The memory and storage chip shortage that has been causing RAM, SSD, and GPU prices to skyrocket is now starting to affect other products. Valve has recently announced that Steam Deck availability is now intermittent due to the current situation, and Bloomberg now reports that Sony and Nintendo are considering taking drastic actions, too.

“ Sony Group Corp. is now considering pushing back the debut of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking. That would be a major upset to a carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations,” the publication said. “Close rival Nintendo Co., which contributed to the surplus demand in 2025 after its new Switch 2 console drove storage card purchases, is also contemplating raising the price of that device in 2026, people familiar with its plans said.”

While both companies do not disclose how they manage component orders, they likely have long-term agreements in place with various memory chip suppliers to help keep their costs predictable. But because of the continued massive demand from data centers and AI hyperscalers, chip manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix have reduced their output for consumer memory, resulting in higher prices in the spot market and when customers sign new contracts.

If the reports are accurate, Sony and Nintendo are applying differing strategies to deal with the situation. Nintendo is willing to increase the price of the Switch 2 to offset the increased memory and storage costs , especially as it is selling the new console at slim profit margins. The company has done this before with the original Nintendo Switch, which had its price increased by $30 to $50 in response to economic pressures.

On the other hand, Sony’s rumored tactic would be to delay the next-generation PlayStation for more favorable pricing. We’re unsure how long the memory chip shortage will last, with some estimates pointing out that it could go on for as long as a decade . Nevertheless, some believe that the memory chip fabs would’ve caught up with the demand by 2028 or 2029, meaning prices would’ve stabilized by then, even if they do not return to pre-shortage levels.

The news of chip shortages has been circulating among PC enthusiasts since the last quarter of 2025, but it seems that that is just the beginning. Gaming consoles and handhelds are now feeling the pinch, with mobile phones expected to follow suit. Even cars will be hit by the shortage, especially as nearly every modern feature found in automobiles requires DRAM and NAND.

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