Article · AI translation
Thanks to IT Home reader 不一样的体验 for the tip!
IT Home reported on November 5 that technology outlet Ars Technica published a post yesterday (November 4) saying that, as AI consumes production capacity, key components of Nintendo’s physical game cartridges are facing unusual supply pressure.
In its third-quarter financial report (July 1 to September 30, 2026), Macronix, a major supplier of ROM chips for Nintendo’s physical cartridges, said its ROM chip production “has come to an end” and that it would gradually withdraw from the gaming industry.
Macronix said its ROM chip output fell by about 39% over the past year and now accounts for only 5% of its business. By comparison, chips such as NOR flash, NAND flash and eMMC are more profitable and in greater demand, and are taking wafer production capacity away from ROM chips. IT Home has included a relevant screenshot below:
Analyst David Gibson noted that Macronix has long been a “major memory chip supplier” for Nintendo’s physical game cartridges. As Macronix gradually withdraws, Nintendo may need to rely more heavily on suppliers such as Rohm and Lapis Semiconductor, creating a risk that cartridge production costs will rise.
The outlet interpreted this as not meaning that Nintendo will immediately abandon physical games. Nintendo said last month that it had no plans to discontinue game cartridges in the near future. But if production costs continue to rise, publishers may further increase prices for physical editions or make greater use of lower-capacity, lower-cost cartridges.