Panic refunds Playdate customers following Supreme Court tariff ruling

Gaming company Panic is issuing tariff fee refunds to customers of its Playdate handheld console. This move follows an early 2026 Supreme Court ruling that declared certain US tariffs on goods illegal.

Panic had previously passed these government-mandated tariffs on to consumers as a line item at checkout. Following the receipt of tariff refunds from the government, the company decided to return the funds to its customers, stating, “it just felt like the fair thing to do.”

Customers are receiving personalized emails detailing their specific refund amounts, which have ranged from approximately $12 to over $23 for international customers. Panic stopped charging these tariffs on new orders as of April 21, 2026. Co-founder Cabel Sasser noted that while the administrative process to secure and distribute the refunds was significant for a smaller company, the company felt it was not their money to keep.