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Evening Reading - August 4, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news, including earnings reports from companies like Snapchat, SpaceX, and AMD. It also touches on updates for games such as Dead by Daylight, Marvel Rivals, and Destiny, alongside mentions of indie titles like Ugoku Sushi Bar and the Fire Emblem franchise. The article also highlights industry figures and business developments.
AMD expects a 'softer PC market' for the second half of its fiscal 2026
AMD anticipates a downturn in the PC market for the latter half of its fiscal year 2026, citing higher component costs. Despite this projection, the company believes its client business, driven by Ryzen processors, will outperform the general market. AMD is also increasing its focus on AI technology development, planning to release new AI rack-scale systems annually.
Microsoft predicts memory crisis will affect its revenue as struggling OEMs won't be as liberal with Windows…
Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood stated that the ongoing memory crisis is expected to negatively impact revenue from Windows OEM purchases. This decline is attributed to increased component costs leading to higher PC prices, reduced PC market demand, and a decrease in inventory levels for original equipment manufacturers.
A lot of you panic-bought PCs to avoid RAMaggedon 2026
Global PC shipments saw a modest 3.2% year-over-year growth in Q1 2026, driven by pre-emptive purchases before anticipated memory price hikes and the end of Windows 10 support. However, rising AI infrastructure investment is increasing component costs, with analysts predicting significant negative impacts on PC market growth and retail prices throughout 2026.
Framework: 'There is a very real scenario in which personal computing as we know it is dead'
Framework founder Nirav Patel believes personal computing as we know it is at risk due to rising component costs and the shift towards an AI-first world. He suggests the industry is broken and that Framework was founded to fix it. The company is hosting a "Next Gen" event on April 21 to unveil new products.
PC shipments have actually grown this quarter despite the RAMpocalypse says IDC. Well, everywhere except the Americas
Global PC shipments saw a 2.5% growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong performance in Asia Pacific and EMEA, despite ongoing memory shortages. However, market analysts like IDC and Omdia predict a decline for the rest of the year due to rising component costs, logistical challenges, and deteriorating economic conditions, which are expected to increase PC prices for consumers.
The RAM crisis is Apple's best chance in decades to capture the PC market
The global RAM crisis presents Apple with a unique opportunity to significantly increase its market share in the PC sector. While competitors face rising component costs and production challenges, Apple's integrated hardware and software, along with its strong profit margins, allow it to potentially offer competitive pricing and performance with its MacBook Neo. This situation could shift the balance of power away from Windows-based manufacturers.
The Morning After: Our verdict on Apple’s $600 Macbook Neo
Apple's new $600 MacBook Neo offers a capable screen, keyboard, and trackpad with strong build quality, despite using an A-series processor and limited RAM. While not a gaming machine, it handles everyday tasks well, making it suitable for students and desk workers. The article also touches on Microsoft's Project Helix dev consoles, AMD's new chips, and Meta's acquisition of Moltbook.
Asus thinks 'high-end brand value and high-end product mix' will help it weather the memory crisis alongside…
Asus believes its focus on high-end products, strong brand value, and diversified manufacturing of graphics cards and motherboards will help it navigate the ongoing memory crisis. The company also plans to leverage the growth of Artificial Intelligence to maintain stable operations and outperform the industry in 2026.
Top analyst firm Gartner predicts the 'sub-$500 entry-level PC segment will disappear by 2028', along with worldwide PC shipment decline of 10.4% in 2026
Analyst firm Gartner predicts the sub-$500 entry-level PC segment will disappear by 2028 due to rising memory costs, which are expected to become 23% of the total bill-of-materials. This trend, coupled with other supply chain factors, is also projected to cause a 10.4% decline in worldwide PC shipments in 2026. Gartner advises PC vendors to prepare for reduced unit volumes to maintain profitability rather than chasing price-sensitive buyers.
