Nintendo Switch cartridges could get pricier as parts maker exits

Nintendo’s physical games hit by supplier shake-up

Macronix, which has supplied Nintendo with hardware components for years, is preparing to exit ROM manufacturing. 

Industry analyst David Gibson highlighted the development on X after the company's latest earnings call, where executives said ROM production would be wound down by the end of the third quarter of its 2026 financial year.

The decision reflects a significant change in Macronix's priorities. ROM chips now represent only 5% of its business, compared with 26% a year ago, prompting the company to shift manufacturing resources towards NOR flash and eMMC memory.

Nintendo will not lose access to ROM components completely, as Rohm Co. remains another supplier. 

However, having one fewer source could complicate cartridge production and increase costs for Nintendo and game publishers.

AI boom is only adding pressure to the costs

One possible response could be a greater reliance on Game-Key Cards, according to Gibson. 

These physical cards contain no game data and simply provide access to a download, allowing publishers to avoid the expense of producing ROM-based cartridges.

The potential change comes as the gaming industry faces a wider memory shortage, with demand from artificial intelligence companies pushing up costs for hardware such as consoles and PC graphics cards. 

As reported by Eurogamer, Macronix's decision appears to be part of that broader industry shift, rather than a move specifically targeting Nintendo.

The company has already faced criticism over how it handles rising costs. Nintendo recently confirmed it would not pass tariff refunds on to customers, and any increase in cartridge manufacturing expenses could add to scrutiny over the price of physical games.