With only a week remaining in the shortened two-week campaign, Steamforged has surpassed its target for Helldivers 2: The Board Game. At the time of writing, the campaign for this one-to-four-player tactical action game has exceeded its goal by more than 2,000%, reaching approximately $1.6 million. Delivery is anticipated for sometime in 2026. However, there’s a new development in the pre-ordering process of these game sets — a cautionary note regarding the Trump administration’s recent tariffs on imports.
For those familiar with crowdfunding campaigns, you might recognize the typical statement addressing risks and challenges. Steamforged’s notice is brief, mentioning their perseverance through challenges like the pandemic to fulfill promises made to backers. It also includes information on refunds and cancellations. The company is part of Gamefound’s Stable Pledge program, which ensures a full refund if post-campaign price changes exceed 10%. Further details about this program are available on Gamefound’s website.
Look further and you’ll find an extensive section on shipping, detailing all the countries where this British company will deliver. The list includes around 60 countries, demonstrating the company’s commitment to international distribution for a game that’s still in development with a shipping target of next year. This showcases the company’s logistical expertise. They have successfully managed such endeavors before and likely will continue to do so.
But then there’s the paragraph that follows:
Given the current uncertainty surrounding US tariffs, predicting outcomes when the game ships in late 2026 is challenging. Currently, it’s unclear if US tariffs will be covered by our customs-free goal. Nonetheless, we aim to prioritize our backers’ interests. We have covered all duties for ongoing campaigns and will continue to evaluate each project individually.
This isn’t a commitment; rather, it serves as a warning about the unpredictability of the current administration, which deviates from established norms in the board game industry. President Trump’s broad tariffs, which act as taxes on imports, might significantly increase the cost of imported board games, including Helldivers 2: The Board Game, possibly by more than 100% of their retail value. If so, consumers might need to bear some or all of this added expense.
To clarify, Steamforged is not at fault here. In fact, their transparency is commendable, offering a fair warning to potential consumers and partners on this promising project. However, for U.S. consumers, this represents a new reality. Be prepared to scrutinize future crowdfunding campaigns more thoroughly.
