Cephalofair Games has announced that the release of Gloomhaven: Second Edition is currently suspended because of increasing tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which are predicted to disrupt the entire board game industry. In a recent CNN interview, COO Price Johnson relayed troubling news about the popular dungeon crawler board game’s future, stating that the tariffs have risen dramatically, leading the company to stop its sales in the US until there is more stability in the market.

“We’ve essentially been told to cease our US sales indefinitely, at least until things settle and we have confidence again in the market.”

He further explained that the fluctuating nature of tariffs is creating instability, making planning and pricing nearly impossible for manufacturers like Cephalofair. Johnson expresses concern that without immediate solutions, many publishers will face significant challenges.

“We have entire industries, like the board game publishing industry, that have been brought to a complete stand-still… There’s no solutions right now.”

This situation not only threatens the games’ releases but also risks leaving mom-and-pop stores throughout the country without stock, pushing them towards bankruptcy as they can no longer offer these products on their shelves. As the industry grapples with these challenges, the fate of Gloomhaven: Second Edition remains uncertain, posing great concern for board gaming enthusiasts.

Gloomhaven (Image credit: Flaming Flowl Studios)

In summary, without decisive action, the massive ripple effects from these tariffs may change the landscape of the board gaming community forever.