Tech

Nintendo's biggest ROM chip supplier is bowing out of the business

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 04/11/2026, 23:58:23 UTC.

Briefings

Macronix, a major ROM chip manufacturer, announced it has reached the end of its production capacity for Nintendo Switch cartridges, forcing Nintendo to rely on a single supplier. This supply chain disruption affects physical game cartridges for both current and future Switch models, with production of ROM chips shrinking 39% in the last year and now representing only 5% of Macronix's total business. The company plans to gradually decouple from the game industry, shifting focus to more profitable memory chips. Analyst David Gibson notes Macronix uses it as its main memory chip maker for physical game cartridges.

Key points

• Macronix announced its production of ROM chips has reached its end and will begin gradually decoupling from the game industry.
• Nintendo uses Macronix as its main memory chip maker for physical game cartridges, which is now being crowded out by more lucrative NOR- and NAND-based memory chips.

Context

Nintendo's biggest ROM chip supplier is bowing out of the business, creating a potential supply chain issue for physical game cartridges. Analyst David Gibson notes Macronix uses it as its main memory chip maker for physical game cartridges, which is now being crowded out by more lucrative NOR- and NAND-based memory chips.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to Macronix's third-quarter earnings report stating production has reached its end and capacity is stuck at 25,000 12-inch wafers a month. Production of ROM chips has shrunk 39% in the last year and now represents just 5% of Macronix's business. The article does not specify the exact date of the shutdown or confirm if Nintendo has already switched suppliers, only that it is an issue.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 05/11/2026, 00:52:36 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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