The global supply of DRAM and high bandwidth memory (HBM) has reached a critical point, with major manufacturers Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron reportedly selling out their entire production through 2027, according to industry insiders cited by DigiTimes. This scarcity, driven largely by intense demand from AI companies securing components for data centers, has been a growing concern for months and is now directly impacting the availability and cost of memory for gaming hardware.
The situation has forced other manufacturers, including those in the gaming sector, to continuously increase prices for their products. Analysts suggest that the current supply chain pressures may not abate by 2027, with some predicting price increases could extend into 2028. One proposed, albeit concerning, solution to this ongoing shortage is the possibility of hardware manufacturers opting to release products with reduced amounts of RAM.
In related industry news, Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 saw a significant resurgence in sales following their surprise ports to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Alinea Analytics estimates that these titles have collectively sold 11.2 million copies, outperforming the recent Halo remake on PlayStation. The Halo remake, which featured a ground-up visual overhaul in Unreal Engine 5 and new missions, reportedly sold only 351,000 copies on PS5 in July. This success for the older Call of Duty titles comes despite minimal improvements compared to their original releases, suggesting a strong demand for the franchise on the platform.
Separately, reports of mass layoffs at Halo Studios following the release of their remake have been clarified. A source within Xbox stated that while some external contractors were let go, a common practice after a game ships, there have been no layoffs of full-time staff at Halo Studios. The situation at That’s No Moon, the studio behind the upcoming Crossfire title, is different. Several employees recently shared on LinkedIn that they have been laid off. The studio, founded by industry veterans in 2021, has not yet commented on the reasons or the extent of these cuts. Crossfire is currently in development for PC and consoles.
John Romero, co-founder of id Software, shared an interesting historical perspective on the early distribution of Doom at QuakeCon 2026. He explained how the shareware model, which encouraged the circulation of incomplete game versions, inadvertently fueled piracy. However, this piracy, particularly in Taiwan, significantly broadened the game's reach beyond what official channels could achieve. Romero recalled that id Software even partnered with major Taiwanese pirates, selling them cheap boxes to legitimize their distribution, ultimately benefiting from sales of the full game and avoiding attempts to monetize the shareware version directly.