of Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack, especially as it's completely free. It's a lean, solo tabletop role-player set in the neon-drenched corridors of the Far Spindle, part of the Citizen Sleeper universe. Released on May 5th (aka Citizen Sleeper Day), it's a print-and-play experience that trades dense narrative for kinetic delivery runs and tactical movement through a crumbling space station. Inspired by Kadet, the courier from Citizen Sleeper 2, Spindlejack casts you as one of the eponymous daredevils: airbike mounted messengers who dodge cargo haulers and urban decay to deliver sensitive payloads in a haunted, half-dead network. The draw? Not just the cryo or reputation, but the thrill, the competition, and the culture. Using your 10 six-sided dice, a pencil, and some printed sheets you'll chart courses across randomly generated intersections, upgrade your bike, and edge toward Spindlejack legend status. Designed by Gareth Damian Martin, with stylish, gritty art from Guillaume Singelin, this is a tight, systems-focused dive into a beloved sci-fi setting. No campaign scheduling. No group required. Just you, your dice, and the Spindle's rusted arteries. For fans of Citizen Sleeper or those craving a focused, atmospheric solo experience, Spindlejack is a no-brainer. DIY or DIE. Available now The internet has been on fire with the announcement that forthcoming Lorcana sets are to include Darkwing Duck and The Goofy Movie cast, emphasising that Disney Lorcana has become something of a juggernaut since its 2023 debut, captivating collectors and competitive players with a blend of nostalgic charm and evolving mechanics – judging scandals aside. During the Next Chapter of Lorcana livestream earlier this month, Ravensburger dropped major news. The autumn 2025 set, Fabled, will introduce Lorcana's first ever set rotation, a sign the game is maturing into a competitive force. To support this shift, Fabled will include reprints from earlier sets, while also debuting two new rarity levels: epic and the ultra-rare Iconic. Reign Of Jafar, the game's eighth set, sees Jafar rise as the new central villain, corrupting Archazia's Island and bringing a darker twist to the narrative. Familiar faces like Mulan, Stitch, Rapunzel, and Bruno return, alongside new cards and accessories, including updated sleeves and deck boxes featuring classic Enchanted artwork. The new Illumineer's Quest: Palace Heist PvE box expands on the beloved Deep Trouble, letting players face Jafar co-op style. Expect pre-built decks (Amethyst Amber and Ruby Steel), booster boxes, and enough lore-packed cardboard to fuel your summer break. £16.99 starter pack – releases May 30 While Finspan might be missing a dice tower, Fate Of The Fellowship more than makes up for that with a dice tower Barad-dûr. This is a one to five player co-op strategy game that builds on the Pandemic System but adds enough fresh features to feel distinct, deeper, and more precious than ever. Players take on the roles of Fellowship members and allies, racing to protect havens from surging shadow troops and helping Frodo sneak past the Nazgûl en route to Mount Doom. Unlike previous Pandemic adaptations, Fate Of The Fellowship leans hard into narrative mechanics. You'll juggle four resources – stealth, valour, resistance, and friendship – across a sprawling map as you battle despair and shifting objectives. Each player commands two characters, with asymmetric abilities and layered decisions every turn. With 24 rotating objectives, a constant threat from the Eye of Sauron, and a cleverly tuned solo mode, designer Matt Leacock has crafted his richest Pandemic variant yet. I've seen plenty of tabletop gamers saying this will be their must-play at UK Games Expo. RRP £69.99 – releases June 27 Animus brings the Assassin's Creed universe to the tabletop in a wholly fresh, narrative-driven experience. Up to four players select historical eras, each tied to a legendary assassin like Ezio or Eivor, resulting in distinct, asymmetric playstyles, unique objectives, and specialised mechanics. Rather than a miniatures skirmish, this is a competitive, timeline-jumping adventure where players dive into ancestral memories via the titular Animus. Strategic stealth and precision matter: while one player might rush to the end, victory favours those who stay synchronised with their ancestor's memory by completing tasks efficiently and, of course, stealthily. While there's still not much information about this game at the moment, Animus looks to employ modular and evolving dynamics driven by interactive card play. Players can impact each other's timelines, which will hopefully keep the experience reactive and organic. With deep lore integration, and Ubisoft's full support, this could the most ambitious Assassin's Creed tabletop title yet. Crowdfunding starts summer 2025 Days of Wonder, the studio behind tabletop classic Ticket To Ride, has unveiled its next major release, with Star Wars: Battle Of Hoth. Designed for two to four players, aged 8 and up, this fast-paced board game runs around 30 minutes per session and leans on the accessible, card-driven Commands & Colors system. More Trending Players will face off as Imperial or Rebel forces across 17 scenario-driven missions, with options to escalate into campaign mode. Leader cards introduce familiar names like Vader, Luke, Leia, and Han to influence the tide of battle. Although it should be easy to learn, concerns linger about the scope of the battlefield. A cramped board could reduce tactical play to simple dice duels, something fans of strategic depth may find frustrating. Questions also remain about unit range and movement dynamics. Still, Battle Of Hoth promises cinematic nostalgia and the potential for layered tactics, and all for a very reasonable price. RRP: £49.99 – crowdfunding starts summer 2025 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: You can binge all 12 episodes of sci-fi thriller fans called a 'masterpiece' MORE: Miley Cyrus' dad Billy Ray breaks silence on divorce that sparked huge family feud MORE: Woman quit over results of 'which Star Wars character are you?' personality quiz
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Nepo grandson celebrates graduating from New York University after an internship at Jay-Z's label
THIS nepo grandson graduated from New York University this week - with his very famous musician grandfather watching on. The Beatles icon Sir Paul McCartney, 82, seen beaming with pride as he celebrated his grandson Elliot Donald's big achievement. 6 This nepo grandson graduated from New York University this week Credit: Instagram 6 His very famous musician grandfather watching on Credit: Instagram 6 Sir Paul McCartney was seen beaming with pride as he celebrated with his family Credit: Instagram 6 Elliot worked as an assistant to the Vice Chairman at Jay-Z's Roc Nation in Los Angeles Credit: Getty Elliot, 22, completed a four-year degree at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with his family joining him at the ceremony. Sir Paul flashed a big smile alongside his wife Nancy, 65, and daughter Mary McCartney, who is Elliot's mum. The musician wore a navy suit and posed with a thumbs up and holding a graduation programme in his other hand. The family photo was shared on Mary's Instagram on Wednesday. READ MORE ON PAUL MCCARTNEY Mary, who looked chic in a black shirt and trousers, captioned it: "Couldn't be prouder". Elliot already has a string of impressive internships under his belt - from music, to real estate and art. Last summer, he worked as an assistant to the Vice Chairman at Jay-Z's Roc Nation in Los Angeles. He's spent six months at Jeff Koons Studio in New York as a research assistant and interned at property brand Artfarm in London. Most read in Celebrity While the Let It Be hitmaker never went to university himself but has received multiple honorary degrees. The New Beatles Biopic Movies: Star-Studded Cast Revealed He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree in 1988 from the University of Sussex, and another by Yale University in 2008. Sir Paul also co-founded the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 1996. Filmmaker Mary, 55, shares sons Elliot and his older brother Arthur with ex-husband and director Alistair Donald. Arthur, 25, is currently romantically involved with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe. He is one of the two surviving members of the iconic band, along with drummer The Liverpool-born rocker has been touring the world for decades and has released numerous hits, but he still found the time to raise his five kids. Paul's eldest child is Heather Eastman McCartney. Heather was born on December 31, 1962, and is the daughter of Paul's late wife Linda from her previous marriage . She's a successful artist and designer and has had a number of international exhibitions including shows in Tokyo, Paris and London. Heather - who was adopted by Paul - also appeared in his documentaries Let It Be and Wingspan. Mary was born on August 28, 1969, and was the first child Paul had with his beloved late wife, Linda. Like her mother, she has written books on vegetarian cooking. Probably the best-known of all of the McCartney siblings, Stella was born on September 13, 1971, and is a world-famous fashion designer. She founded her fashion house, Stella McCartney, in 2001, which is an internationally-renowned brand. Since 2005, Stella has designed an activewear collection for Adidas. James McCartney was born on September 12, 1977, and is Paul's only son. He has followed his dad into the music industry, becoming a singer-songwriter. Beatrice McCartney is Paul's youngest daughter, who was born on October 28, 2003. Now all grown up, she is understood she hopes to be a marine biologist. Is Paul McCartney married? Paul is married to third wife Nancy Shevell, after getting hitched in 2011. The pair met in 2007, after being introduced during a stay at the Hamptons. Like Paul, Nancy has been married before and has a son from her past relationship. She was wed to her first husband Bruce Blakeman for 23 years, before divorcing in 2007. 6 Elliot's father is television director Alistair Donald Credit: Rex 6 Mary McCartney and son Elliot Donald in New York earlier this year Credit: Rex
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I'm a board game designer facing a huge tariff bill. I'm trying to stall shipments and preparing for the worst.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jamey Stegmaier, the 44-year-old cofounder, lead designer, and president of Stonemaier Games based in St Louis, Missouri. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Like everyone else, we found out about the latest tariffs on television. My company, Stonemaier Games, pays tariffs to the US government for the games we manufacture in China and import to the US. I thought we could work with it when the 20% tariff was applied in March, but then the last month happened, and that changed everything. We learned we would be hit with an initial 34% tariff on top of an existing 20% one. Then it kept rising to 145%. I was surprised not just by the initial jump but by how much it continued to increase day by day. American companies, including us, could lose a lot of money or go out of business within a few months. We work with a Chinese company called Panda Game Manufacturing I started Stonemaier Games 13 years ago, launching my first title, Viticulture, on Kickstarter while it was still just a hobby. Since then, my team of eight US-based employees has published 20 different modern strategy games, including Wingspan, our best-known title. My team focuses on the entire creative and commercial process: We design games, handle logistics, and take care of sales and marketing — everything except actual manufacturing. That happens in China, with Panda. China has entire industries built around custom game components, such as wooden tokens, custom dice, and specialty molds. The US doesn't, and those components are expensive to make here. Once games are made, about 65% are shipped to the US, and the rest largely go to Europe, Canada, and Australia. We're the ones paying the tariffs — not China or our customers We had already started a large print run of 250,000 games before the tariffs were introduced, none of which have sold to customers yet. Some are earmarked for distributors, but distributors pay us after goods are delivered. That's part of what made this so difficult — we'd already invested heavily. So far, we've only paid around $5,000 in tariffs on a small shipment that left China in early February, right when the initial 20% tariff hit. If we passed along the full 145% tariff to customers, a popular game like Wingspan, which sells for $65, would suddenly cost close to $200. No one would buy it. This week, we're starting to ship out that big 250,000-unit run, which will take about three weeks. If things go poorly, we could be hit with 145% tariffs when those goods arrive in June. We'll take the current shipments and cover the freight costs, but I'm already thinking about the holiday print run. If the temporary truce holds — which slashes China's tariffs on the US from 125% to 10% and the US's tariffs on China from 145% to 30% — we'll "only" pay 30%. That's still painful, but manageable compared to the alternative. We've been trying to stall by seeing how long we can delay shipments, hold them in China, or temporarily route them through Canada. There's no loophole — tariffs are based on the country of origin, not where the goods enter. Even if we store something in Canada, we still pay when it crosses into the US. Most of our customers have been supportive People are particularly sympathetic to how these changes are affecting small businesses. I've been outspoken in the media and joined a lawsuit against the tariffs with a dozen other companies. Some customers who support the president have taken issue with things I've said, like how I will not stand idly while my livelihood and thousands of other small business owners' livelihoods are treated like pawns in a political game. On the various blog posts I've written, especially the " We're Suing the President" post, there were a number of inflammatory comments, including some saying that they'll never buy another Stonemaier game again. It's been surprising to me to see such a wide range of reactions. Right now, we're just trying to move forward I've looked into onshoring our manufacturing. We do sell most of our games in the US, so on paper it makes sense, but the US just doesn't have the infrastructure or expertise for this kind of manufacturing at scale. The creative question I've been asking myself is: Could we design games around what we can manufacture in the US? That's interesting from a design perspective — but also creatively limiting. The 90-day truce period on tariffs ends in August. There's still so much uncertainty, which will likely lead to a more modest holiday run than usual. I'd like to see Congress step up I want to see Congress take ownership of the process. I'd also ask for a grace period for businesses like mine, which made decisions before the tariffs were announced. That would show good faith. If the tariffs don't get pulled back, people will have significantly less money to spend on things that bring them joy, like games. Any publisher without cash reserves is in trouble, especially if they have games in production in China. I think local retailers will suffer the most. There's no math that makes it work. There's no silver lining. It's a lose-lose-lose situation for everyone involved.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why indie board game companies are teaming up to sue Trump
Board game companies are suing Trump because they say tariffs are affecting their profits. Stonemaier Games said in the lawsuit it expects to pay "millions" due to tariffs. Trump says the tariffs are meant to boost US jobs, but the cost is often passed on to the consumer. A group of tabletop game companies is suing President Donald Trump because it says his tariffs are reducing their profits to the real-world value of Monopoly money. Stonemaier Games, which makes the popular board games "Wingspan," "Rolling Realms," and "Vantage," announced its involvement in the lawsuit this week. The company said the lawsuit would "challenge the unchecked authority" of Trump and his tariffs. "We will not stand idly by while our livelihoods—and the livelihoods of thousands of small business owners and contractors in the US, along with the customers whose pursuit of happiness we hold dear—are treated like pawns in a political game," the company said. Lawyers for Stonemaier, which is based in St. Louis, said in a legal complaint that the company estimates it will pay "millions in tariffs" because it manufactures all of its games in a Chinese factory owned by Panda Game Manufacturing, which is based in Canada. Stonemaier has printed its games in China for more than 13 years, the lawsuit says. At least nine other companies joined Stonemaier in the lawsuit, saying Trump's tariffs will cause substantial harm to their business. XYZ Game Labs, Rookie Mage, Spielcraft, and TinkerHouse Games are all board game companies that are joining the lawsuit. Spielcraft, an independent Nebraska-based board game maker, paid $4,335 in tariff fees in April, the lawsuit says. Other small businesses also joined the suit. Clothing company Princes Awesome, which makes inclusive clothing for children and adults, paid $1,041 for dresses imported from China in March, according to the lawsuit. "Princess Awesome has also ordered additional products from Peru, Bangladesh, and India that they anticipate will arrive in the United States in the coming weeks and are continuing to place new orders for imports," the complaint says. Trump and his treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, have said that the tariffs are part of a strategy to increase manufacturing jobs in the United States. But that could take a while. In the meantime, tariffs can raise prices and reduce the dollar's purchasing power, leaving consumers with less money to spend. Experts told Business Insider that supply chain disruptions caused by the tariffs could cause prices to spike and the availability of goods to decrease in as early as a few weeks. Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing the companies in the lawsuit, said in a statement that Trump's tariffs are unconstitutional and that only Congress should have the power to levy tariffs. "The Constitution gives Congress—not the president—the power to impose tariffs because policies affecting an entire nation should come from the body most representative of the entire nation," the statement says. "And Congress cannot delegate that core legislative power to the president." Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
