The big three computer memory suppliers have now sold their entire production capacity for 2027, it’s been reported, as the global chip shortage intensifies.
According to Taiwanese outlet DigiTimes, via Tweaktown, Samsung, SK hynix and Micron have now allocated all of their DRAM and HBM production through the end of next year.
While the summer months are traditionally when companies secure components for the following year, this sell-out highlights the battle for computer memory among firms amid skyrocketing demand, fuelled by various companies’ rapid push to power AI.
DigiTimes sources say some AI firms are have been “begging” for components and paying over the odds to secure the last remaining memory chips. However, there is a limit to the amount of memory that Samsung, SK hynix and Micron can physically manufacture — a limit that has now seemingly been reached.
The rising demand for memory has seen component prices skyrocket — something that has resulted in those costs then being passed onto consumers. All of the main console manufacturers have raised prices over the past few years — a reversal of the usual trend where aging hardware gets less expensive over time.
Earlier this week, Microsoft’s latest increases went live for Xbox Series X and S consoles, which now cost up to $150 more — and even more than that in the U.K. and mainland Europe. Nintendo is set to increase the price of Switch 2 next month, meanwhile, meaning you still have time to pick up a console now before the price rise kicks in.
Of course, it’s not just gaming that is feeling the pinch. The iPhone 18 Pro is just a little over a month away, likely debuting sometime in September, and you should probably get ready for a price tag that’s over $1,399.
Image credit: Arun Sankar / AFP via Getty Images
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
