Playdate Maker Panic Refunds Customers for Tariffs
Panic is returning tariff surcharges to Playdate customers. This decision contrasts with larger console manufacturers. The company stated the collected fees were not theirs to keep.
Coverage across 6 outlets
Playdate maker Panic is passing tariff refunds on to customers
Panic, the maker of the Playdate handheld, is passing on tariff refunds to its customers who purchased the device while tariffs were in effect. This contrasts with Nintendo, which has stated it does not owe rebates to consumers for price increases made in response to tariffs, and is seeking dismissal of a related class-action lawsuit.
Panic refunds tariff fees, 1047 Games pivots from Splitgate, and Gamescom Dev grows - Patch Notes #67
This week's gaming news covers the prevalence of generative AI at Gamescom, Panic's refund of tariff fees for the Playdate handheld, and Rockstar Games' response to the Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks. Additionally, 1047 Games is ending development on Splitgate Arena Reloaded and Empulse, CAA launched an indie game fund, and actor Tim Curry passed away. Gamescom Dev saw growth, and No More Room in Hell 2 surpassed one million players.
Playdate maker Panic refunds tariff surcharges to customers
Playdate maker Panic is refunding customers who paid tariff surcharges, following a US Supreme Court ruling that President Trump's tariffs were unlawful. The company had added a 19% tariff line item to Playdate orders during a specific period. Separately, a report indicates the European games industry generated €30 billion in 2025, with mobile and tablets being the leading platforms.
'It's just not our money to keep': Handheld console maker Panic is refunding US tariff fees to its…
Handheld console maker Panic Inc. is refunding customers who were charged extra for US tariffs on their purchases of the Playdate. Company co-founder Cabel Sasser stated that the tariffs were a financial burden and that the money collected was not theirs to keep. The process of obtaining the refund from the government and processing it for customers was described as extensive but ultimately rewarding.
Panic is refunding tariff fees paid by Playdate owners
Panic, the developer of the Playdate handheld console, is refunding tariff fees previously paid by its owners. These fees were incurred under the Trump administration's original tariff regime.
Unlike The Big Console Makers, Playdate Is Refunding You Those Tariff Fees
Panic, the maker of the Playdate handheld console, is refunding customers the tariff fees it previously added to the product's price. This move contrasts with larger console manufacturers like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, who have not passed on similar government refunds to consumers. Panic stated that the tariff fees were not their money to keep and that refunding them felt like the right decision.
Playdate maker Panic is refunding tariff fees to customers
Playdate manufacturer Panic is refunding customers who paid tariff fees during a specific period this year. The company received tariff refunds from the United States government and decided to pass the money back to its customers, citing that it was not their money to keep. This decision contrasts with other companies like Nintendo, which are reportedly keeping their tariff refunds.
