Samsung has issued a warning that might imply the value of console gaming may improve for gamers all over the place. Whereas Samsung does not produce any conventional recreation consoles itself, the corporate produces and works with all types of elements and electronics, giving credence to its claims.
It is no secret to avid players that the passion is changing into costlier. Along with some video games being offered at larger costs than anticipated, players have additionally been subjected to cost hikes on consoles no matter whether or not they choose PlayStation or Xbox. The Switch 2 is also considerably more expensive than its predecessor, making all three of the key current-gen consoles much less accessible. Sadly, issues may worsen for console players earlier than they get higher.
Samsung Has Jacked Up Its DDR5 RAM Prices By More Than 100 Percent Amid Ongoing Crisis
Samsung has successfully doubled the costs of its DDR5 RAM kits that it makes for numerous firms, additional exacerbating the PC half disaster.
Samsung Warns of Rising Costs
Now, throughout CES 2026, Samsung has warned shoppers that, because of the rising worth of DRAM and ongoing shortages, the value of TVs will doubtless improve. The co-CEO of Samsung, TM Roh, defined that quite a few electronics, together with telephones, dwelling home equipment, and TVs will doubtless see their worth go up in response to the rising cost of the electronic components that go into them. Talking to Bloomberg, Wonjin Lee, head of world advertising and marketing at Samsung, mentioned that there can be “points” with semiconductor provides that may impression everybody, which can doubtless drive Samsung to extend its costs to compensate for the rising value of the elements going into them.
Utilizing a display screen of some sort — whether or not a TV or monitor — is a necessity for gaming on the vast majority of dwelling consoles, which may pose an issue for players. Those that are planning to improve their screens or who see their TVs fail within the close to future could also be dealing with larger costs for a brand new one, making it tougher to afford. With that in thoughts, those that are looking for a new TV might need to think about grabbing any whole lot they see earlier than it is too late, as these costs might develop into a factor of the previous.
Why Digital Components are Getting Extra Costly
The difficulty with manufacturing TVs and the rise in value of their elements is just one symptom of an ongoing drawback. The demand for semiconductors, DRAM, drives, and different laptop and server elements have been going up because of the current push of AI expertise. To ensure that AI like ChatGPT and Gemini to work, loads of computing energy is required, to the purpose that OpenAI as soon as lamented that its GPUs have been melting because of the reputation of the Ghibli AI art trend in 2025. With the introduction of extra superior AI video and picture technology, plus the combination of AI into every thing from cell telephones to serps, the demand is just getting worse.
Sadly, gaming will really feel the pinch from this demand in additional methods than simply rising TV costs. The AI-fueled RAM disaster might result in additional worth will increase for consoles, and PCs aren’t faring any higher, with the value of RAM and GPUs alike making constructing or shopping for a PC costlier. A few of those that reside in states with AI information facilities have additionally seen larger electrical energy payments, compounding the issue additional.
To make issues worse, gaming may see extra issues sooner or later tied to AI because of the demand for elements. Current stories point out that the subsequent technology of recreation consoles, particularly the PlayStation 6 and the follow-up to the Xbox Collection X/S, may very well be delayed resulting from RAM shortages and value. Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine may not be a extra inexpensive selection, with current stories indicating that the Steam Machine could cost anyplace from $800 to $900, relying on whether or not gamers purchase the 512GB or 2TB variations.
No matter how gamers select to recreation, the passion may develop into costlier throughout the board quickly.
Supply: Reuters
