Component Shortage
Ongoing coverage on Component Shortage.
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Ayaneo is already planning to discontinue one of its latest handhelds thanks to RAMageddon, and I fear the worst for…
Ayaneo is reportedly planning to discontinue its KONKR Pocket FIT 8 Elite handheld due to rising production costs caused by component shortages, particularly RAM. This issue, dubbed 'RAMageddon,' is impacting other handheld makers and even the Steam Deck OLED. Despite the discontinuation plans, existing orders are being fulfilled, and Ayaneo is looking into compensation for delays.
After PS5 Price Hikes, Sony Suspends Memory Card Sales Due to Supply Crisis
Sony has temporarily suspended sales of its CFexpress and SDXC/SDHC memory cards due to global component shortages and other factors. This decision, alongside recent price hikes for the PlayStation 5, highlights ongoing pressures in the global economic landscape and supply chain.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if Microsoft and Nintendo followed suit" - Analyst reacts to PlayStation's shock price rise as industry braces for more uncertainty
Sony has announced a significant price increase for the PlayStation 5, citing global economic pressures and component cost increases. Industry analyst Piers Harding-Rolls suggests Microsoft and Nintendo may follow suit. This price hike comes at an awkward time with the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 expected later this year.
The Nex Playground is getting a price hike because of the memory crisis
Nex is raising the price of its Nex Playground console from $249 to $299 starting April 1, 2026, due to a global memory and storage component shortage exacerbated by AI infrastructure demand. CEO David Lee stated the company can no longer sustainably absorb the rising costs. Other companies like Valve and Nintendo are also facing pressures from the crisis, with potential impacts on their hardware pricing and supply.
Razer's brand new Blade 16 gaming laptop manages to swerve RAMageddon with the same MSRP as last year
Razer has updated its Blade 16 gaming laptop with Intel's latest processors and an improved OLED display, maintaining last year's MSRP despite component shortages. The new configurations start at $3,499.99 for an RTX 5080 model, with a top-tier RTX 5090 version priced at $4,999.99. The article highlights Razer's success in managing pricing and component availability for this iterative hardware refresh.
The RAMpocalypse Is Already Claiming Its First PC Gaming Handheld
AyaNeo has suspended preorders for its upcoming Next 2 handheld gaming PC due to significant increases in RAM and storage costs, driven by demand from AI and data-center companies. While existing preorders will be fulfilled, the company cited that component costs have more than doubled, making the product unsustainable at its current price point. This situation highlights a broader industry-wide component shortage impacting various gaming hardware, including the Steam Deck and potentially future consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2.
Acer's Arrow Lake gaming laptops are heading our way this July, but it's going to take a lot to drag me away…
Acer has announced its 2026 gaming laptop lineup, featuring refreshes of the Predator Helios Neo series with Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus processors and NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPUs, slated for a July release. The company cited industry-wide component shortages, particularly for RAM and SSDs driven by AI manufacturing, as a reason for the later launch and potential price increases. Despite incremental performance upgrades, the article suggests that last year's models may offer better value due to current discounts and fewer supply chain issues.
Weeks after the Steam Deck disappeared, Retroid discontinues Pocket G2 "due to ongoing fluctuations in memory…
Retroid has temporarily discontinued the Retroid Pocket G2 handheld due to ongoing industry-wide component shortages, particularly affecting memory. This follows the recent cancellation of the Retroid Pocket 6's 12GB model. The company is also increasing prices on other devices, with the Pocket Classic now costing $149. The article suggests consumers consider existing handhelds not impacted by AI memory demands while waiting for the market to stabilize.
Xbox Project Helix Could Be A Make-Or-Break Moment For Microsoft
Microsoft has revealed more details about its upcoming console/PC platform, codenamed Project Helix, with developer kits set to ship in 2028. Industry analysts suggest this indicates a consumer launch no earlier than 2028, potentially facing high prices due to component shortages like RAM. Project Helix is seen as a significant strategic move for Xbox, potentially marking a shift towards a PC-first ecosystem.
Gaming PCs will be too expensive for ordinary people by 2028 predicts report
A report from Gartner predicts that PC hardware will become prohibitively expensive for average consumers by 2028 due to ongoing component shortages and rising costs. This trend is expected to significantly impact the entry-level PC market, potentially leading to a decline in PC shipments and influencing console manufacturers' strategies.
