The whole thing of 2026 has been outlined by an ongoing RAM disaster, inflicting worth will increase on every part from the PS5 to the Steam Machine. And, in accordance to Samsung’s newest earnings report, it is solely going to worsen over the subsequent 12 months.
In its Q3 2026 earnings call, it was shared that Samsung’s semiconductor phase, which incorporates its reminiscence enterprise, made the corporate 147.1 trillion Korean Received, of which 106.5 trillion is revenue. That makes up for 72% of all of Samsung’s income in the final quarter. And in accordance to Samsung, these numbers have been attainable by prioritizing the manufacturing of the HBM4 reminiscence used in AI datacenters.
Wanting ahead, Samsung expects the reminiscence market to tighten much more in 2027, with the corporate claiming “Surging AI-driven demand doubtless to additional tighten provide shortages in contrast with CY26,” when speaking in regards to the reminiscence enterprise subsequent 12 months. AI demand is so robust that Samsung would not even point out consumer-grade DDR5 reminiscence, and is as an alternative targeted totally on constructing a “secure gross sales base by means of long-term contracts and guarantee well timed readiness of latest merchandise tailor-made to necessities for AI functions.”
This earnings report comes only a couple months after a Digitimes report advised that each one reminiscence capability for 2027 had already been bought by means of. And, in accordance to Samsung’s earnings, that Digitimes report looks as if it was correct, even when the corporate is working to broaden manufacturing to make, nicely, extra RAM for AI information facilities.
Samsung is certainly one of simply three main reminiscence producers in the world proper now, and all three have prioritized manufacturing hich capability server-grade reminiscence for AI datacenters somewhat than something that you just’d discover in a gaming PC. As early as December final 12 months, Micron killed off Essential, its consumer-facing reminiscence and storage model.
There have already been indicators that the RAM disaster is worsening, as nicely. A few weeks in the past, the PS5 Professional bought out, inflicting the worth of used consoles to skyrocket to $1,399. And, earlier right this moment Xbox CEO Asha Sharma claimed that demand is outstripping provide for consoles, even when the Xbox Collection X and Collection S are nonetheless extensively accessible proper now.