Blurred background image of dice on paper

Special Update: Navigating Tariffs + D20 Sale Info

by My Store Admin

**This update, directly from founder, Jean Simonet, has been adapted from the communication shared with our Kickstarter Backers and contains transparent, detailed information about Pixels production. Some details have been adjusted to focus on Pre-order info vs Backer Rewards. These updates are published at the end of each month (or in special updates) and will continue to be re-published on the Pixels Blog with information relevant to Pre-order customers.**

Hey everyone,

I am sure you are all very curious to know how Pixels are affected by all the news. Let me start by apologizing to our non-US backers: the constant whiplash of tariff developments this past month has taken all our attention and energy and so this update is almost entirely focused on that.

After many weeks of "will they? won't they?," it unfortunately looks like the administration has decided to dig its heels in and apply enormous tariffs on Chinese goods. Not only that, but they are also getting rid of the de-minimis exemption that I was confident would be our saving grace through this.

This is definitely not good, but we are doing everything we can to mitigate the pain. 
Here's the short version:

  • 1,845 free split shipments are going out next week.
     
  • We’re running a limited D20 sale ($39.99 each, U.S. only). Why? To quickly move dice already stateside and offset impacts of recent tariff chaos.
    • This isn’t an ask for more money. We’re just letting you know first.
  • Support tickets are still backed up (see details below).


 

🚚 A Free Second Wave of Split Shipments

Next week, we’re sending out 1,845 single D20s to backers with multi-item orders. Unlike last time, this doesn't just include backers to whom we can send all their singles at once, but anyone in the U.S. waiting on a translucent D20 (MG, AS, or CL).

📌 No need to reach out—we’ll email you when your dice ship.

To clarify how we’ve handled split shipments:

  • Our first round went to backers who paid extra for extra-early delivery.
  • We followed that with a free round we covered ourselves.
  • This week marks another wave we’re absorbing the cost on.

Absorbing these additional (and unplanned) shipping costs isn't something we can sustain long-term, but we want to reassure you that:

  • Manufacturing hasn’t stopped.
  • Even in this uncertain environment, we’re still doing everything we can to keep shipments moving.


 

🎲 Navigating Tariffs

Surely you've seen the headlines: recent developments in global trade have introduced significant challenges. The U.S. has imposed tariffs up to 145% on Chinese imports, and as of April 10th, the de minimis exemption is being eliminated.

In case you missed it: the de minimis exemption has been in place since 2016 and allows goods under $800 to enter the U.S. duty- and tariff-free. Initially, we used this to ship product as it became available—especially via air instead of ocean freight.

When the new tariffs were first announced, I hoped the exemption would be our loophole. Unfortunately, the administration has repealed it, making all goods from China subject to the 145% tariff. There was a recent exception made for certain electronics, but Pixels don’t qualify—the listed categories only cover smartphones and certain computer parts.

These changes have led to major shipping uncertainties and will once again delay the pace at which we can fulfill orders—unless something changes.

When I launched this Kickstarter in 2021, my cost estimates were based on a very different timeline and global environment. Four years later—after a pandemic, ongoing supply chain volatility, my own mistakes, and now these tariffs—the original numbers no longer reflect what it takes to deliver each reward.

What hasn’t changed is my commitment to doing exactly that for the remaining ~11,000 backers still waiting. While other companies can raise prices or pass new costs onto customers, as a Kickstarter project still fulfilling original orders, I can’t—and won’t—do that.

The situation is so volatile right now that my current strategy is simply to wait. It's the most cost-effective thing we can do for the moment. In time, we'll look into more options such as moving parts of the production somewhere else, but that is not a simple task and would be too expensive to do at this very moment. Plus, to be fair, we would still need to find a way to move the dice we have sitting in China.

I've tried to be as transparent as possible throughout this journey, so I want to be very clear: these tariffs are really, really bad for Pixels. Just like the many manufacturing problems we've had along the way, they are costing us time and money.

However, I hope that I have shown throughout the last four years of updates, that I am not easily deterred. This trade war may be our most difficult challenge to date, but it isn't the first, far from it. Making Pixels a real, consumer-ready product, has been difficult every step of the way, and I'll be damned if I am going to let this be what puts us under.
 

🎲 D20 Sale

Instead, we’re looking at more creative options to weather the storm, starting with our first flash sale.

In a sort of lucky break, we still have a small batch of D20s already in our U.S. Amazon warehouse, imported before the tariffs took effect. To offset immediate pressure, we’re offering these dice at a one-time price:

If you're still waiting on your dice, we are not asking you to buy more. You’ve already supported us, and your continued understanding means everything. After this latest wave of split shipments, no U.S. backer should be waiting on any of these three colorways.

However, since about half of you (nearly 12,000!) have already received your rewards, we’re sharing this early in case you'd like to grab extras—or know someone who’d love one.

We know the last four years have tested your patience. Pandemic shutdowns and trade wars aren’t excuses—but they are the reality. This sale is about one thing: selling the dice we can, in order to give ourselves a chance to make it through these uncertain times.

⚠️ Please note: This sale price does not qualify for additional discounts, including the lifetime 15% backer/preorder discount. We’re offering nearly 40% off MSRP to move these dice quickly and keep fulfillment on track. Once operations stabilize, your lifetime discount will remain valid for future orders.


 

🎟️ Support Desk Status: Still Behind (Please Don’t Panic)

We’re still several weeks behind on support tickets. We know it’s frustrating—trust us, it’s frustrating for us too. A few important things to keep in mind:

➡️ Submitting multiple tickets slows things down.

➡️ Address changes: You can now update your shipping address by logging into your account and going to the “Orders” section.

  • If your order shipped before we saw your request, we’ll make it right when we reach your ticket. That’s on us.

➡️ Defective dice: Replacements will be honored, though they may take time due to backlog.
If your die won’t “wake up,” try:

  • Charging overnight
  • Placing it in the freezer overnight while charging (weird, but it works!)
  • If it’s still not working, email us at support@gamewithpixels.com with a short video or photo.

➡️ “Any updates?” tickets: We can’t respond to these right now. You’ll get a shipping notification when your order goes out. The most up-to-date information on our shipping progress can be found in these monthly updates. 

➡️ Can’t see your order? Don’t worry—your dice aren’t lost. Some accounts were duplicated during the system migration, usually due to different emails used for checkout vs account creation. We’re fixing this.

➡️ “Payment Due” message: This is also a data migration error—we’re correcting these manually and no additional payment is required.


 

🛠️ Manufacturing Status: Still Moving Forward

Collage of images showing Pixels in production at various stages
Collage of images showing Pixels in production at various stages

As of today, Pixels production hasn’t stopped. We're still committed to getting your dice out as quickly as possible.

That said, the global trade environment is unpredictable, and delays may continue—or worsen. We’re already seeing some of our suppliers affected, with canceled shipments and disrupted operations.

It’s not just shipping timelines. These ripple effects hit every part of our production process.

We’re navigating carefully and will continue posting monthly updates with the latest.

Thank you all, again, for sticking with us. Your support and patience mean the world to our small team.

Warm regards,
Jean

TAGS: Annoucement