Playdate maker Panic is passing tariff refunds on to customers
Panic, the company behind the crank-powered Playdate handheld, is returning tariff refunds to customers after the US Supreme Court ordered the government to reimburse affected import fees. The move means buyers who paid more for a Playdate during the tariff period should receive money back, contrasting with Nintendo’s position that customers are not entitled to rebates after its own tariff-related price rises.
Playdate launched in 2022 and was among gaming hardware affected by US tariffs last year. Panic has begun emailing eligible customers and says refunds will be returned to the original payment method; customers who believe they qualify but have not received an email can contact help@play.date. Nintendo, meanwhile, is seeking to dismiss a class-action case over whether it should share any government tariff refund after raising US prices for the original Switch, OLED, Lite and other products.
- Panic is refunding Playdate buyers affected by US tariffs.
- Eligible customers should receive an email and original-payment refund.
- Nintendo disputes that its customers deserve comparable rebates.