Supply Chain
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The Steam Deck 2 has 'not really' been impacted by the memory supply crisis, with Valve still focused on a 'very delineated performance improvement' for its next handheld
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the memory supply crisis has had minimal impact on the development of the Steam Deck 2. Valve remains focused on delivering a significant performance improvement for its next handheld gaming PC, though the exact release timeline is uncertain due to ongoing supply chain conditions.
"We are committed to passing on savings whenever we can" - Framework rolls out refunds and price reductions on some of its laptops after securing a cheaper supply of memory to make them with
Laptop manufacturer Framework is passing on savings from a cheaper supply of RAM to its customers. The company is issuing price reductions and retroactive refunds for both new orders and existing pre-orders. This move is highlighted as a significant win for consumers amidst current PC market volatility and RAM shortages.
Asha Sharma gives a positive response about the rising cost of tech
Xbox Executive Vice President and CEO Asha Sharma discussed the rising cost of gaming hardware and the impact of Artificial Intelligence during an interview at Gamescom. Sharma acknowledged challenges like component shortages and the need for innovation in affordability, while the article criticizes the perceived dismissal of concerns over GPU and CPU price hikes driven by AI demand.
Trump's administration considering new tariffs on gaming, laptop & data center hardware
The Trump administration is reportedly considering new tariffs on semiconductors and components used in gaming hardware, laptops, and data center equipment. This move has alarmed US tech companies, who warn it could worsen existing supply chain issues and harm global competitiveness. The proposed tariffs aim to encourage US chip manufacturing investment but could significantly increase costs for American companies reliant on foreign chip production.
Taiwan Charges Nine Over Smuggled AI Servers, Including an Nvidia Senior Manager
Taiwan has charged nine individuals, including a senior Nvidia manager and two Supermicro employees, for allegedly forging documents to illegally ship high-end AI servers to China, violating US export controls. A Taiwanese customs officer's detection of irregularities led to the investigation, which uncovered that 74 servers were delivered to China while 56 were intercepted. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had previously criticized Supermicro's compliance, and Supermicro stated its cooperation with authorities led to the arrests.
NVIDIA (NVDA) expects its revenue to grow 70% in FY28
NVIDIA expects its revenue to grow by approximately 70 percent in fiscal year 2028, driven by the expansion of its AI compute capabilities. CFO Colette Kress shared the forecast, with CEO Jensen Huang suggesting the company could exceed this target if not for supply constraints, particularly in memory components. NVIDIA's Q2 FY27 revenue reached $96.2 billion, and the company is confident in its ability to meet future growth targets.
Nintendo has confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2's new UK price — it's only going up by £24
Nintendo has confirmed that the UK price for the Nintendo Switch 2 will increase by £24, rising from £395.99 to £419.99 starting September 1, 2026. This change follows similar price adjustments announced for the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan earlier this year, attributed to market conditions and global supply chain issues impacting hardware manufacturing.
Report: Google Set to Move All Pixel Manufacturing Out of China by 2027
Google is reportedly planning to move all Pixel phone, watch, and earbud manufacturing out of China by 2027, shifting production to Vietnam and India. This move is facilitated by Google's lack of a domestic market in China and its ability to leverage existing supply chains built by companies like Samsung in Vietnam. The company also aims to increase Pixel shipments by 8-10% this year, using the devices as a distribution channel for its AI capabilities.
PS6 Is Still A Mystery To Sony, Including When It’s Coming Out
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki confirmed that the company has not yet set a release date or price for the upcoming PlayStation 6 console. The company is navigating challenges related to the current tech climate, supply chain disruptions, and feedback on digital-only releases. This uncertainty comes as the PlayStation 5 approaches its sixth anniversary and console prices, like the PS5 Pro at $900, have already seen increases.
Google is reportedly planning to move all Pixel production out of China
Google is reportedly planning to shift all production of its Pixel devices away from China starting next year. This move, according to Nikkei Asia, signals a significant change in the company's manufacturing strategy.
Why Are Video Game Consoles So Expensive These Days (And Games Historically Cheap)?
Video game consoles and games are becoming increasingly expensive due to a confluence of factors including tariffs, AI-driven demand for components, and a structural shift in the console business model. Experts predict hardware costs will remain high for several more years, potentially impacting future console generations like the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix.
Harmony mint exploit wipes 40% off ONE, but Bitcoin holds near $64,000 with U.S. CPI in view
The Harmony blockchain experienced an exploit resulting in the minting of approximately 4 billion ONE tokens, causing the token's value to drop by 40%. Despite this significant event, Bitcoin's price remained stable near $64,000, indicating the market's focus on upcoming U.S. CPI data and broader economic factors rather than the Harmony incident. The exploit's limited impact on Bitcoin suggests a compartmentalization of risk within the cryptocurrency market.
Micron's top brass wins the memory crisis corpo double speak award: 'We do not have line of sight as to when that supply vector will intersect the demand vector'
Micron's executive vice president, Sumit Sadana, stated that the company does not have a clear timeline for when memory supply will meet demand due to the significant pressure from AI hardware requirements and the lengthy process of building new fabrication facilities. This indicates the ongoing memory crisis is likely to persist for an extended period, with predictions for its resolution ranging from late 2027 to 2030 or beyond.
The three biggest RAM makers have already sold all their 2027 output, report says, potentially stretching price woes into 2028
The three largest RAM manufacturers, Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, have reportedly sold their entire expected output through 2027, potentially extending current high prices for PC components like RAM, storage, and graphics cards into 2028. This situation is exacerbated by demand from the AI industry and follows previous admissions from Samsung and Valve regarding ongoing shortages and price hikes.
AMD data center sales top $6.7B as gaming revenue slides 31%
AMD reported a significant increase in data center sales, reaching $6.7 billion and more than doubling year-over-year, driven by AI demand. Conversely, the company's gaming revenue declined by 31% to $779 million, attributed to industry-wide component shortages and higher prices affecting consoles like the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, as well as the Steam Deck.
Rise of the Robots
This article examines how a startup is navigating the complexities of building robots with a reduced reliance on Chinese manufacturing. It delves into the challenges and strategies involved in diversifying the supply chain for robotic components.
It won't fix the RAM crisis, but CXMT is poised to bring back mass-market DRAM production and gaming laptop brands…
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is increasing its global DRAM market share and is reportedly being used by laptop manufacturers like HP, Asus, and Acer to alleviate RAM shortages. While CXMT's current focus is on the Chinese market and standard laptops, its growth presents a potential challenge to established players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, who are prioritizing HBM production.
Chinese RAM is reportedly landing in laptops from HP, Asus and Acer but it won't change the memory crisis overnight
Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT is reportedly supplying chips to HP, Asus, and Acer for use in their laptops, primarily in non-US markets. While CXMT's market share is growing, the limited supply is intended to avoid disrupting relationships with major global memory chipmakers like Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. This development comes amidst a global memory crisis, with demand expected to outstrip supply for years to come.
Memory Chip Crunch Catches Up to Apple’s MacBook Air
Apple's popular MacBook Air is experiencing significant shipping delays, with most configurations not arriving until late August or September. This shortage is attributed to a global memory chip crunch, exacerbated by high demand from AI companies. Apple is reportedly responding by increasing prices and sourcing components from Chinese suppliers, indicating the issue is not expected to resolve quickly.
MacBook Air laptops are reportedly in short supply due to Ramaggedon
MacBook Air laptops are currently experiencing supply shortages, making them difficult to purchase. This comes shortly after a reported price increase for the devices.