Supply Chain
Ongoing coverage on Supply Chain.
Latest coverage
Samsung says there are 'no supply chain issues to date' from war in the Middle East but the company is making…
Samsung is experiencing supply chain challenges due to conflicts in the Middle East, primarily impacting oil prices and consequently increasing global ocean and air freight costs. The company is actively monitoring inventory and optimizing operations, exploring alternative transportation and long-term contracts to mitigate these rising logistics expenses and maintain cost competitiveness.
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.
'Feel free to start a laptop company and see what suppliers quote you for GDDR7': Framework vents frustration…
Framework is facing challenges with the pricing and availability of GDDR7 memory for its laptop graphics modules, particularly the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070. The company's CEO highlighted the impact of the AI industry's demand on memory prices, suggesting that current pricing for components like the 12 GB graphics module, at $1,199, is a reflection of these supply chain issues. Future releases, such as the rumored Nvidia RTX 5050, may also be affected by these trends.
Morning Mobilization
Valve has confirmed that development on the Steam Deck 2 is ongoing, though they are also addressing current stock issues with the original Steam Deck. The company is actively working on the next iteration of their handheld PC.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma hints memory costs "will impact" pricing and availability of next-gen Project Helix console
Xbox boss Asha Sharma has indicated that ongoing memory cost increases will likely impact the pricing and availability of the company's next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix. Sharma stated that these factors are being considered as the company plans for future hardware releases, with no specific timeline currently available. The global RAM crisis is expected to continue impacting console production until late 2027 or early 2028.
As the Steam Controller breaks cover, Valve say they're hard at work on the Steam Deck 2 and keeping current Decks in stock
Valve has confirmed that development is underway for the Steam Deck 2, with learnings from current hardware projects like the Steam Controller informing its design. The company is also actively working to address stock shortages for the current Steam Deck models by diversifying manufacturers and navigating global component availability issues.
The Rise of Desktop Manufacturing: Why Small-Scale Tools Are Changing How We Create
Desktop manufacturing, driven by affordable and compact tools like 3D printers and CNC machines, is democratizing product creation by enabling individuals and small businesses to design and produce goods from their homes or studios. This shift allows for rapid iteration, reduces reliance on traditional supply chains, and fosters a new generation of creators who can bring ideas to physical reality with greater speed and autonomy.
Project Helix Pricing, Availability Will be Impacted by Memory Shortages, Says Xbox CEO
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that ongoing memory shortages will impact the pricing and availability of the upcoming console, codenamed Project Helix. Development kits for Project Helix will be distributed next year, with Microsoft aiming for a unified development approach across console, PC, and cloud platforms. The company recently rebranded its Microsoft Gaming division to Xbox.
Evening Interviews
Valve discusses Steam Controller pricing, the ongoing RAM shortage impacting hardware production, and provides an update on the development of the Steam Deck 2. The interview covers various aspects of their hardware initiatives.
Meta Quest headset prices are going up on April 19
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19 due to rising RAM costs. The Quest 3 will increase by $100 to $599, and the Quest 3S will be $50 more expensive at $350 for the 128GB model. Sony also recently raised prices for PlayStation 5 consoles and the PlayStation Portal for similar reasons.
PS5 Sales Break 2026 Records as Gamers Rush to Beat RAM Crisis Price Hikes
PlayStation 5 sales have surged in the US, breaking 2026 records as consumers rush to purchase consoles before potential price hikes driven by a looming RAM crisis. Gamers are anticipating increased component costs impacting manufacturing, leading to a preemptive buying spree. This surge is affecting retailers and the secondary market, with similar trends observed in other hardware segments.
MediaTek is 'cautiously optimistic' that discrete memory pricing will look less gloomy during 2026
MediaTek is cautiously optimistic that discrete memory pricing will improve in the second half of 2026, despite current challenges driven by AI demand. The semiconductor company, which saw significant revenue growth in 2025, acknowledges pricing difficulties but expects a slowdown in consumer price increases later in the year. While capacity agreements are in place, future supply constraints from manufacturers like TSMC remain a concern.
PlayStation6 might not deliver a price shock, but don’t bite too much into the feel-good murmurs
Recent reports suggest the upcoming PlayStation 6 console may launch at a price closer to the PlayStation 5's current cost, potentially around $749, despite rising component and memory prices. While manufacturing costs are estimated to be high, factors like production efficiency and potential stabilization of component prices could prevent it from exceeding $1,000. The volatility of the global supply chain and geopolitical factors remain key uncertainties for the final retail price.
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 Most Expensive PC Gaming Handheld Just Got A $650 Price Increase
Lenovo has reportedly canceled some preorders for the Lenovo Legion Go handheld PC due to demand substantially exceeding projections. While preorders through retail partners like Best Buy are unaffected, direct orders from Lenovo's website may have been impacted by unforeseen delivery issues.
Former Nintendo sales lead believes Switch 2 price will inevitably go up
A former Nintendo employee believes the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 will inevitably increase due to global economic factors like inflation, tariffs, and rising costs for components such as memory and helium. He suggests that Nintendo might be using software pricing strategies to make a potential hardware price hike more acceptable to consumers.
Evening Tech Bits
Half of planned US data center builds have been delayed or canceled due to shortages in power infrastructure and parts from China. This analysis from Tom's Hardware highlights the significant limitations impacting growth in the sector.
Former Nintendo Sales Lead Thinks Switch 2 Price Increase Is "Inevitable"
A former Nintendo sales lead named Sean believes a price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 is inevitable due to factors like inflation, tariffs, and rising oil prices impacting semiconductor and cartridge manufacturing. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has previously stated the company would carefully consider any price changes based on market conditions.
PS5 price increases be damned, Amazon still has consoles at their previous rates - for now
Despite Sony's announced price increase for the PlayStation 5, Amazon is still selling consoles at their previous MSRPs. The price hike, which officially took effect on April 2, raised the Digital Edition to $599 and the Disc version to $649, with a Pro model listed at $899.99. This increase is attributed to ongoing component shortages impacting the tech industry.
Report claims OpenAI spending cuts have 'hit' memory prices but there's little evidence right now of…
A report claims that spending cuts at OpenAI have impacted memory chip prices, but current evidence is limited. While OpenAI has reportedly shut down its Sora video-generation tool and canceled a data center deal, the direct effect on PC memory kit prices is not immediately apparent and may take longer to manifest due to various other demand factors in the AI industry.
