Nintendo ROM chip supplier Macronix quits to focus on chips for AI data centers, reports indicate

What happened

According to multiple reports, Macronix, a key ROM chip supplier for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 game cartridges, is phasing out its ROM business to focus on manufacturing NOR and NAND flash chips to supply data centers. Analyst David Gibson said Macronix will have no new ROM products and that Q3 is the last quarter it reports ROM sales separately; Macronix's ROM sales in Q3 of this year dropped to 5%, compared to last year's 26%. Macronix's NT$37.8 billion capital expenditure is allocated to NOR and NAND Flash, leaving none for ROM, and per Taipei Times its capital expenditure is split into two phases: NT$22 billion for expanding manufacturing capacity, followed by an additional NT$15.8 billion for NAND flash used in eMMCs and 3D NAND. Macronix is not Nintendo's only ROM chip source — ROHM group companies ROHM Semiconductor and LAPIS Semiconductor still supply ROM chips to Nintendo — so physical cards will likely carry on for some time, though Nintendo may be forced to increase prices on physical games, produce more Game-Key cards, or lean more towards digital purchases. The report also notes MegaChips designs ROM chips to Nintendo's needs and outsources manufacturing to Macronix; its 2022 company report states Nintendo accounted for 87.8% of its sales and Macronix accounted for 67.8% of its outsourced manufacturing purchases.

Impact and signal

Affected components and suppliers

Source and time

Source: Tom's Hardware · 11/4/2026 · View original source