‘Spirit Island’ Publisher Greater Than Games Suspends Operations Due To Trump Tariffs
Citing “the current tariff war”, Greater Than Games Creative Director, Darrell Louder announced that the GTG team was disbanded.
Greater Than Games, makers of Spirit Island and Sentinels of the Multiverse, among others, has been forced to limit production, according to an announcement from the company.
Currently, all new projects are suspended as the global tariff situation remains volatile. However, the Greater Than Games website will remain operational, with in-stock products available to order. Goods in the current catalog will still be produced as needed. Updates will be made at a later date for customers who ordered upcoming products (crowdfunding, pre-orders).
At press time, Flat River Group, the distributor and “high-performance e-commerce accelerator” that acquired Greater Than Games in 2021, has not officially stated whether the company is closing entirely. But as of yesterday, work on all new projects was suspended at Greater Than Games, and staff were let go.
Greater Than Games Suspends Operations – Trump Tariffs Take Toll
Former Creative Director Darrell Louder confirmed in a Facebook post that the creative team has been disbanded.
“I couldn’t confirm yesterday, but can today. Due to current tariff war, Flat River Group has shuttered Greater Than Games effective today.
Me and my team are now unemployed and disbanded. I’m shattered.”
While the fallout is still settling at Greater Than Games, the tabletop industry seems to be facing even more uncertain times.
This is the first big layoff and production shift we’re hearing about directly connected to Trump’s tariffs, though sadly, it is likely not going to be the last. The tariffs are both astronomically high and difficult for companies to predict. This volatility leaves small businesses particularly vulnerable to the seeming whims of the current administration.
This is especially troubling not just for Greater Than Games, but also for their customers. GTG was about to ramp into fulfillment on the latest Sentinels of the Multiverse crowdfunding project. For now, according to their website, GTG’s webstore will remain operational with in-stock products available to order. Customers expecting “upcoming products” will have to wait for an update – after all, someone will have to pay the tariffs, and it’s usually the consumer.
As a reminder, a tariff is a tax on imported goods. And the newly enacted Trump tariffs are based on limited tariff authority delegated to the president decades ago. The US Constitution puts tariff power solely in the hands of Congress; which could step in and stop the Trump tariffs any moment if they so choose. But until they do, the Trump tariffs continue to cause real, measurable harm – in this case, the loss of jobs and a popular gaming company.
It is always a good time to contact your elected officials.
