French board game publisher IELLO has given Blue Orange USA exclusive first pick on bringing its titles to the US, having left former partner Flat River Group after it slashed its North American hobby game distribution operation.
Board game manufacturing major Panda says it plans to stick with its new Brazilian production operation, despite its first expansion outside of China immediately falling foul of a surprise 50% tariff announcement from the US.
Donald Trump's tariff policies and the restriction of liberties in the US are threatening the creation and release of new board games, the chairman of the Spiel des Jahres association told attendees at the high-profile award ceremony this year.
Maestro Media, the publishing company adapting IPs such as Hello Kitty and video game The Binding of Isaac to the tabletop, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Asmodee for its English language products in the US, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Board game giant Asmodee's plan to reignite its strategy of buying up smaller board game publishers and distributors remains "completely unchanged" by the tariffs volatility, with company CEO Thomas Koegler saying the uncertain times in fact "present opportunities for strategic acquisitions".
Elevated tariffs continue to threaten the board game industry despite a 90-day 'truce' between the US and China - with publishers now facing a spike in shipping prices and a battle for limited container space as businesses race to take advantage of the lower-tariff window.
War of the Ring publisher Ares Games has signed a pair of new US distribution deals, with director of production Roberto Di Meglio saying the company hopes to prove "there is still life for our industry during the trade war".
Online board game retailer Boardlandia has become the latest tabletop-related victim of the skyrocketing US tariffs on Chinese imports, with its owners announcing they have closed down the business.
The American Tabletop Awards, an awards scheme launched six years ago with the aim of being the US equivalent of Germany's Spiel des Jahres, has revealed its 2025 winners.
Board game companies across the industry are bracing for price hikes, job losses and the potential shuttering of their businesses after US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping import tariffs targeting countries across the world yesterday.
