Micron Comments on How Long the RAM Shortage Could Last

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Things aren’t looking great for PC gaming at the moment. Micron, a major chip manufacturer, suggests the current shortage of RAM (computer memory) could continue past 2026. Throughout 2025, both games and gaming hardware have become more expensive, but these price increases mostly affected consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Recently, however, PC gaming has been significantly impacted by high demand for AI technology, which has caused RAM prices to jump dramatically.

The RAM shortage started in Fall 2025, mainly because OpenAI made a deal with Samsung and SK Hynix, two major RAM producers. These companies decided to focus more on supplying parts for artificial intelligence instead of typical consumer products, which caused DDR5 RAM prices to jump, sometimes tripling. Since then, other chipmakers like Micron have also prioritized AI, making the RAM supply even tighter and driving up the cost of PC components.

Micron Expects RAM Market to Remain Tight Throughout 2026 and Beyond

Micron recently reported that the shortage of RAM memory is expected to last well into 2026, and likely beyond. This isn’t just a problem for Micron; the company says the entire industry will struggle to meet the high demand, especially from companies building AI data centers, for the foreseeable future. While AI is the main cause of the shortage, gamers will also be affected because more RAM is being used for data centers, leaving less for gaming PCs and consoles. In response to this trend, Micron has announced it will no longer produce RAM specifically for consumers, which will further limit supply for PC and console gamers.

Micron says they’re working to increase production to meet the growing demand for AI, but it will take time. Making RAM requires specialized, ultra-clean manufacturing facilities, and building these is a lengthy process. They report that it’s taking longer and longer to construct these facilities, meaning production can’t be increased quickly. This isn’t unique to Micron; other RAM makers are likely facing the same issues, which is why prices are going up. For example, Samsung has already more than doubled the price of DDR5 RAM for manufacturers, and those higher costs will likely be passed on to consumers.

Image via G.Skill

Since memory (RAM) is so important for gaming, the current shortage will have a widespread impact, going beyond just the price of RAM itself. There are reports that Nvidia might reduce production of its GPUs – especially the newer 50-series – by as much as 40% in 2026 due to this RAM shortage. Companies like Nvidia don’t make their own RAM; they purchase it from manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Because the problem starts with the initial RAM suppliers, we can expect limited availability and higher prices for not only RAM, but also graphics cards and CPUs – which is bad news for anyone planning to build or upgrade a computer.

Image via Nvidia

The recent increase in prices isn’t limited to PC gaming. Consoles also rely on memory, and companies without enough stored up could face problems soon. There’s speculation that the Nintendo Switch 2 might become more expensive, and the Xbox Series X/S could also see another price increase. While it’s unknown how long the memory shortage will last beyond 2026 or how much prices will climb, it’s likely to be a challenging period for both gamers and manufacturers until the situation improves.

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2025-12-19 19:37