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Nintendo is losing a Switch cartridge supplier

By · Via The Verge · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Macronix announced it will gradually phase out ROM production after experiencing a 39 percent year-over-year revenue drop in that segment during the third quarter of 2026. The company is pivoting resources to address soaring enterprise demand for NOR flash memory, which saw revenue surge by 158 percent alongside an anticipated persistence in chip price increases. Meanwhile, Nintendo remains firmly committed to physical media, which accounted for 38.5 percent of its total game sales as of August.

Key points

  • Macronix is phasing out ROM production to prioritize high-demand NOR flash memory solutio…: Macronix is phasing out ROM production to prioritize high-demand NOR flash memory solutions for data centers.
  • Nintendo confirmed it has no plans to abandon physical game manufacturing despite losing…: Nintendo confirmed it has no plans to abandon physical game manufacturing despite losing a critical component supplier.
  • The memory manufacturer anticipates that rising chip prices will persist as enterprise an…: The memory manufacturer anticipates that rising chip prices will persist as enterprise and AI data center needs grow.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Nintendo is about to lose a major memory supplier for its Switch cartridges. The supplier, Macronix, announced during a recent quarterly earnings call that it would be gradually phasing out ROM production and is instead focusing on NOR flash memory for data centers, Taipei Times reports.

Nintendo is losing a Switch cartridge supplier

Nintendo ROM supplier Macronix is leaving the business as demand for its data center memory booms.

Nintendo ROM supplier Macronix is leaving the business as demand for its data center memory booms.

Macronix’s ROM revenue fell 39 percent compared to last year in Q3 2026, but its revenue from NOR memory rose 158 percent and its revenue from NAND memory surged 768 percent year-over-year. According to Taipei Times, Macronix chairman and CEO Miin Wu said during its Q3 2026 earnings call that “Demand for NOR used in data centers is very robust. Customers are chasing us for more capacity, demanding that we deliver more NOR flash solutions for data centers.” The company also reportedly “expects chip price hikes to persist.”

Although Sony has announced a plan to…

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