[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":150},["ShallowReactive",2],{"story-208942-en":3},{"id":4,"slug":5,"slugs":5,"currentSlug":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"coverImagesSmall":8,"coverImages":9,"content":29,"questions":30,"relatedArticles":52,"body_color":148,"card_color":149},"208942",null,"RAM/SSD Shortage Crisis Extends to 2028 | Gaming Hardware Sellers Face 18-24 Month Price Escalation","- AI datacenter demand competes with consumer electronics for limited DRAM/NAND capacity; wholesale prices exceed retail by 3-6 months; Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo raising prices through 2027",[],[10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28],"https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/Steam-Machine-and-Steam-Controller-1.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&dpr=3&auto=webp","https://cdn.80.lv/api/upload/content/bb/images/6a5e8d16a4002/widen_920x0.jpg","https://assets.upday.com/1/Zx-k9lFaHR0cHM6Ly9vY2RuLmV1L3B1bHNjbXMvTURBXy9lZmJhM2Q3NS02OTU3LTRkNTgtODBjYS1iOWQ1YTMxZDBiNDEucG5nkZMFzQHCzP3eAAGhMQQ","https://gamegpu.com/images/1_2026/NEWS/Q2/Jule/Steam_Machine_PlayStation_5_Pro_gpu.webp","https://cdn.thefpsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/steam-machine-angled-feature.webp","https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/steammachine4.JPG?w=1200&h=628&fit=crop","https://images.hothardware.com/contentimages/newsitem/71163/content/content-steam-machine.jpg","https://www.techpowerup.com/img/106qG61XOKQYCCkK.jpg","https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/steam-machine-green.jpg?width=570&quality=85&format=jpg&dpr=3&auto=webp","https://boundingintocomics.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,sharpen=1,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect/wp-content/uploads/Valve-Confirms-Component-Prices-Are-Still-Rising-Gaming-Unsplash.jpg","https://cdn.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Price-of-the-Steam-Machine-Could-Be-Higher-Than-Expected-.jpg","https://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2026/07/2026-07-20-image.jpg","https://gamingbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/steam-machine-2.webp","https://thurrott-assets.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/web/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Valve-Steam-Machine.jpg","https://i0.wp.com/tbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/d3tmwu.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","https://www.gamingonlinux.com/uploads/tagline_gallery/steam_plain_2025.jpg","https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/Steam-Machine-(3).png?width=570&quality=85&format=jpg&dpr=3&auto=webp","https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MFFHxpkFELQeL4rufMbrdM-1200-80.jpg","https://i.extremetech.com/imagery/content-types/053apgKaxYZYXa1osvGzImD/hero-image.fit_lim.v1784570843.png","**The global memory and storage component crisis is intensifying through 2028, creating a structural supply constraint that directly impacts gaming hardware sellers and electronics retailers.** Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais revealed to Bloomberg that **RAM and SSD price increases will persist through 2026-2027, with meaningful relief not expected until 2028**—an 18-24 month extended timeline indicating this is not a temporary market fluctuation but a fundamental supply-demand imbalance. Current bulk supply costs exceed retail prices by 3-6 months, meaning wholesale price increases are cascading through the distribution chain as older inventory depletes. **Microsoft raised Xbox Series X/S prices effective August 1st and projects component costs could double by autumn 2027.** Sony has increased PlayStation 5 prices multiple times, while Nintendo announced Switch 2 price increases starting September 1st. The Steam Machine launched at $879-$1,149 USD (512GB-2TB configurations), with Valve acknowledging hardware costs exceed their target—demonstrating how upstream component shortages directly compress margins across the entire gaming hardware sector.\n\n**For cross-border electronics sellers, this creates a critical sourcing and inventory decision window.** The shortage stems from AI infrastructure expansion competing aggressively for limited DRAM and NAND production capacity, with Gartner corroborating that demand from AI data centers alongside supply pressures from smartphones, PCs, and consumer devices will sustain price inflation. Retailers and system builders face margin compression as the gap between wholesale and retail pricing gradually closes over the next 3-6 months. Sellers currently holding inventory purchased at lower wholesale rates have a 90-180 day window before replacement costs force price increases. Conversely, sellers without urgent memory/storage needs should defer purchases, as immediate buyers face 15-25% price premiums compared to 2028 normalized pricing.\n\n**The operational impact cascades across multiple seller segments.** Gaming console resellers, PC component retailers, and handheld device merchants must adjust inventory strategies immediately: those with capital should front-load purchases of high-margin SKUs (gaming consoles, gaming laptops, storage-intensive devices) before Q4 2024, while smaller sellers should shift to dropshipping models to avoid holding depreciating inventory. The 3-6 month lag between wholesale and retail pricing means sellers who lock in current wholesale rates can maintain margins through early 2025, but those waiting face 8-12% cost increases per unit by Q1 2025. Warehouse positioning becomes critical—sellers should prioritize FBA placement for fast-moving gaming hardware in US/EU markets where demand remains strong despite price increases, while considering 3PL for slower-moving SKUs to minimize storage cost exposure during the extended shortage period.",[31,34,37,40,43,46,49],{"title":32,"answer":33,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How long will RAM and SSD prices remain elevated for gaming hardware sellers?","According to Valve engineers and Gartner analysts, RAM and SSD price increases will persist through 2026-2027, with meaningful relief not expected until 2028—an 18-24 month extended timeline. Manufacturers currently pay 15-25% higher wholesale prices than retail shelves reflect, creating a gap that will close as older inventory depletes and wholesalers raise prices over the next 3-6 months. This indicates structural supply constraints driven by AI datacenter demand competing for limited DRAM and NAND production capacity, not temporary market fluctuations. Sellers should plan inventory and pricing strategies assuming elevated component costs through Q4 2027.",{"title":35,"answer":36,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What is the wholesale-to-retail price lag and how does it affect seller margins?","Retail shelf availability lags bulk supply observations by 3-6 months, meaning wholesale price increases take 90-180 days to fully cascade through retail channels. Sellers currently holding inventory purchased at lower wholesale rates have a 90-180 day window before replacement costs force price increases of 8-12% per unit. Microsoft's August 1st Xbox price increase and Nintendo's September 1st Switch 2 price hike demonstrate how manufacturers are already passing costs to consumers. Sellers who lock in current wholesale rates can maintain margins through early 2025, but those waiting face significant cost increases by Q1 2025.",{"title":38,"answer":39,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"Which gaming hardware categories face the most severe component cost increases?","Gaming consoles (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2) and gaming laptops face the most severe impacts because RAM and storage are their largest component costs. The Steam Machine launched at $879-$1,149 USD with Valve acknowledging hardware costs exceed their target, demonstrating how component shortages compress margins. Handheld gaming devices and PC gaming components also face significant pressure. Sellers should prioritize front-loading inventory of high-margin console and gaming laptop SKUs before Q4 2024, as these categories will see the largest price increases through 2027.",{"title":41,"answer":42,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"Should sellers stock up on gaming hardware now or wait for prices to normalize?","Sellers with capital and storage capacity should front-load purchases of high-margin gaming hardware (consoles, gaming laptops) before Q4 2024, locking in current wholesale rates before the 3-6 month lag pushes prices up 8-12% per unit. However, sellers without urgent inventory needs should defer purchases and wait until 2028 for price normalization, as immediate buyers face 15-25% price premiums compared to normalized pricing. Smaller sellers should shift to dropshipping models to avoid holding depreciating inventory. The decision depends on your capital availability, storage costs, and product turnover rates—calculate whether locking in current wholesale rates beats your FBA/3PL storage costs over 18 months.",{"title":44,"answer":45,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How should sellers adjust warehouse and fulfillment strategies during the shortage?","Sellers should prioritize FBA placement for fast-moving gaming hardware in US/EU markets where demand remains strong despite price increases, maximizing turnover to minimize storage cost exposure. For slower-moving SKUs, consider 3PL fulfillment to avoid Amazon's escalating storage fees during the extended shortage period. Dropshipping becomes attractive for sellers without capital to front-load inventory, shifting the holding cost burden to suppliers. Warehouse positioning should focus on regional demand centers (US East Coast, EU Central) where gaming hardware demand is highest, reducing shipping costs and improving inventory velocity.",{"title":47,"answer":48,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What is the impact of AI datacenter demand on consumer electronics pricing?","AI infrastructure expansion is competing aggressively for limited DRAM and NAND production capacity, creating unprecedented demand that manufacturers cannot fully satisfy. This competition directly drives the 18-24 month extended shortage timeline, as AI datacenters prioritize memory allocation over consumer electronics. Gartner corroborates that AI datacenter demand alongside supply pressures from smartphones, PCs, and consumer devices will sustain price inflation through 2027. For sellers, this means component costs are structurally elevated and unlikely to normalize until AI infrastructure investment moderates or memory production capacity expands significantly—plan accordingly.",{"title":50,"answer":51,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How are major gaming manufacturers responding to component cost increases?","Microsoft raised Xbox Series X/S prices effective August 1st and projects component costs could double by autumn 2027, signaling preparation for additional price hikes. Sony has increased PlayStation 5 prices multiple times, while Nintendo announced Switch 2 price increases starting September 1st. Valve's Steam Machine launched at premium pricing ($879-$1,149) with the company acknowledging hardware costs exceed their target. These manufacturer responses indicate industry-wide acceptance that elevated pricing is becoming the new consumer electronics standard. Sellers should expect continued price increases from OEMs through 2027 and adjust retail pricing strategies accordingly to maintain margins.",[53,58,62,66,70,74,78,82,86,90,94,98,102,107,111,115,119,123,127,131,136,140,144],{"id":54,"title":55,"source":56,"logo":26,"time":57},1273090,"Valve suggests memory crisis is \"still getting worse,\" admitting, \"we're limited by memory capacity, for sure\"","https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-suggests-memory-crisis-is-still-getting-worse-admitting-were-limited-by-memory-capacity-for-sure","2D AGO",{"id":59,"title":60,"source":61,"logo":28,"time":57},1273091,"Today's RAM and SSD Prices Are 'Lagging' and Will Continue to Climb, Valve Warns","https://www.extremetech.com/computing/todays-ram-and-ssd-prices-are-lagging-and-will-continue-to-climb-valve",{"id":63,"title":64,"source":65,"logo":20,"time":57},1273094,"SteamOS and Windows 11 Deliver Nearly Identical Performance in Early Benchmarks","https://www.eteknix.com/steamos-and-windows-11-deliver-nearly-identical-performance-in-early-benchmarks",{"id":67,"title":68,"source":69,"logo":23,"time":57},1273095,"Valve Says Memory Crisis is \"Still Getting Worse\" After Launching $1,049 Steam Machine","https://www.thurrott.com/games/339195/valve-says-memory-crisis-is-still-getting-worse-after-launching-1049-steam-machine",{"id":71,"title":72,"source":73,"logo":15,"time":57},1273092,"Steam Machine's already high price likely to go up based on Valve warnings","https://www.polygon.com/steam-machine-price-hike-change-deck-valve-ai-ram-component-crisis",{"id":75,"title":76,"source":77,"logo":11,"time":57},1273093,"Valve Says the Memory Crisis Doesn't Seem to Have an Ending","https://80.lv/articles/valve-says-the-memory-crisis-doesn-t-seem-to-be-coming-to-an-end-anytime-soon",{"id":79,"title":80,"source":81,"logo":5,"time":57},1273098,"Could Steam Machine prices rise even higher? Valve responds to growing concerns","https://tech.yahoo.com/gaming/articles/could-steam-machine-prices-rise-154508907.html",{"id":83,"title":84,"source":85,"logo":12,"time":57},1273099,"Steam Machine hits €1,039 as AI boom cripples gaming hardware - prices rising through 2027","https://www.upday.com/uk/steam-machine-hits-euro1039-as-ai-boom-cripples-gaming-hardware-prices-rising-through/g1nz5hw",{"id":87,"title":88,"source":89,"logo":24,"time":57},1271471,"Valve’s Steam Machine Skips Exclusives, Because Locking Players Out Never Really Worked","https://tbreak.com/valves-steam-machine-skips-exclusives-because",{"id":91,"title":92,"source":93,"logo":5,"time":57},1273096,"Estimated Steam Machine sales suggest the price wasn't too prohibitive","https://www.androidheadlines.com/2026/07/estimated-steam-machine-sales-suggest-the-price-wasnt-too-prohibitive.html",{"id":95,"title":96,"source":97,"logo":22,"time":57},1271470,"Valve Doesn’t Want to Use Exclusive Games to Sell Steam Machines, Says Engineer","https://gamingbolt.com/valve-doesnt-want-to-use-exclusive-games-to-sell-steam-machines-says-engineer",{"id":99,"title":100,"source":101,"logo":16,"time":57},1273097,"Valve Sells Up To 15K Steam Machines Weekly Despite Dire Memory Crunch Warning","https://hothardware.com/news/valve-sells-up-to-15k-steam-machines-weekly-despite-dire-memory-crunch-warning",{"id":103,"title":104,"source":105,"logo":5,"time":106},1271473,"How Valve Overcame Supply Issues for the Steam Machine","https://uk.news.yahoo.com/valve-overcame-supply-issues-steam-171800693.html","18D AGO",{"id":108,"title":109,"source":110,"logo":27,"time":57},1271472,"The Steam Machine isn't doing exclusives because Valve thinks \"restricting where people can play\" doesn't work","https://www.gamesradar.com/games/the-steam-machine-isnt-doing-exclusives-because-valve-thinks-restricting-where-people-can-play-doesnt-work",{"id":112,"title":113,"source":114,"logo":18,"time":57},1271464,"\"Honestly, it’s still getting worse\" - Valve Steam Machine engineer says component prices are still rising, potentially paving the way for a price increase","https://www.eurogamer.net/steam-machine-valve-component-price-increase",{"id":116,"title":117,"source":118,"logo":19,"time":57},1273100,"Valve Confirms Component Prices Are Still Rising","https://boundingintocomics.com/video-games/valve-confirms-component-prices-are-still-rising",{"id":120,"title":121,"source":122,"logo":21,"time":57},1271474,"Valve's Steam Machine may be selling between 12,000 and 15,000 units per week despite its high price","https://www.techspot.com/news/113169-valve-steam-machine-may-selling-between-12000-15000.html",{"id":124,"title":125,"source":126,"logo":17,"time":57},1273101,"Valve Doubles Down on Steam Machine Pricing Pessimism","https://www.techpowerup.com/350901/valve-doubles-down-on-steam-machine-pricing-pessimism",{"id":128,"title":129,"source":130,"logo":13,"time":57},1271466,"Comparing the gaming capabilities of the Steam Machine and the PlayStation 5 Pro console","https://en.gamegpu.com/news/zhelezo/sravnenie-igrovykh-vozmozhnostej-steam-machine-i-konsoli-playstation-5-pro",{"id":132,"title":133,"source":134,"logo":5,"time":135},1271465,"Valve Promises There Will Be No Steam Machine Exclusives","https://kotaku.com/valve-steam-machine-exclusive-games-half-life-3-tee-hee-2000717644","4D AGO",{"id":137,"title":138,"source":139,"logo":10,"time":57},1271468,"Valve see the great RAM shortage \"getting worse,\" just in case you were clinging to hopes of a cheaper Steam Machine","https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-see-the-great-ram-shortage-getting-worse-just-in-case-you-were-clinging-to-hopes-of-a-cheaper-steam-machine",{"id":141,"title":142,"source":143,"logo":25,"time":57},1271467,"Valve expect component prices to continue getting worse","https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/valve-expect-component-prices-to-continue-getting-worse",{"id":145,"title":146,"source":147,"logo":14,"time":57},1271469,"Valve Is Estimated to Be Moving Roughly Upwards of 15,000 Steam Machine Units per Week","https://www.thefpsreview.com/2026/07/20/valve-is-estimated-to-be-moving-roughly-upwards-of-15000-steam-machine-units-per-week","#90275bff","#90275b4d",1784824269270]