Crypto Gaming Handheld Deliveries Postponed Due to High Import Taxes

Excited gamers eager to obtain the latest crypto gaming handheld from Mysten Labs are facing unexpected import duties that could be significantly high.

Initial buyers of the SuiPlay0X1 are dealing with the ramifications of President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” impacting global trade as U.S. trade policies change.

Mysten Labs has confirmed to Decrypt that it is delaying the next shipment of devices while addressing customer concerns and clarifying anticipated fees.

The SuiPlay0X1 is a portable gaming PC similar to Valve’s famous Steam Deck, but it specifically supports a crypto wallet for blockchain gaming on Sui. It can run popular titles from Steam and the Epic Games Store, among other platforms. This device was created in partnership with gaming startup Playtron and utilizes its GameOS software.

The company has produced 10,000 units of this gaming handheld for early users, pricing it at $599—a cost close to manufacturing each unit. As a result, Mysten informed buyers that it is unable to cover the unanticipated import duties for all purchasers.

“At this limited scale, absorbing tariffs and duties that vary by country is unfeasible,” the communication read. “It’s necessary to clarify: Mysten Labs does not benefit from any duty fees or taxes. These are imposed by local and international authorities and apply to all international purchases. Due to the fluctuating macroeconomic situation, we were unable to predict how these tariffs could change during transport.”

Decrypt was provided a free loaner SuiPlay0X1 for evaluation, and received notification from carrier DHL earlier this week regarding an import duty exceeding $138 required for delivery in Illinois.

All products shipped from Hong Kong, a special administrative region within China, are currently subject to a 20% tariff upon entering the U.S.

Previously, a de minimis exemption allowed items valued under $800 to bypass such duties, but Trump revoked that exemption in April through an executive order.

Some SuiPlay0X1 purchasers on social media and in the official Sui Discord have reported a similar import duty request, while others have claimed they were asked for much larger amounts, with some mentioning a demand from DHL for about $348.

A representative from Mysten Labs confirmed the significant variability in import duties, notifying buyers with “excessive” fees to contact their support team for help. The email indicated that certain U.S. states are incurring higher duties than others.

“No customer should pay duties that amount to half of their purchase price,” the email from Mysten Labs reassured buyers.

Decrypt inquired how Mysten intended to support customers dealing with the increased fees, but there was no further clarification.

“While federal duties are consistent across the U.S., additional state taxes may occur, along with courier charges for managing these fees,” the representative explained regarding the fee discrepancies. “Currently, we lack clarity on the variations in duties and shipping costs between different U.S. regions, although we are actively trying to determine those differences.”

Until more information is available, the representative informed Decrypt that Mysten is postponing shipping additional SuiPlay0X1 units to consumers. 

To date, 2,000 units have been dispatched, with another 3,000 units currently on hold. Mysten anticipates starting shipments of these units by the end of August.

The fallout surrounding the SuiPlay0X1 has inspired memes and humor from some users (including one on X who remarked they “enjoy seeing innovation on Sui” with the “new Tariff-Drop model”), while numerous buyers express frustration and discontent over the surprise charges.

“If the outstanding duty of $138.11 remains, how do I get a refund?” queried one buyer on Discord. “I won’t want this product if the charges are this high—especially since I feel intentionally misled by the SuiPlay team regarding the full cost.”