Supply Chain
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MSI plan 15-30% price hikes for their hardware, report claims, as the memory crisis' consequences continue to rumble back to your wallet
MSI is reportedly planning price increases of 15-30% for its hardware due to the ongoing memory shortage and its impact on the PC market. The company anticipates a contraction in the PC market and plans to shift focus towards higher-end hardware, while also exploring support for DDR4 on DDR5 motherboards and investing in its AI server business.
Major copper foil supplier raises prices by 12%, potentially ushering in a fresh wave of spikey prices for PCBs and…
Mitsui Kinzoku, a major supplier of copper foil for printed circuit boards, has announced a 12% price increase for its MicroThin copper foil products, effective April 2026. This follows a trend of rising material costs, with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical also increasing prices by 30% on some products. Increased demand from the AI industry and supply chain challenges are contributing factors to these price hikes, potentially leading to further cost increases for PC components.
'There is no scenario where memory prices correct in the second half' of 2027, according to new market…
Market research firm Counterpoint Research indicates that memory prices are unlikely to see a correction until the second half of 2027 due to an ongoing supply crisis. Prices for DDR5 DRAM modules, LPDDR5X, and DDR4 have significantly increased, with NAND product pricing also spiking. Analysts suggest that consumer pricing improvements will not be seen until late 2027, as suppliers prioritize commodity memory production over custom AI chips.
The Steam Machine Will Run All Steam Deck Titles With 1080p 30FPS Minimum
Valve announced that the upcoming Steam Machine will be capable of running all Steam Deck Verified titles, requiring a minimum of 1080p at 30 FPS. However, ongoing RAM shortages may cause a delay in its planned 2026 launch, with the company re-evaluating shipping schedules and pricing for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset.
Valve pleads "if you have a line on a bunch of RAM, we are in the market and would like to buy it," as AI and data centers make building Steam Machines a Herculean challenge
Valve is facing significant challenges in producing its Steam Machine due to a global shortage of RAM, exacerbated by demand from AI and data centers. The company is actively seeking suppliers for memory components as it aims for a 2026 release.
UK: Pokemon Pokopia was apparently massively undersupplied and only sold half of Pokemon Legends Z-A
UK physical software sales data indicates that Pokemon Pokopia on the Nintendo Switch was significantly undersupplied, leading to only half the sales of Pokemon Legends Z-A. Journalist Christopher Dring reported that retailers were likely unprepared for the game's strong performance, resulting in stock shortages.
Memory prices could leap even higher as the supply of helium, crucial to making chips, is now impacted by the conflict…
The conflict in the Middle East is impacting the global supply of helium, a critical component for semiconductor manufacturing. Major chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix are facing instability in sourcing helium, which is a byproduct of liquefied natural gas production. This disruption, particularly affecting South Korea's imports from Qatar, could lead to increased memory prices and potential production cuts for less profitable chips.
If you're thinking about buying a Framework PC or laptop with 2 TB-plus of storage 'now is the time to do…
Framework CEO Nirav Patel announced that the company is passing on increased costs for RAM and SSDs to consumers, leading to price hikes on system memory and some storage configurations. Patel advised customers looking for large storage capacities, such as 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB SSDs, to purchase them soon before current inventory with lower pricing is depleted.
As if PC hardware news couldn't get any gloomier, one research report suggests mainstream laptop prices could rise…
A TrendForce report indicates that rising prices for PC components like CPUs, DRAM, and SSDs could lead to a 40% increase in mainstream laptop prices. This surge, driven by memory cost increases, could significantly impact the bill of materials for manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Asus. The article questions consumer willingness to pay higher prices, drawing parallels to the GPU market during the COVID-19 pandemic.
US: Amazon raises Pokemon Pokopia physical price amid reports of stock constraints
Amazon has increased the price of Pokemon Pokopia to $80 in the United States due to reported stock constraints, with the game now sold out on the retailer's platform. Numerous other retailers across the US have also reported sell-outs of the boxed copies, which utilize a controversial Game-Key Card.
A simple check with a magnet was the final clue that made Thermal Grizzly realise it had been hit by a 40,000 euro metal…
Thermal Grizzly has been a victim of industrial-scale material fraud, losing 40,000 euros after receiving shipments of copper-plated steel and aluminum-plated steel instead of pure materials. The company, through Roman 'Der8auer' Hartung, discovered the deception when the metals failed conductivity tests and reacted to magnets. The fraud highlights issues within the supply chain, particularly when material costs are high, with limited recourse due to the suppliers being based in China.
Pokémon Pokopia Physical Edition Price Raised to $80 on Amazon, Amid Reports of Stock Constraints - IGN
Amazon has increased the price of the physical edition of Pokémon Pokopia to $80 for the Nintendo Switch 2, citing stock constraints. This price hike follows reports of limited availability at various retailers, with the game's recommended retail price being $70. Nintendo has previously indicated it would experiment with variable pricing on its latest console.
'Nothing has actually changed': Valve recommits to a 2026 launch for the Steam Machine amid rumors of a…
Valve has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the Steam Machine in 2026, despite rumors of a potential delay. While an early 2026 or Q1 launch now seems unlikely due to the ongoing RAM crisis impacting supply chains, Valve PR representative Kaci Aitchison Boyle confirmed that "nothing has actually changed" regarding their plans. The Steam Frame wireless VR headset and Steam Controller will also launch in 2026.
Valve’s Steam Machine Faces A Possible Delay Due To Techbros AI Kink | Console Creatures
Valve has announced potential delays for its upcoming Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame, originally slated for Q1 2026. The company cited challenges with integrating Artificial Intelligence and ongoing memory and storage shortages as reasons for a possible shift to the latter half of 2026. The Steam Machine is described as six times more powerful than the Steam Deck, featuring AMD Zen 4 and RDNA3 architecture with support for 4K gaming and ray tracing.
Valve doesn't sound confident the Steam Machine will ship in 2026
Valve has expressed uncertainty regarding the 2026 release of its new hardware, including the Steam Machine and Steam Controller, citing ongoing memory and storage shortages. The company's latest update suggests a potential delay beyond the initial target, with updates to be shared once plans are finalized.
Fate of console pricing uncertain after Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs
The US Supreme Court has ruled against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, potentially impacting video game hardware pricing. Companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo had previously raised prices due to these tariffs, with manufacturing largely based in China. However, ongoing shortages of RAM and hard drives driven by AI data center demand, exacerbated by a deal between OpenAI and Samsung, continue to pose challenges to hardware availability and pricing.
A decade of gaming hardware stagnation? That might not be a bad thing | Opinion
Component shortages driven by AI data center demand are impacting gaming hardware, potentially leading to stagnation in console and PC upgrades for years. While frustrating, this pause might be welcome for consumers experiencing diminishing returns on hardware advancements and facing price hikes. The industry faces a future with potentially unchanged mainstream gaming hardware specifications by the end of the decade, with consumers likely less bothered by a lack of upgrades than by increased prices.
Steam Deck OLED stock affected by component shortages
Valve has confirmed that the Steam Deck OLED may experience intermittent unavailability in some regions due to ongoing RAM and storage shortages. This global component crisis is also affecting Sony's potential PlayStation 6 release timeline and may lead Nintendo to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 stock won't be a problem at launch, here's why
Nintendo is preparing for high demand for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 by increasing production and implementing measures against scalpers. President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged past stock shortages with the original Nintendo Switch and aims to ensure sufficient units are available at launch to meet customer demand and avoid missed sales opportunities.
My Thoughts On New Gen Consoles (PS5 & Xbox Series)
The author questions the necessity of Sony and Microsoft releasing the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in late 2020, suggesting a Q1 2021 launch would have been more appropriate given production limitations during the pandemic. The article also discusses the difficulties consumers faced with pre-orders and securing consoles due to bots and scalpers.
