The Changing Landscape of Manufacturing and Its Impact on LnLP Game Production
(The following is a post on Facebook by David Heath of Lock/n/Load...)
The manufacturing landscape is undergoing rapid changes, and while it's important to set politics aside, the reality is clear: the demand for trained labor is increasing, with more challenges expected on the horizon.
Currently, the vast majority of board games are manufactured in China. Based on my direct experience, a game that costs approximately $20–$25 per unit to produce in China would cost around $98 per unit if manufactured in the United States. These are not speculative numbers — they are based on actual quotes I’ve personally obtained. This figure does not include additional expenses such as shipping, warehousing, or logistics. Moreover, domestic manufacturing options for this type of production are extremely limited — almost to the point of being non-existent.
As of April 3, 2025, new tariffs on Chinese-manufactured products are expected to raise the cost of goods by approximately 50% to 55%. It’s important to clarify that these tariffs apply to the manufacturing cost, not the retail price. The expected result is a 15% to 25% increase in the final retail price of many products.
This situation will seriously impact crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound. Ongoing and future campaigns may face heightened instability. While most backers are used to moderate delays, asking them to absorb or share in flexible pricing—especially related to fluctuating tariff impacts—introduces an unprecedented level of uncertainty. This can place many publishers in a difficult position, especially those already mid-campaign.
We are approaching our next steps with caution and purpose. One of our key initiatives includes discussions with manufacturing professionals about the possibility of establishing a high-tech production facility here in Colorado and other possible international options. One of our primary concerns is maintaining the high-quality level of our products.
None of our current or newly printed products will be effective under the latest tariffs. We will post some new updates as we move forward.
David Heath will be one of my guests for the Tariff Rounddtable livestream...
Join us live, everyone is welcome!
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