Supply Chain
Ongoing coverage on Supply Chain.
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Xbox leader Asha Sharma says there's "more demand than consoles available" as Xbox hardware sales dip by 14%
Xbox hardware sales have seen a 14% year-on-year dip, despite Xbox leader Asha Sharma claiming demand outstrips supply. Microsoft's financial results show a 2% decline in overall Xbox revenue, attributed to lower console sales and reduced third-party content and Game Pass revenue, though first-party content and PC gaming showed growth. The company is facing ongoing restructuring and external criticism regarding its cloud services.
Graphics card wholesale prices are on the rise once again in China, so it's time to brace yourself for even more…
Wholesale prices for several Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics cards, including the RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti, are reportedly increasing significantly in China. This trend, coupled with existing high retail prices and potential discontinuation of certain models, suggests a grim outlook for consumers looking to upgrade their PC hardware, with potential for prices to remain elevated through 2027.
Two entire pallets of RTX 5090s have 'gone missing' from a Brazilian airport—$495,000 worth of unobtanium graphics cards now presumably at large
Two pallets of Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, valued at approximately $495,000, have reportedly gone missing from Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian distributor Oderço expressed frustration over the lack of answers regarding the disappearance, suggesting the high-value components may have been stolen.
RTX 5090 not dead, says Nvidia—but it's mysteriously vanished from the company's official marketplace
Despite rumors of production halts and its disappearance from Nvidia's official marketplace, Nvidia's senior vice president Jeff Fisher stated that production of the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card has not been discontinued. However, the card remains scarce and difficult to obtain, with limited stock and inflated prices from third-party sellers, contributing to a barren GPU market.
PS6’s RAM and NAND is Over $680, Total Cost Could Exceed $1,000 – Rumor
A rumor suggests the PlayStation 6's RAM and NAND alone could cost over $680, potentially pushing the total console price beyond $1,000. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino previously stated the company does not intend to sell hardware at significant losses, but acknowledged market monitoring and pricing evaluations. Similar concerns about memory shortages affecting pricing were echoed by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.
Amazon has the Nintendo Switch 2 for a bargain price right now, defying all 2026 norms
Amazon is currently offering the Nintendo Switch 2 at AU$699, a reduction from its current RRP of AU$769, reflecting a significant price increase since its initial launch. The article notes that games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are also expensive, and expresses concern about future pricing due to supply chain issues.
RAM shortages are only getting worse and will last until at least 2028, Micron boss declares from atop a mountain of money
Micron's CEO Sanjay Mehrotra predicts that RAM shortages and high prices will persist until at least 2028, with demand expected to exceed supply in 2027 and 2028. The company, along with Samsung and SK Hynix, is facing accusations of price fixing in a US lawsuit, as they prioritize AI data center orders, leading to increased costs for consumer memory.
Micron CEO says it'll be tougher to get memory in the next couple of years than it is today, and keeps saying it…
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra predicts memory supply will be significantly tighter in 2027 and 2028 than in 2026, citing increased demand driven by AI. While Micron and Samsung warn of shortages, Acer's CEO and Michael Burry suggest this messaging may be intended to inflate prices and that the AI bubble could burst sooner.
Thieves stole two Nvidia-emblazoned truck trailers in the hopes of getting hardware and instead got 40,000 lbs of sand
Two truck trailers, falsely believed to be carrying Nvidia hardware, were stolen from PlusAI. The thieves discovered the trailers were filled with 40,000 lbs of sand, intended for weight testing, and subsequently abandoned the cargo. The sand has been recovered, but the perpetrators remain at large.
Sony Makes Japanese Players Prove They’re Gamers To Get A PS5 Pro
Sony is implementing a new requirement in Japan for players to prove they have at least 60 hours of gameplay on their PlayStation accounts between September 2024 and September 2026 to be eligible for a PlayStation 5 Pro lottery. This measure aims to prevent scalping and ensure consoles go to genuine gamers, though it has drawn some criticism. The article also briefly mentions Sony's past lawsuit regarding digital game prices and its decision to skip CES 2027.
Sony is introducing an anti-scalping lottery system for PS5 Pros in Japan as supply shortages persist
Sony is implementing a lottery system on its Japanese online store to combat scalping and persistent supply shortages for the PlayStation 5. Applicants need a registered Japanese Sony account with over 60 hours of playtime in the last two years. Winners will be notified on October 26th and must purchase the console within a week.
Woah, here's a tech CEO saying the memory crisis won't be as bad as everyone expects
Acer CEO Jason Chen believes the current memory crisis will not last until 2030, stating that DDR4 and some DDR5 chips are not in short supply. While acknowledging high-speed DDR5 chips are scarce, he suggests PC prices will rise 5-20% through late 2026 before dropping in mid-2027. The article notes conflicting forecasts from other industry leaders and manufacturers.
PlayStation 5 Pro Stock Shortage to Continue Into 2027 – Report
A new report suggests that the stock shortage for the PlayStation 5 Pro will persist into early 2027, extending beyond the holiday 2026 season. Sony has reportedly informed distribution partners that temporary market supply constraints and high demand are the cause, impacting availability even during the launch window of Grand Theft Auto VI.
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.
