All articles tagged with #ram shortage
Valve now says it hopes to ship the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller in 2026 due to ongoing memory and storage chip shortages, a downgrade from earlier promises; the RAM crunch is also affecting Valve hardware like the Steam Deck OLED.
IDC projects smartphone shipments to fall about 12.9% in 2026 due to a global RAM shortage driven by AI datacenters, while average selling prices rise to a record around $523. Memory costs aren’t expected to revert to pre-crisis levels, likely making sub-$100 phones uneconomical and shifting market share toward Apple and Samsung.
January 2026 US hardware data show PS5 leading sales, with Switch 2 in second place; overall hardware spending rose 16% year over year while last‑gen hardware declined. Analysts wonder whether Switch 2’s higher launch price and RAM shortages could push Nintendo to raise prices, while Sony’s momentum is helped by existing price cuts and anticipation of GTA 6.
Valve says AI-driven data-center expansion is straining RAM and storage, leading to Steam Deck stockouts (OLED may be intermittently unavailable in some regions; the LCD 256GB model has been discontinued) and signaling broader memory-supply pressures affecting the gaming hardware ecosystem, with reports that other major platforms (PS6, Switch 2) are weighing timing or pricing as memory costs rise.
Valve says the Steam Deck OLED may be intermittently unavailable in some regions due to a RAM shortage, with US and Japan stockouts cited. After earlier delays tied to memory and storage constraints, Valve still plans to ship the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller in early 2026 but remains cautious about component availability and pricing. The RAM crisis is affecting the wider tech industry, fueling talk of potential PS6 delays into 2028–2029 and price pressures for Nintendo.
Valve says the Steam Deck OLED may be intermittently out of stock in some regions due to memory and storage shortages, tying its supply issue to a broader RAM/storage crunch that has delayed other hardware; Valve has discontinued the 256GB LCD Steam Deck and aims to launch new hardware in the first half of 2026.
RAM shortages fueled by AI could reshuffle the video-game hardware calendar, with Bloomberg flagging a potential PlayStation 6 release delay to 2028–2029 and a possible Switch 2 price increase later this year due to memory constraints.
Nintendo says it has not decided to raise the Switch 2 price despite RAM/memory price spikes, citing long-term supplier deals and inventory stockpiles; if costs persist longer, pricing could be reconsidered, but the company is prioritizing expanding the Switch 2’s install base to drive software sales rather than jumping to a $500 price tag.
Nvidia has delayed its RTX 50-series Super refresh to prioritise AI chips amid a RAM shortage, with current RTX 50-series production being slashed and no new gaming GPU launches planned for this year. The RTX 60-series, originally scheduled to begin mass production by end of 2027, could be pushed into 2028 or later, though Nvidia may adjust timelines if RAM availability improves and prices stabilize across hardware.
Valve says memory and storage shortages are forcing a revisit of shipping schedules and pricing for the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller; the plan remains to ship all three in the first half of 2026, but concrete prices and launch dates will be announced as supply conditions permit.
Rumors say Microsoft’s next Xbox won’t launch before late 2027, a window challenged by RAM shortages driven by AI workloads and ongoing supply constraints; analysts and insiders suggest it could slip to 2028 or later, with no official confirmation yet.
Nvidia says all GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs will continue shipping, but a global memory shortage driven by AI data-center demand and supplier memory constraints is limiting availability and driving up prices. Reports about RTX 5070 Ti/5060 Ti 16GB being End of Life were corrected; Nvidia and Asus say stock fluctuations stem from memory constraints, not official discontinuations. With supply uncertainty and price volatility, consumers face a choice to buy now or wait while the RAM crunch potentially lingers into 2027.
A global RAM shortage is constraining GPU memory, with Asus reportedly ending production of the RTX 5070 Ti and Nvidia signaling a prioritization of lower-VRAM models. The 16GB RTX 5060 Ti/5070 Ti options may dwindle, while 8GB variants could dominate availability; top-tier RTX 5080/5090 are expected to be more widely available. Nvidia says demand remains strong but memory supply is constrained, a combination likely to drive higher prices and tighter GPU inventories into 2026.
The launch of next-generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles, originally scheduled for 2027 or 2028, may be delayed due to ongoing RAM shortages and rising prices, as manufacturers like Samsung shift production to meet demand, impacting hardware availability and pricing.
The release of next-generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles may be delayed from 2027-2028 due to rising RAM prices caused by increased demand, particularly from AI development, which could also lead to higher console prices when they eventually launch.