Plastic model kits and miniatures are on a strong run. Games Workshop, the maker of Warhammer, reported record revenue for the year to May 2026, and Bandai Namco’s sales tied to the Gundam franchise, which includes Gunpla kits, rose about 66% in its fiscal year ended March 2026, by our calculation from company figures.
Prices are moving up alongside that demand, in small annual steps rather than jumps, with US tariffs adding pressure. Here is what each company has disclosed about pricing, what tariffs are doing, and how to plan purchases.
Trend Signal
60/100 Steady momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
Steady annual increases on top of record demand
Games Workshop raised recommended retail prices by an average of 3% in the year to May 31, 2026, while paying about GBP 12 million in new US tariffs and forecasting about GBP 13 million more in 2026/27.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 3%Average increase in Games Workshop recommended retail prices, year to May 31, 2026Games Workshop
- +10.9%Games Workshop core revenue growth, year to May 31, 2026Games Workshop
- +66%Bandai Namco Gundam franchise sales, FY ended March 2026 vs prior year (our calculation)Bandai Namco
- +2.3%US CPI for toys, August 2026 vs August 2025BLS
Record demand sets the backdrop
Games Workshop’s core revenue rose 10.9% to GBP 626.8 million in the 52 weeks to May 31, 2026. Sales to independent stores and other trade partners led, up 18.3% at constant currency, and trade sales in North America reached a record GBP 170.9 million, up 13.5%. The company counted 9,100 independent retailers in 71 countries, about 1,000 more than a year earlier, and ended the year with 598 of its own stores.
Bandai Namco’s Gundam franchise had an even bigger year. Groupwide Mobile Suit Gundam sales rose from 153.5 billion yen to 254.3 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2026, and Gundam sales in its Japanese toys and hobby business, which includes Gunpla, rose from 75.7 billion yen to 106.3 billion yen. The toys and hobby segment as a whole grew 12.9%.
Neither company is pricing to win back reluctant buyers; both are pricing into record demand.
How the price increases work
Games Workshop raises prices every year in modest steps. Its half-year report for the six months to November 30, 2025 cited price rises of about 3.5% on miniatures and books; for the full year it said the average increase in recommended retail prices was 3%, “in line with normal levels.” Individual kits can move more or less than the average.
Bandai announced in November 2024 that it would gradually revise prices of some plastic model kits, including Gunpla, starting with products reissued from April 2025, with further revisions from July 2025 announced quarterly. It said rising raw material, packaging and logistics costs made its pricing hard to maintain, after striving to hold plastic model prices “for over 40 years.” The announcement covered Bandai’s own pricing; US shelf prices also depend on importers and retailers.
US government data show the wider toy aisle turning the same way. The CPI for toys was down 3.8% in the year to December 2024, turned positive in mid-2025, and was up 4.0% in July 2026 and 2.3% in August 2026 versus a year earlier.
Tariffs are the swing factor
Games Workshop makes all of its fantasy miniatures in the UK, and North America is one of its two biggest trade regions, so US tariff changes show up in its accounts. In the half-year to November 2025, tariffs cut its core gross margin by 1.8 percentage points, offset by efficiencies and price rises. For the full year it paid about GBP 12 million in new US tariffs, then reclaimed GBP 7.8 million for the period to February 2026 following the US Supreme Court ruling.
The refund did not end the issue. Games Workshop said US tariff legislation changed again after February 2026 and estimated it will pay about GBP 13 million in new US tariffs in 2026/27, slightly more than its gross bill the year before. We read that as continued pressure on US prices, on top of the usual annual increase.
Where prices are heading
Expect small, regular increases rather than one-time jumps. Games Workshop has held its average near 3% while absorbing tariffs, and it plans about 30 new stores in 2026/27, a sign it expects demand to hold. Bandai Namco’s own plan is mixed for Gundam: it forecasts groupwide franchise sales of 240.0 billion yen for the fiscal year that began in April 2026, down from 254.3 billion yen, but plans Gundam sales in its Japanese toys and hobby business, which includes Gunpla, to rise to 110.0 billion yen from 106.3 billion yen, and projects its toys and hobby segment up 2.4%.
| Indicator | Latest reading | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Games Workshop average RRP change | +3% (year to May 2026) | Steady, annual |
| Games Workshop new US tariffs | About GBP 13M forecast for 2026/27 | Slightly higher |
| Bandai Namco Gundam franchise sales | 254.3B yen; 240.0B yen planned | Planned decline |
| US CPI, toys | +2.3% (Aug. 2026) | Up since mid-2025 |
Who should buy now, and who should wait
Buy tools and paints you will use for years whenever you need them: sprue cutters, hobby knives, sanding sticks, a starter paint set. For kits, increases around 3% a year mean buying early saves little, and a backlog of unbuilt boxes ties up money and shelf space.
If you are planning a large army or a premium release, compare prices across local game stores, which Games Workshop counts in the thousands worldwide, and watch for bundle boxes and retailer promotions around the holidays. If a Gundam release you want is hard to find, do not count on that changing soon: Bandai Namco still plans higher Gundam toy and hobby sales in Japan.
What to watch next
- Games Workshop’s half-year report for the six months to November 2026, for its updated US tariff bill
- Bandai Namco’s quarterly results, for whether Gundam sales track the planned 240.0 billion yen
- Monthly BLS toy price readings, for whether US toy inflation stays above 2%
Where to start
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Model kit gear by what you are building
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Snap-fit plastic model kit for beginners | Fits first-time kit builders | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Hobby sprue cutter | Fits clean part removal on any kit | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Acrylic miniature paint set | Fits painting miniatures and kits | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
Snap-fit plastic model kit for beginners
Where to look: Amazon
A low-cost way to learn part removal and assembly before buying larger kits. Check the scale and piece count on the listing.
- No glue needed
- Clear instructions for beginners
- Detail varies by scale
- Paint is extra
Hobby sprue cutter
Where to look: Amazon
The one tool every kit needs. A single-edge blade leaves less cleanup on the part.
- Cleaner cuts than scissors
- Lasts for years
- Thin blades chip on metal
- Cheap ones leave marks
Acrylic miniature paint set
Where to look: Amazon
For miniatures and kits you want to paint. Dropper bottles waste less paint than pots.
- Covers basic colors
- Water cleanup
- Small bottles run out
- Brushes in sets vary
More: Hobbies and Crafts trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- Results for the 52-week period ended 31 May 2026 — Games Workshop via Investegate
- Half-Yearly Report, 13 January 2026 — Games Workshop Group PLC
- Games Workshop Reports Record Revenue and Profit as Warhammer Business Continues to Grow — Yahoo Finance UK
- Financial Highlights, Fiscal Year Ended March 2026 — Bandai Namco Holdings
- Bandai Namco Announces Price Increases for Gundam Merch — ComicBook.com
- CPI, toys, U.S. city average, 12-month percent change — Bureau of Labor Statistics
Questions readers ask
Did Warhammer prices go up in 2026?
Yes, modestly. Games Workshop said the average increase in its recommended retail prices was 3% in the year to May 31, 2026, in line with normal levels; its half-year report cited price rises of about 3.5% on miniatures and books.
Why is Gunpla getting more expensive?
Bandai said in November 2024 that rising raw material, packaging and logistics costs made its pricing hard to maintain, and it began revising prices of some plastic model kits, including Gunpla, from April 2025.
How do tariffs affect Warhammer prices in the US?
Games Workshop paid about GBP 12 million in new US tariffs in its year to May 2026, reclaimed GBP 7.8 million after the US Supreme Court ruling, and expects about GBP 13 million in 2026/27. It offset earlier tariff costs partly with price rises and efficiencies.
Is the Gunpla boom over?
Not by Bandai Namco’s plan. It forecasts groupwide Gundam franchise sales of 240.0 billion yen for the fiscal year that began in April 2026, down from 254.3 billion yen, but plans Gundam sales in its Japanese toys and hobby business, which includes Gunpla, to rise to 110.0 billion yen from 106.3 billion yen.
