A sharp increase in demand for RAM and SSD storage, driven by artificial intelligence development, is paralyzing the video game industry. Valve has halted sales of the Steam Deck, Sony is considering delaying the PlayStation 6 debut to the end of the decade, and computer component prices in Poland are reaching record levels. Experts warn that semiconductor shortages could last until 2030.
Steam Deck Sales Paralysis
Company Valve confirmed the device's unavailability due to a lack of RAM modules and SSD storage, which are being bought up by the AI sector.
PlayStation 6 Delay
Sony is considering delaying the launch of its new console even until 2029 to avoid colossal production costs during the memory crisis.
End of Cheap Gaming
Experts predict that hardware prices will continue to rise, and the semiconductor market crisis could last uninterrupted until 2030.
The consumer electronics market has reached a turning point due to unprecedented demand for semiconductors generated by the artificial intelligence sector. Mass construction of data centers by tech giants has led to drastic shortages of DRAM modules and storage memory. Company Valve officially confirmed that the popular Steam Deck device has become unavailable in many regions, including Poland, not due to logistical errors but a lack of components for production. The situation is so severe that production of the LCD 256 GB version has been permanently discontinued. The current shortage resembles the chip crisis of 2020-2022 caused by the pandemic, but this time the cause is not disrupted supply chains but a structural shift in demand favoring AI servers. Problems are also affecting giants of stationary entertainment. According to reports from Bloomberg agency, Sony is analyzing a scenario to delay the launch of the PlayStation 6 console. While an initial debut in 2027 was assumed, the realistic timeframe now appears to be 2028-2029. Additionally, leaks suggest a possible scaling back of the device's technical specifications, including using the RDNA 5 architecture in an incomplete version to reduce production costs in the face of a fivefold increase in RAM prices. „The Steam Deck disappeared from the store due to a global semiconductor market crisis, directly resulting from a lack of RAM and data storage.” — Valve Representative The crisis is directly squeezing the wallets of Polish consumers. Prices of graphics cards and memory modules in local shops have nearly doubled in recent months. Forecasts are pessimistic – analysts on the ChenTalkShow program suggest that high prices and limited hardware availability could persist until 2030. In this situation, Nintendo is also considering raising the price of the upcoming successor to the Switch console, which could permanently end the era of cheap gaming. 2025-01: 320, 2025-07: 580, 2026-01: 940, 2026-02: 1550 5-fold — increase in RAM prices over recent months Impact of the Crisis on Hardware Launches: : → ; : → ; : → Emphasizes the blame of tech corporations and AI in limiting access to entertainment for the average citizen. | Focuses on market demand mechanisms and the necessity of adjusting release plans to economic realities.