Marvelous USA delays Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma game's premium "Earth Dancer" edition
Good Smile Company Online Shop U.S. announced on its website on Thursday that it will temporarily pause all new pre-orders and delay shipments to the United States "due to the rapid and ongoing shifts in international trade policy and the resulting uncertainty around U.S. tariffs." Good Smile Online Shop U.S. stated that it will directly contact customers whose existing pre-orders will be delayed beyond their expected release timelines and offer them options.
Update: In addition, the main Good Smile Company Online Store stated on April 23 that as some of its products are manufactured in China, additional charges may apply at the time of delivery "if U.S. Customs determines that the item was made in China." This would apply to orders shipped to the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Good Smile Company Online Store stated that while until now, goods valued at under US$800 were exempt from customs duties, the U.S. is now reviewing this policy, which could result in products under US$800 in value no longer being exempt "if they are deemed to have been made in China." Good Smile Company Online Store added the changes are expected to go into effect on or after May 2. Due to these expected changes, pre-orders for certain items for the above-mentioned regions will be suspended from April 24 through May 14.
Marvelous USA announced on its Bluesky account on Saturday that the premium "Earth Dancer" edition of its upcoming Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Ryū no Kuni Rune Factory) game will not be ready in time for the game's updated worldwide release on June 5. Shipping the folding sensu fan which is part of the premium edition from its Chinese factory will incur an extra 20% increase in the suggested selling price of the set. The game was previously slated worldwide for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on May 30. The game will also launch for the Switch 2.
The new Nintendo Switch 2 system went live for pre-orders in the United States and Canada on April 24, following a delay in the U.S. (and by extension, Canada) due to the raised tariffs. The console's release date of June 5 remains unchanged.
President Donald Trump formally announced new tariff taxes on imports on April 2 after U.S. stock markets closed. Stocks in the United States, Japan, and elsewhere have dropped across the board, and have not fully recovered despite the rescinding of some tariffs.
Background on New U.S. Tariffs
Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on global imports to the United States would start on April 5. He also announced self-described "reciprocal" tariffs would start against many countries on April 9. Vietnam and Cambodia would receive some of the highest additional tariff rates at 46% and 49%, respectively, while Japan and China would receive 24% and 34%, respectively. The president then suspended tariffs for almost all countries except China, which he continued raising to an effective 145% (including tariffs levied prior to the current administration) over a number of days, with China responding with an escalation of its own tariffs to the United States that so far has reached 125%.
The White House posted a list of products exempted from the additional tariffs after the April 2 announcement. That list includes "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter," which indicates books such as manga and other comic books physically printed in Asia would be exempted from the additional tariffs. The U.S. administration has since clarified other goods would be excluded from the tariffs, including steel and aluminum products, cars and car products, certain critical resources, smartphones, computers, and various electronic parts, among others.
The new U.S. tariffs would also affect toys, figures, and other merchandise produced in China, Vietnam, Japan, and elsewhere in Asia.
The U.S. administration noted that it can raise tariffs further or lower them, depending on how countries respond. The current situation on the U.S.'s new protectionist tariff policy is extremely fluid and volatile, and has seen changes and clarifications almost every day.
Update: Clarified Good Smile Company Online Shop U.S. in first sentence. Added details from expected changes announced by Good Smile Company Online Store.
Thanks to The Grand Alliance for the news tip.
Sources: Good Smile Company Online Shop U.S.'s website and X/Twitter account, Good Smile Company Online Store's website, Marvelous USA's Bluesky account
